We get many calls from Tampa homeowners who have already bought a house with a skylight. They loved the idea of natural light pouring in from above. Then the first rainy season hits, and they’ve got water dripping down the inside of the frame, staining the drywall, and pooling on the floor. That’s when they start searching for a skylight contractor in Tampa who actually knows what they’re doing.
Skylights are one of those things that seem simple but can go wrong in many ways. The flashing has to be done right. The curb has to be built right. The glass or dome has to be sealed properly. A poorly installed or unmaintained skylight will cause problems in Florida’s climate, which features intense sun, heavy summer rain, and occasional hurricanes.
As a skylight contractor serving Tampa and the surrounding areas, we handle everything from new skylight installations to repairs, replacements, and routine maintenance. We work in South Tampa, Westchase, Lutz, Odessa, Keystone, New Tampa, and throughout the greater Tampa Bay area.
Skylight Installation
Adding a new skylight to your Tampa home is one of those upgrades that changes how a room feels. A skylight can brighten a dark hallway, a kitchen that never gets enough light, and a bathroom that feels like a cave. And with Tampa getting sunshine most days of the year, you’re going to get your money’s worth.
There are a few different types of skylights we install in Tampa homes. Fixed skylights are the most common. They don’t open; they just let light in. These skylights are ideal for rooms that require brightness without compromising airflow. Vented skylights can be opened to let in fresh air, which is popular in kitchens and bathrooms. Some are manual, and some are motorized and remote. Tubular skylights are smaller units that fit into tight spaces such as closets, laundry rooms, and narrow hallways. They’re very affordable and still bring in a surprising amount of light.
Every skylight installation we do in Tampa starts with a proper assessment of your roof structure. We look at the framing, the pitch, the roofing material, and where the rafters run. This information indicates the appropriate unit size, its placement, and the necessary curb and flashing construction to ensure long-term water resistance.
We pull permits for skylight installations. Some contractors skip this step, which can cause problems later when you sell your home or deal with your insurance company. We ensure that every skylight installation adheres to code and is properly documented.
Skylight Repair
Skylight repair is probably the most common call we get as a skylight contractor in Tampa. The number one issue is leaking, and leaking skylights almost always come down to one of three things: failed flashing, a cracked or deteriorated seal around the frame, or a damaged dome or glass panel that’s letting water through.
Skylights installed 20 or 30 years ago are common among homeowners in older Tampa neighborhoods like Seminole Heights, Palma Ceia, and parts of Lutz. The original sealants have dried out, the flashing has separated from the curb, and every heavy rain is a problem. That’s not a skylight that needs to be replaced; it needs to be properly resealed and reflashed.
Other common skylight repairs we handle in Tampa include fixing condensation problems where moisture is building up between the panes or inside the frame; repairing damaged or warped dome covers on older bubble-style skylights; fixing vented skylights whose motors or hinges have failed, and addressing water damage to the surrounding drywall and ceiling when a leak has been going on for a while.
If your skylight is leaking, don’t keep putting it off. Water damage inside a home can compound quickly, especially in Florida’s humidity. What starts as a small stain can turn into mold behind the drywall in a matter of weeks.
Skylight Replacement
Sometimes a skylight is past the point where repair makes sense. The unit is too old; the glass is yellowed and blocks most of the light; the frame is warped or cracked; or the skylight was simply the wrong product for the application. In those cases, skylight replacement is the right call.
We replace skylights throughout Tampa and the surrounding area. The process involves removing the old unit completely, inspecting the curb and surrounding roof deck for any damage, making any necessary repairs to the wood or framing, and then installing the new skylight with fresh flashing and sealant.
Units installed 15 or 20 years ago have significantly improved with newer skylights. Better low-E glass coatings that block UV and reduce heat gain, which matters a lot in Tampa summers. Improved sealing systems that hold up better over time. Energy Star-rated units that can help with your cooling costs. If you’re replacing an old skylight, you’re almost always getting a meaningfully better product.
We work with several quality skylight brands and can help you pick the right unit for your roof type, your room size, and your budget. We’ll also tell you honestly when a replacement makes more sense than a repair and when it doesn’t.
Leaking Skylight Repair
A leaking skylight is one of those problems that drives Tampa homeowners crazy because it’s hard to tell exactly where the water is coming from. Is it the flashing? The seal around the frame? A crack in the dome? Water can travel along rafters and framing before it drips down, so the wet spot on your ceiling might not be directly below the leak.
We diagnose leaking skylights properly before we do any repair work. That means getting up on the roof to check the flashing, inspect the curb, test the seal around the frame, and look for cracks and gaps in the glass or dome. We use water testing when needed to trace where the leak is actually coming from. We don’t rely on guesswork or simply recaulk everything in the hope of a successful outcome.
The most common cause of a leaking skylight in Tampa is failed step flashing or counter-flashing around the curb. This is the metal that creates a water barrier between the skylight frame and the surrounding roof surface. When it separates, corrodes, or was never installed correctly in the first place, water gets in every time it rains hard enough.
If you’ve had another roofer or handyman try to fix your leaking skylight and it’s still leaking, call us. We fix many failed repair attempts by people who treated it as a simple caulking job when it was actually a flashing problem.
Flat Roof Skylight Installation
Installing a flat-roof skylight is a different job from installing a skylight on a pitched roof. The drainage situation is different, the curb height requirements are different, and the flashing has to be done in a way that accounts for water that sits on the roof surface rather than running off quickly.
We do flat-roof skylight installations on commercial buildings and on residential properties with flat-roof sections, which are common in Tampa, where many homes have additions, carports, and certain home styles. The skylights used on flat roofs are typically dome-style units with elevated curbs that keep water from pooling against the frame.
Proper flat roof skylight installation in Tampa requires attention to the membrane roofing system around the unit. The flashing has to integrate with the membrane, whether that’s TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen, in a way that’s fully waterproof. We know how to do this correctly, and we stand behind the work.
Skylight Inspection
If you’ve got a skylight in your Tampa home and you’re not sure what condition it’s in, a skylight inspection is a smart move. This is especially true if the skylight is over 10, if you just bought the house, or if there’s any sign of moisture near it.
A skylight inspection covers the glass or dome for cracks, chips, and UV degradation. The frame and curb are for warping, separation, and sealant conditions. The flashing was checked for corrosion, gaps, and proper integration with the roof surface. Check the interior around the skylight for any signs of past moisture intrusion that might indicate a slow leak that hasn’t yet become obvious.
We offer skylight inspections as a standalone service and as part of a full roof inspection for Tampa homeowners who want the complete picture of their roof and all its components.
Skylight Maintenance
Skylights in Tampa endure harsh weather conditions, including the sun, rain, and occasional hurricanes. The ones that hold up best over time are the ones that get regular attention. Skylight maintenance isn’t complicated, but it does need to happen on a schedule.
Good skylight maintenance for a Tampa home includes cleaning the glass or dome at least once a year to remove algae, dirt, and debris that block light and hold moisture. Checking and resealing the perimeter caulk before the rainy season starts. Clearing any debris from around the curb and flashing. And for vented skylights, lubricating the hinges and testing the motor and remote if it’s motorized.
We offer skylight maintenance visits for Tampa homeowners who want a professional to handle the work instead of getting on the roof themselves. We’ll clean it, check the seals, inspect the flashing, and let you know if anything needs attention before it becomes a repair.
Homeowners in Westchase, Odessa, and parts of Lutz with heavy tree cover tend to need skylight cleaning more often due to debris and organic buildup. If you’re not certain how often your skylight needs attention, we can take a look and offer an honest recommendation based on your specific situation.
A damaged skylight gets worse quickly. Leaks, cracked glazing, and failed flashing are the most common problems, and ignoring them leads to water damage and higher repair costs down the road.
Good repairs cover more than just the skylight. The surrounding flashing and roofing materials need to be checked too, or the problem comes back. For older units, replacement often makes more financial sense than repeated repairs.
If you’re in Tampa and need a skylight inspected or repaired, contact Avatar Roofing for a professional assessment before the damage spreads.