Skylights are one of the best ways to achieve more natural light in your home. Skylights are useful in instances where you need more light, when windows are impractical, or when you want to add some character and richness to an area without a huge impact on your home.
Like most other add-ons and work on your home, your skylights will not last forever. At some point, you will need to replace your skylights to avoid leaks and several other issues. So how do you know when your skylights have gone past their point of usefulness? Let’s review some of the more common signs of bad or old skylights, so you know what to look for in the future.
When Do You Need New Skylights?
If Your Skylight is Leaky
A leaky skylight may not seem like much of an issue, but it should be addressed immediately. Leaky skylights can allow water into the interior of your home causing peeling paint, can ruin drywall, and can even rotting out structural wood in some instances. Sometimes leaky skylights can be resealed, but if the issue is becoming commonplace, you need new skylights.
If Your Skylight is Damaged
Hail, errant tree branches, and a host of other issues have it out for your skylights. These environmental factors can crack and even break skylights. A cracked or broken skylight is not something you want to wait and see on, get it replaced immediately to avoid damage to your home.
During Roof Replacement
There’s no better time to replace skylights than during a roof replacement. During roof replacement, the components of your skylight will be at their most accessible and easiest to work with. If your skylights are new, you can have them reflashed, but if your skylights are older than ten years, you should think about replacing them during a roof replacement. Having your skylights replaced during a will save you plenty of money and give you the confidence that only a brand-new roofing system and skylights can give you.
If you have a skylight that is leaky, a skylight that is damaged, or you are having your roof replaced; it is a likely time for new skylights. Talk to your local roofing company to figure out what type of skylight options you have and what they think would work best on your home.