Fogged glass
Fogged panes are swapped for a new sealed unit without changing the frame.
Exterior Services
Skylight Repair Maplewood, NJ
A roofing contractor in Maplewood can fix most skylight leaks without replacing the whole unit, starting with the flashing where water usually gets in, once it is clear whether the water is a leak or condensation. Call (973) 858-1830 to reach a local roofer.
Most skylight leaks come from the flashing, not the glass. Every skylight relies on a set of flashing pieces, with step flashing woven into the shingles along the sides and solid pieces across the top and bottom. Leaves and pine needles collecting above the skylight hold water against the head flashing.
Not every drip is a leak. Condensation shows up on cold days whether it rains or not, while a true leak follows rain or melting snow. If the glass looks cloudy between the two panes, the insulated glass seal has broken, a glass problem rather than a roof leak.
A few details help narrow it down before the visit. Look at whether drips show up with rain, after snow or only on cold days, and where on the frame they start. It also helps to know the age of the skylight and whether it was flashed in during the last reroof.
Many skylight repair calls in Maplewood also turn up a need for skylight installation or flashing repair.
Looking for Maplewood skylight repair? Call (973) 858-1830 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Maplewood.
Call nowThe process
How skylight repair works
A skylight repair starts with knowing exactly where the water comes from.
Inspect inside first
Stains at the top of the shaft usually point to the head flashing, while drips on the glass point to condensation. A moisture meter helps map how far the water has spread.
Go up on the roof
On the roof, the roofer checks the step flashing, head flashing and sill flashing, the shingles around the curb and any debris piled on the uphill side. 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. Proper laps do the work that caulk never could.
Restore the seal
Failed insulated glass, a cracked pane or a crazed dome is replaced, and worn gaskets and seals are renewed. Some units allow the sash or glass to be replaced without touching the flashing.
Repair the shaft
Water-stained drywall in the shaft is dried, cut out if soft and refinished. Insulation around the shaft is checked, since thin insulation adds to condensation.
What is included
Common skylight repairs
Operator repair
Worn gaskets on venting skylights are renewed to stop drafts and leaks.
Skylight reflashing
A new flashing kit is installed around the frame instead of another layer of caulk.
Dome replacement
Cracked, crazed or yellowed plastic domes are replaced on older curb-mounted units.
Shaft repair
Stained or soft drywall in the light shaft is repaired after the leak is fixed so no trace of the leak remains.
Related service
Skylight Leak Repair Maplewood, NJ
Fixing a skylight leak means tracing the water to the flashing, the curb, the seals or the shingles around the unit. 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 Maplewood 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 Maplewood, 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.
Before ordering new glass for a Maplewood skylight, the roofer checks whether replacement parts are available for that model. If parts are no longer made for the unit, replacing the skylight may be simpler than finding glass. A low-E coating is a worthwhile upgrade when the glass is being replaced anyway.
Local help
Skylight Repair Near Me
Skylight repair calls in Maplewood come from older homes with acrylic domes on curbs and newer homes with deck-mounted glass units alike. Homes in Maplewood and nearby towns like Vauxhall, Union, Springfield and Short Hills range from decades-old skylights that were caulked in place to newer units with full flashing kits, and each fails in its own way, which is why it pays to look at the shaft drywall after big storms.
For skylight repair in Maplewood, NJ or nearby towns like Vauxhall, Union, Springfield and Short Hills, call (973) 858-1830 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Maplewood
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder 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 Maplewood, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Maplewood know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about skylight repair
What makes a skylight leak?
Water nearly always gets in where the skylight meets the roof, not through the glass. Old gaskets, cracked domes and damaged shingles beside the frame round out the list. If it drips on cold dry days, condensation is more likely than a leak.
How can I tell condensation from a skylight leak?
The weather when it drips tells you most of what you need to know. Leaks follow rain or melting snow, while condensation forms when warm indoor air hits cold glass. Better ventilation and lower humidity cut down on condensation.
Is it smart to replace skylights during a reroof?
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.
Why is my skylight foggy between the panes?
A broken seal lets moist air into the space between the panes. Water will not come through, but the glass will not clear up on its own. Replacing the insulated glass or sash solves it.
Can a leaking skylight be repaired instead of replaced?
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.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1830
Related services
Skylight Installation
Adding natural light through the roof with fixed, venting or tubular skylights, sized and placed for the room below.
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, before anyone tears into the wrong part of the roof.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet skylight repair help in Maplewood
Call (973) 858-1830 for a local roofer in Maplewood and nearby towns.