Skylight replacement makes more sense than repair when the unit itself is failing: fogged or cracked glass, a yellowed and brittle dome, a rotted curb, or a frame as old as the shingles around it. If only the flashing or a seal has let go on a sound, fairly young skylight, a careful repair is usually enough.
Seeing a drip at the skylight right now? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045 — we're open 24/7 — or send the details through our contact page and we'll set up a free inspection.
Start with where the water is actually coming from
A wet skylight well doesn't automatically mean a bad skylight. We find three different sources, and each one points to a different fix.
Flashing and roof-side leaks
The step flashing, head flashing and sill flashing around the curb do the real waterproofing. When shingles were replaced without new flashing, when an earlier repair relied on a smear of roof cement, or when hail dented the metal, water slips under the shingles and runs down the curb. That's a roof repair, not a skylight problem, and the unit can often stay.
Failed seals or cracked glazing
If water comes through between the glass and the frame, or the glass itself is cracked, the unit is leaking. Some manufacturers sell replacement glazing or gaskets for certain models; many older units have no parts available at all.
Condensation
On cold mornings, warm damp indoor air hits chilly glass and drips down the well. A skylight that "leaks" only in cold weather, and never during rain, may be a condensation issue. Better bathroom and kitchen ventilation or a more efficient insulated unit addresses it; flashing work won't. Our guide to skylight leak repair walks through tracing the source in more detail.
Signs skylight replacement is the smarter call
Repairs buy time. Replacement is the better investment when any of these is true:
- The glass is fogged between panes. A cloudy insulated unit means the seal between the panes has failed, and it can't be restored in place.
- The acrylic dome is yellow, crazed or brittle. Years of Texas UV turn older plastic domes chalky and stiff, and a hailstone that would bounce off new material can punch through spent acrylic.
- The frame or curb is rotted. A curb that goes soft when you press a screwdriver into it won't hold new flashing fasteners.
- It has already been patched more than once. Layers of sealant around a skylight usually mean the flashing underneath was never right.
- Several parts are aging at once. When seals, glazing and frame are all tired, fixing one just moves the failure to the next.
After hail: inspect before you decide
North Texas hail doesn't always shatter a skylight. Look for dents in the metal cladding or flashing, star-shaped cracks in domes and chipped edges on glass. Look at the roof around the unit too, because a storm strong enough to mark the skylight often bruised the shingles as well.
Why the surrounding roof matters for a claim
If a storm damaged your skylight, it may belong in a wider insurance claim rather than a standalone repair. Take photos before anything is covered or patched, and make sure the inspection records both the unit and the roof around it. We walk homeowners through that process with our insurance claims help.
Timing a skylight swap with a new roof
This is where the decision gets practical. A skylight is flashed into the shingles around it. Put on a new roof and keep a tired skylight, and someone will be pulling up brand-new shingles in a few years to swap it. Wait until later and the crew has to cut into a roof that's otherwise fine.
When to replace it during the reroof
If your skylight is roughly the same age as your current roof, or older, the reroof is usually the right moment. The old shingles are coming off anyway, the curb and decking around the opening can be checked with nothing hiding them, and new flashing ties into new underlayment in one sequence.
Questions to ask before the tear-off
- Is the glazing clear, and are parts still available for this model?
- Is the curb solid, and tall enough for proper flashing?
- Will the flashing be new, or reused?
- Would removing the skylight and decking over the opening suit this room better?
That last question surprises people, but some homeowners decide a skylight over a room they rarely use isn't worth keeping. It's a fair option to raise when you plan a roof replacement.
When a repair is the right answer
If the roof is young and the skylight is sound, repair it. The usual work is new step flashing woven in with the shingles, a new head flashing, and shingles reset around the curb. It should not be a tube of caulk around the frame.
What proper skylight work involves
Repair or replacement, the process at the roof is similar: remove shingles around the curb, check the deck and curb for rot, run waterproof underlayment up the curb sides, install step and head flashing, then reshingle so each layer sheds water downhill over the one below. With a new unit, it's set and flashed with the kit its manufacturer specifies. Drywall in the light well is a separate job once everything has dried out.
Cannon Roofing has worked on North Texas roofs since 1994, and every crew member carries the Technician Seal of Safety — background checked, drug tested, factory trained and insured. Our roof repair team will tell you plainly whether your skylight needs parts, new flashing or a full swap.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just reseal a leaking skylight?
Sealant can slow a drip for a short while, but it rarely fixes the cause. Most skylight leaks come from flashing, and exposed sealant bakes and cracks in Texas sun. Treat it as a stopgap until the flashing is corrected.
Do I need a new skylight when I get a new roof?
Not always. A fairly new skylight with clear glazing can be reflashed and kept. If it's as old as the roof coming off, replacing it at the same time avoids cutting into new shingles later.
How do I know if hail damaged my skylight?
Check for cracks, crazing or small holes in the dome or glass, and dents in the metal frame. Damage is hard to judge from the ground, so an inspection is the safest way to know.
Not sure whether to repair or replace? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045, any time of day or night. We'll inspect the skylight and the roof around it, show you photos of what we find, and give you a clear recommendation with a written estimate. You can also reach us through our contact page.