Skylight Installation

Skylight Installation

Summary: A skylight properly installed will not leak and its energy performance is improved.

There is nothing more frightening to a home builder (or home buyer) than water leaks in a house. And, no water leak that I can think of is much worse than a roof leak.

Skylights and roof windows tend to be centered over finished rooms with beautiful floors, so when they leak, water damage is instant and devastating.

Even when I warned my home buyers that skylights leak and that we (I) couldn't guarantee them they said don’t worry, we understand and we will take full responsibility for leaks…yea, right.

The phone calls were inevitable and whenever it rained, I worried.

So, over the years, my carpenters and I figured out how to install skylights, and even some audaciously huge roof windows so that they would not leak.

Courtesy of Wasco Skylights

Manufacturers also worried about leaks and made improvements in skylight design AND installation instructions and procedures.

None of this was rocket science. Water runs downhill and will eventually find the easiest route.

The trick is to give water the easiest route and not let it find its own.

All things equal, it all hangs on proper installation. Use a professional and be sure that this professional follows the manufacturer’s directions.

Remember my home building motto; “if it doesn’t look right, it probably isn't.”

And, here’s some excellent information from our friends at the U.S. Department of Energy.

"In addition to following the manufacturer's guidelines when installing a skylight, it's also important to consider slope and moisture control…continued."

Carl Heldmann

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