Roof Leak Repairs
Skylight Leak Repairs Across Sydney
Half of 'leaking skylights' aren't leaking at all -- they're condensation, and the fix is completely different.
A wet skylight shaft sends most people straight to the sealant gun, but the first job is telling a genuine leak from condensation, because the fixes are opposite. A real skylight leak comes in through the flashing kit, the perished glazing seal or a cracked dome. Condensation forms because warm, moist indoor air meets cold glass. We diagnose which one you have first, then repair the actual fault -- roof windows, dome skylights and tube skylights each fail differently.
Leak or condensation? Diagnosing correctly
A leak follows the weather -- it appears during or shortly after rain and the water can be traced to an entry point above. Condensation appears on cold mornings, in bathrooms and kitchens, and often when it isn't even raining, gathering as droplets on the underside of the glass and running down the shaft. Sealing a skylight that is actually condensating does nothing, and we see plenty of roofs where the wrong problem has been 'fixed' three times.
We check for the tell-tale signs of each, and where it's condensation we address ventilation, insulation of the shaft and the glazing rather than the flashing. Being honest about this saves you paying for a roof repair that was never going to work.
Where genuine skylight leaks come from
When it is a real leak, the flashing kit is the usual culprit. Skylights rely on a purpose-made flashing that integrates the unit into the surrounding tiles or metal; if it was installed poorly, has lifted, or was reused after a re-roof, water gets in around the frame. On tile roofs the flashing and the tiles above it have to work together, and a single displaced tile beside a skylight can be enough.
The other sources are the perished perimeter seal or gasket on an older roof window, and cracked or crazed acrylic domes that have gone brittle under years of Sydney UV. Tube skylights (the reflective shaft type) leak at the roof dome and the top seal of the tube, and their diffuser can also collect condensation that looks like a leak.
How we repair and re-flash skylights
Where the flashing is the fault we lift the surrounding tiles or sheeting and re-flash the unit properly so the whole assembly sheds water as designed, rather than caulking around the outside. Perished seals and gaskets are replaced with the correct components, and cracked domes are replaced rather than patched, since a repaired crack in brittle acrylic won't hold.
For tube skylights we reseal the roof dome and the tube's upper connection. And where our diagnosis found condensation, we improve shaft insulation and ventilation instead of touching the roof -- because fixing the right problem is the only fix that lasts.
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What's Included
- Leak-versus-condensation diagnosis before any roof work
- Re-flashing of roof windows and dome skylights into surrounding roofing
- Replacement of perished perimeter seals and gaskets
- Replacement of cracked or crazed acrylic domes
- Roof dome and tube seal repairs on tube skylights
- Shaft insulation and ventilation advice where condensation is the cause
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my skylight is leaking or just condensating?
A leak follows the rain and can be traced to water entering above. Condensation appears on cold mornings, often when it isn't raining, as droplets on the underside of the glass. The fixes are opposite, so we diagnose which you have before touching the roof.
Can you just seal around the outside of my skylight?
External caulking is a short-term patch, not a proper repair. Skylights are meant to be weatherproofed by an integrated flashing kit. If that flashing has failed we lift the surrounding roofing and re-flash it correctly, so the assembly sheds water as designed rather than relying on sealant.
Why is my skylight dome cracked?
Acrylic domes go brittle after years of Sydney UV and eventually craze and crack, letting water through. A crack in brittle acrylic can't be reliably patched, so we replace the dome. On tube skylights the roof dome is a common leak point for the same reason.
Do tube skylights leak differently to roof windows?
Yes. Tube skylights leak at the roof dome and the top seal of the reflective tube, and their diffuser can gather condensation that mimics a leak. Roof windows tend to leak at the flashing or a perished perimeter gasket. We diagnose the specific type before repairing.
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