Why Skylights Leak in Florida

Most skylight leaks in Ocala are not skylight failures. They are flashing failures. The skylight unit itself is a sealed glass assembly that rarely fails before the 15 to 20 year mark. The flashing around it is the weak point, and it faces Florida sun, heat, UV, and wind-driven rain every year.

Florida rain is not gentle. Summer thunderstorms produce intense, wind-driven rain that hits roofs from odd angles. Flashing that holds during normal rain can fail in a storm when the roofing system integration is off. We see this frequently on skylight installs done by contractors who treat flashing as an afterthought.

Diagnosing the Problem

Skylight leaks are deceptive. Water entering at the flashing travels along shaft framing. It drips onto the ceiling or sill several feet from the actual entry point. The wet spot is almost never directly below the entry point.

We go on the roof to find the actual entry point. We check flashing at all four sides of the skylight and the counter flashing at the head. We also check how it ties into surrounding shingles. We also check the interior shaft for staining patterns that help us trace the path.

What We Repair

• Step flashing replacement: Failed or incorrectly installed side flashing is the most common skylight repair we perform.
• Counter flashing reset: The head flashing above the skylight works loose from thermal expansion. We reset and reseal it.
• Curb flashing: On flat deck skylights, curb flashing deteriorates faster from standing water exposure. We replace the full curb flashing when needed.
• Seal replacement: The gasket between the skylight frame and the glass unit can fail. We replace seals without removing the entire unit when possible.
• Shaft insulation: Condensation dripping from a cold skylight shaft is not a roof leak. We add insulation to the shaft to stop condensation problems.

PACE financing is available on larger repair scopes. No payments for 12 months and monthly options from $100.

Caulk Is Not a Repair

The most common bad skylight repair in Ocala is a bead of caulk applied over the flashing. It holds for one rain season. Florida UV breaks down caulk fast. By the following summer it cracks and pulls away from the surface.

We do not sell caulk-only repairs. If the flashing has failed, we fix the flashing. The repair costs more upfront and lasts years instead of months. That is the only approach we offer.

When Repair Becomes Replacement

Repair makes sense when the frame is structurally sound and the problem stays within the flashing or seals. Replacement makes more sense in these situations:

• The skylight is over 20 years old and the insulated glass unit has fogged or cracked
• The frame has warped or separated from the curb
• Multiple flashing failures in different locations on the same unit
• The original install was so poorly done that correct flashing requires starting over

We give you an honest assessment at the estimate visit. When replacement is the better investment, we say so and explain why.