Let the pros handle skylight repair
Skylights introduce natural light into your living space without sacrificing privacy. However, given their horizontal orientation, they’re also the most likely type of window to give you problems. Hiring a dedicated window repair specialist to fix skylight issues is your best bet for avoiding ongoing leaks and other problems.
Your specialist should have a contractor’s license, and it’s ideal if you can find one that has certification from the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), which holds repair technicians to high standards to ensure sound repair.
You can call various types of professionals for skylight repair, but hiring a professional window company that solely deals with window repairs, installations, and replacements will give you the best chance of long-term functionality and safety. There are a few reasons a dedicated skylight repair company near you is your best option:
They’re likely to have more experience with skylights than a roofing company or general contractor that focuses more on other home improvement jobs.
They’re much more likely to offer a long-term guarantee for your window repair, as they have the experience to back up their work.
They might be able to save you money on materials, as companies that only repair and install windows often buy materials in bulk.
They will provide a more professional and specialized opinion on when to replace your skylight as opposed to repair it.
They’re more likely to be able to handle glass repair and replacement, whereas a general contractor or roofing company might just recommend a full window replacement. This could end up saving you money on the cost of skylight repair.
Handling skylight repair yourself is technically possible, but it’s not a good idea for two reasons.
First, working on a roof is dangerous without the required experience and safety equipment. Most roofs are sloped, so you’ll be on uneven footing while you work, which adds to the risk.
Second, skylights are the windows that are most likely to leak. If you make any mistakes during the repair process—which is more likely if you don’t have the experience of a window specialist—you could be increasing your risk of expensive water damage. Hiring a professional window repair technician will almost always cost more than a DIY window repair, but it’s worth the investment.
Many roofing companies will have the necessary materials and experience to tackle skylight repair. It might be tempting to have them do the work, especially if they’re already doing roof repair or replacement on your home. However, it’s best to hire a specialist who deals solely with windows, as they tend to have more experience with skylights and will often back up their work with longer guarantees.
Additionally, even a roofer who installs skylights is unlikely to have the equipment or skills to repair cracked or broken skylight glass. A window specialist can repair just the glass, while a roofing company might only be able to replace the sash or the entire window, which will often cost more.
It’s also possible to hire a general contractor for skylight repair, and most will be able to do the work. General contractors provide an even wider variety of services than roofers, so the likelihood that they have extensive experience with skylight repair and different types of skylights, like solar tubes, is minimal. You’re less likely to see ongoing problems like skylight water leaks and air leaks if you have a window technician come in instead.
Much like roofers, general contractors are less likely than professional window companies to be equipped and experienced enough to handle glass repair. A window tech can repair and replace just the damaged glass, while a general contractor is more likely to carry out a full replacement.
Window repair specialists might use various skylight repair methods, depending on the problem you’re experiencing.
If you have cracked or broken glass, they’ll either patch and seal the crack or replace the broken pane of glass and create a new seal around the edges to keep air and water out. If you have double-pane or triple-pane glass in your skylight, they can also use special tools to reintroduce argon or krypton gas between the panes and seal it inside. This can fix energy efficiency problems, as well as foggy window glass.
For frame and sash repair, your tech may remove skylight shades to access the skylight before removing part of the window or the entire unit. They’ll then repair materials around the skylight before reinstalling it and creating new weatherproof seals around it. For smaller problems, like a broken opening mechanism, they might simply remove the skylight sash, replace the crank, and reinstall the sash.
