This homeowner who resides in Wesley Chapel is proud to state that his skylight has always performed well for him for the past 12 years. However, in late September of last year a tropical storm passed through the area and resulted in water on his floor.
When we went out to inspect the damage, we found that the problem was a simple one: The perimeter sealant had been cracking for a couple of years. It was just one of those things that he hadn’t looked up at. One bad storm was all it took to let water in around the seal that had failed.
Tampa skylight maintenance can catch these problems before a storm becomes a repair job for you.
What Skylight Maintenance Includes
Maintenance is not a single task. It is a set of checks and small services that together ensure a skylight stays tight and functional throughout its full service life.
Sealant inspection and reapplication are the most important pieces. The perimeter seal between the glazing and the frame, as well as between the frame and the flashing, should be inspected annually. In Tampa, UV exposure ages sealant faster than in most other parts of the country. When sealant starts showing fine cracks, it should be stripped and replaced before it opens enough to let water through.
Flashing inspection covers the metal at every edge of the skylight. We look for separation, rust spots, lifted edges, and any points where the flashing has pulled away from the roofing material. Small issues at flashing joints are a fifteen-minute repair. Ignored, they become a new deck, new insulation, and new drywall situation.
Glazing cleaning improves both light transmission and our ability to inspect the surface. Algae, mold, and mineral deposits build up on Tampa skylights from our humidity and rain. Cleaning the exterior and checking for cracks or crazing on acrylic units is part of a thorough maintenance visit.
Drain channel-clearing matters for skylights with built-in drainage. Some units have small weep holes or channels at the bottom of the frame. These can clog with debris and back up water against the seal. Clearing them takes minutes.
Interior inspection covers the light well and the surrounding ceiling. We look for early signs of moisture: slight staining, soft spots in the drywall, or any changes in the paint or texture around the interior frame.
How Often Does a Skylight Need Maintenance?
An annual check up prior to hurricane season is probably the most practical approach to get a look at your skylights before the season starts. That way you can find out if anything needs to be fixed and have it taken care of before the wet season starts and you’re chasing leaks in July.
Check your older skylights every 6 months. After 15+ years, problems can occur much faster and be less predictable than with younger units.
A post-storm assessment even without apparent damage inside a building can be worthwhile. Wind-driven rain can suddenly and dramatically expose even marginal sealing that might otherwise have lasted for another year under normal conditions.
Skylight Maintenance on Different Roof Types
For tile roofs in Hyde Park and Lutz, we look for any shifting or damage of the tiles near a skylight that could cause water to run into the building’s frame. Since tile roofs expand and contract with temperature changes, any seal between a tile and the flashing of a skylight can be affected.
For shingle roofs in the Brandon and Carrollwood areas, we look at the shingle edges closest to the skylight. If the shingles have curled up or lost granules on the edges of the flashing, then we recommend a closer look at the entire skylight assembly.
For commercial flat roofs near Westchase and Wesley Chapel, we inspect the roof around the skylight for membrane continuity at the curb and check for any back up of water in the drainage that could affect the skylight base.
DIY vs. Professional Skylight Maintenance
Typical things that homeowners can do to check for problems include cleaning exterior glazing from a ladder for a single-story installation and then looking up from inside for staining or condensation.
Flashing and sealant work involves climbing onto a roof with appropriate materials and understanding what you are looking at. An applied sealant to a compromised surface does not adhere. An applied sealant over rust does not stop the rust from continuing to deteriorate. Diagnosing problems is where the professional experience comes in.
Maintenance Plans for Multiple Skylights
If your home or commercial property has more than one skylight, a maintenance plan makes sense. We service all units in a single visit and track their condition year over year. For property managers in the Tampa Bay area overseeing multiple buildings, a scheduled maintenance agreement keeps skylight issues from becoming expensive surprises.
Schedule Skylight Maintenance Tampa
Avatar Roofing offers maintenance for skylights to Tampa residents and property managers. We serve the entire Tampa and surrounding areas, including South Tampa, Hyde Park, Westchase, Lutz, Brandon, Carrollwood, and Wesley Chapel.
Call before the storm season hits and allow us to complete a small maintenance visit to prevent a major leak repair visit in August.
