Skylight Replacement on Metal Roofs: Your Guide to a Leak-Free Home
Considering a skylight replacement on your metal roof? While it’s possible, homeowners often face a common concern: skylight leaks. This risk is especially pronounced with the unique complexities of metal roofing systems. The key to a successful, leak-proof skylight installation lies in expert flashing and waterproofing techniques. That’s why hiring a professional skylight installer with specific experience in metal roofs is not just advisable, it’s essential.
Skylights with chases extending through the attic can cause air leaks from inside your home into the attic space. This can lead to condensation and mold growth in the attic, and may even contribute to the formation of ice dams on the roof.
For skylights on a metal roof, they must be curb-mounted—not flush-mounted—to ensure proper flashing and weather-tightness.
Proper flashing is essential to prevent leaks. While sealant can serve as an additional line of defense, it is the quality of the flashing that makes the biggest difference. Most metal roofing manufacturers provide specific guidelines for flashing around skylights and other roof penetrations.
Important advice: If you are replacing your roof and have existing skylights, I strongly recommend replacing any skylight that is more than ten years old. Even the highest-quality skylights rarely exceed a 20-year warranty. Installing a new metal roof around old skylights doesn’t make sense, as you may have to go through the costly and complicated process of removing part of the roof to replace them later on.
Planning Your Metal Roof Skylight Project
Preparing for a new skylight requires careful planning to ensure a perfect fit and lasting performance.
1) Assess Your Existing Skylight & Roof: Before anything else, a thorough inspection is crucial. Check the area around your current skylight opening for any signs of rust, corrosion, or weakened metal roof panels. This helps identify potential issues early on.
2) Measure & Select Your New Skylight: Precision is key. Accurately measure the existing opening to find a replacement skylight that’s a perfect match. Consider the specific dimensions and type of your metal roof to ensure compatibility.
Professional Installation is Key
Replacing a skylight on a metal roof is not a DIY task for most. The intricate nature of metal roof flashing and watertight sealing demands specialized expertise. Hiring a professional skylight installer with specific experience in metal roofs ensures the prevention of leaks and guarantees a durable outcome, giving you peace of mind about the quality of the work.
Choose the Right Skylight Type: For metal roofs, curb-mounted skylights are generally the preferred choice. Their design enables superior flashing integration, resulting in a significantly more watertight seal compared to flush-mounted alternatives. This choice will give you confidence in the durability and leak-proof nature of your skylight.
The Skylight Replacement Process: From Old to New
History of Velux Skylights and How They Became Popular Once planning is complete, the physical work begins, each step critical for a leak-free skylight.
1) Careful Removal of the Old Skylight: This involves more than just unscrewing. The old flashing, sealant, and potentially some surrounding metal roof panels need to be meticulously removed to prepare for the new unit.
2) Prepare the Opening: After removing the old skylight, the area must be thoroughly cleaned, stripping away all old sealant and debris. A waterproof underlayment is then applied, followed by the installation of new flashing designed explicitly for metal roofs.
3) Install the New Skylight: The new replacement skylight is carefully positioned in the prepared opening and securely fastened to the roof structure using corrosion-resistant screws.
4) Sealant & Flashing Application: A high-quality sealant is applied around all edges of the skylight frame to create a primary watertight barrier. Proper installation and overlap of the metal roof panels and skylight flashing are then critical to prevent water intrusion.
Ensuring Watertight Performance: Waterproofing & Sealing
The success of your skylight replacement hinges on meticulous waterproofing.
- Seal All Gaps & Joints: Every potential entry point for water around the skylight frame must be thoroughly sealed with a durable, weather-resistant sealant.
- Comprehensive Waterproof Underlayment: Beyond surface sealing, ensuring the correct waterproof underlayment is installed beneath the skylight and flashing layers is vital for an extra layer of protection against moisture.
Consider a Leak Test: A final leak test, involving spraying water around the newly installed skylight, is an excellent way to confirm its watertight integrity before the job is considered complete. Skylights Campton NH This provides peace of mind that your new skylight is truly leak-proof. It’s a crucial step that ensures the effectiveness of the installation and gives you confidence in the long-term performance of your skylight.
Key Takeaways for Your Metal Roof Skylight
Skylights Hopkinton, NH Remember these crucial points for a successful skylight replacement project. These takeaways will equip you with the necessary knowledge and understanding for a successful skylight replacement project:
Curb-mounted skylights are often the best choice for metal roofs due to their superior flashing capabilities. Their design enables superior flashing integration, resulting in a significantly more watertight seal compared to flush-mounted alternatives. This makes them a reliable choice for your metal roof skylight replacement project. Proper flashing installation is the single most critical factor in preventing leaks and achieving a watertight seal.
Given the complexities, professional skylight installation on a metal roof is highly recommended for a durable and leak-free result.
Ideas for fixing leaky skylight on metal roof (more info).
At FBI Contracting, we understand the dilemma of replacing skylights on existing standing-seam metal roofs. We possess the specialized capacity and technology required to address this without the need to remove an entire roof section or the entire roof. As a Velux skylight manufacturer certified installer, we uphold the highest standards of quality and precision. Our expertise enables us to seamlessly integrate new skylights, maintaining an outstanding no-leak rate. This commitment to quality ensures that our customers can enjoy their homes with the peace of mind that our work is reliable and long-lasting. Skylights Campton NH.
Remember, the intricate nature of metal roof flashing and watertight sealing demands specialized expertise. So, while it might be tempting to take on this project yourself, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Due to the long lifespan of a metal roof, often 50 years or more, the skylights installed at the same time may only last about 20 years before needing replacement. This disparity usually leads homeowners to seek replacement of their skylights, even when their metal roof is still in excellent condition.
However, many roofing contractors in Tilton, NH 03276 are hesitant to undertake such projects. Their primary focus is often on new roof installations, and they may prefer to leave existing skylights untouched or suggest a complete replacement of the entire roof section or even the whole roof. This recommendation, while ensuring a clean installation from their perspective, often results in substantial and unexpected additional costs for the homeowners in 11A Cofran Ave, Northfield, NH.
About FBI Contracting LLC
At FBI Contracting LLC, we’re dedicated to helping you maintain and protect your greatest investment—your home. Whether you’re considering a metal roof or planning another home improvement project, our team is here to provide expert guidance and top-notch craftsmanship. Contact us today for a personalized consultation!
Accreditations & Awards
- BBB A+ Rating
- Angi Super Service Award 2024
- Cappies Business Listings
- F.B.I. Contracting LLC – Plaque Award
Contact FBI Contracting today for a free estimate and discover a metal roof’s beauty, durability, and energy efficiency.
Read More Articles >>
Why Roof Flashing is Important
Unlock Your Dream Metal Roof in 2024
Can I Install a Skylight with a Metal Roof
