No one likes a leaky roof. Unfortunately, the most common way to trace roof leakages is during rainfall – when raindrops find their way into your home. If your skylight leaks when it rains, It is important to fix the problem the moment you find it. Most times, leakages hide how far they’ve penetrated into your home. This is especially if your roof leaks, but your ceiling remains intact. If you have a water leak, instead of falling through the ceiling, the water can divert to other parts of the house – think duct work, walls and crevices. The moisture from this leakage will provide the perfect breeding ground for microbes like mildew and fungus to grow.
Some of the Places to Check for Leakage Include
- The attic, due to its proximity to the roof.
- Wet spots behind your gutter.
- Listen for drip sounds coming in from your vent
- Bubbling around your sockets, light fixtures, or unusually damp walls.
Areas Usually Affected as a Skylight Leaks When it Rains
As lovely as skylights are, they are very prone to leaks – regardless of how well installed they are. Because they are designed to hold things in – dew, leaves – skylights can start leaking merely other sources of water – not just rainfall.
What You Can Do
- Apply a silicone caulk to stop leaks. You’ll need to do this regularly, because caulk isn’t very durable.
- Apply a roof sealant to suspected areas so that you can close up all holes and gaps.
- You can repair the shingles around the skylight if they are showing signs of wear.
Bottom Line
The only thing you can do is make sure that place is cleared of debris. Once in a while, you can re-shingle the valleys, and put water and ice shields. If your skylight leaks when it rains, be sure to check the attic, bubbling in the walls, and the attic to find where the leak is coming from. To repair the leak, caulk and roof sealant will be your best options. It is best to determine where the leaks are to prevent further damage.