Dome replacement
A damaged dome is replaced to match the curb on older curb-mounted units.
Exterior Services
Skylight Repair Orange, NJ
A roofing contractor in Orange can fix most skylight leaks without replacing the whole unit, starting with the flashing where water usually gets in, and tell you honestly when a unit is worn out. Dial (973) 858-1825 to talk with a local roofer about the skylight.
Water around a skylight almost always gets in at the joint between the frame and the roof. A skylight is sealed into the roof by metal flashing that laps with the shingles, and when that flashing loosens or was installed with caulk instead of proper laps, water finds the gap. Sealant that was smeared over the joint years ago dries out and cracks, letting water in on the next hard rain.
Some skylight water is not coming from outside at all. Condensation shows up on cold days whether it rains or not, while a true leak follows rain or melting snow. A haze trapped between the panes points to a failed glass seal, not a leak, and calls for glass work instead of flashing work.
Some quick notes make the first call more useful. Look at whether drips show up with rain, after snow or only on cold days, and where on the frame they start. Say whether it is a venting or fixed unit, and whether it went in with the current roof or an older one.
Many skylight repair calls in Orange also turn up a need for skylight installation or flashing repair.
Need skylight repair in Orange? Call (973) 858-1825 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How skylight repair works
A skylight repair starts with knowing exactly where the water comes from.
Look at the stains
The inspection starts below, checking the frame, the shaft drywall and the glass for signs of condensation versus leaking. That narrows down where to look on the roof.
Go up on the roof
The roofer looks at how the skylight was flashed in, since caulk in place of proper flashing is a common cause. A hose test, run carefully from the bottom up, can confirm the entry point.
Reflash the skylight
The shingles around the skylight are lifted, the old flashing removed and new flashing installed in correct laps. For most leaks, reflashing is the whole fix.
Fix the glazing
Failed insulated glass, a cracked pane or a crazed dome is replaced, and worn gaskets and seals are renewed. On many skylights, the glass can be replaced from the roof without removing the frame.
Fix the interior
Water-stained drywall in the shaft is dried, cut out if soft and refinished. Adding insulation around the shaft can also cut down on condensation.
What is included
Common skylight repairs
Operator repair
Worn gaskets on venting skylights are renewed to stop drafts and leaks.
Skylight reflashing
Failed flashing is rebuilt in correct laps with the shingles instead of another layer of caulk.
Fogged glass
Fogged panes are swapped for a new sealed unit with low-E glass where available.
Shaft repair
The light well is dried and refinished once the area is dry.
Related service
Skylight Leak Repair Orange, NJ
Skylight leak repair is about finding the exact point where water gets past the flashing and closing it properly. The most common fixes are new step flashing along the sides, a new head flashing on the uphill side and clearing debris that dams water above the unit. Smearing roof cement over the joint usually traps water rather than stopping it.
For Orange homeowners, the timing of the drip is the best clue: rain and snowmelt point to a leak, cold dry mornings point to condensation. If the roof is due for replacement soon, it may make sense to fix the leak now and replace the skylight with the roof. Ask which option saves you from opening the roof twice.
Related service
Skylight Glass Replacement Orange, NJ
When the glass or dome is the problem but the frame and flashing are sound, replacing just the glazing makes sense. Glass skylights usually use insulated glass units, with tempered glass outside and laminated glass inside so broken glass stays in place. Plastic domes on older curbs can usually be swapped without touching the roof.
For Orange homes, the age of the unit decides whether new glass is worth it. Many units let the sash or glass come out without disturbing the flashing, but older or discontinued ones may not. Low-E coated glass cuts summer heat and keeps the inside pane warmer in winter.
Local help
Skylight Repair Near Me
Skylight repair calls in Orange come from older homes with acrylic domes on curbs and newer homes with deck-mounted glass units alike. From Orange out to neighboring towns such as East Orange, Glen Ridge, Caldwell and Roseland, older skylights usually need reflashing or a new dome while newer ones more often need glass seals or operator repairs, so having the skylight checked whenever the roof is inspected keeps small leaks from spreading.
Need skylight repair around Orange? Call (973) 858-1825 for an Orange roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Orange, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Orange
Roofers in Orange know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Skylight Repair FAQ
Do I need a new skylight or just a repair?
Repair works well when the leak is at the flashing and the glass and frame are in good shape. Replacement makes more sense when the glass is fogged, the frame is rotted or the unit is as old as the roof. An inspection shows which path costs less over time.
Should I replace my skylight when I get a new roof?
It often pays off, since the flashing has to come apart during the reroof anyway. One project avoids tearing into the new roof later to replace an old skylight. A newer skylight in good shape can stay, with fresh flashing installed around it.
How can I tell condensation from a skylight leak?
The weather when it drips tells you most of what you need to know. If the glass itself is wet on a cold dry day, condensation is the likely cause. Condensation is fixed indoors, while leaks are fixed on the roof.
What makes a skylight leak?
Leaks usually come from flashing that has loosened, rusted or was sealed with caulk instead of proper laps. Debris piled above the skylight, ice at the head flashing and dried-out sealant are the other common causes. If it drips on cold dry days, condensation is more likely than a leak.
What causes fog inside skylight glass?
Fog between the panes means the seal on the insulated glass has failed. Water will not come through, but the glass will not clear up on its own. The roofer can check whether glass alone can be swapped.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1825
Related services
Skylight Installation
Installing new skylights, venting skylights and solar tubes in pitched roofs, flashed into the shingles so the opening stays dry.
Learn moreFlashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Pinpointing where water actually enters a roof, even when the stain is far away, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to an Orange roofer about skylight repair
Call (973) 858-1825 to talk to a roofer serving Orange, NJ.