Skylights, the problem of every flat roof. Repairing flashing

Repairing skylight leaks on flat roofs

Five easy steps on How to repair a skylight

Many types of skylights

Some skylights are for pitched roofs, and others for flat roofs only.

Skylights have the function of bringing natural light into a dark area in a building. So often they are the primary cause of a leak in a roof. Most of the time they do not leak from the beginning, but it will take several years to become a problem.

On a shingle roof, the flashing will get clogged with debris, and in turn, the water will get diverted under the shingles where it could start leaking.

The other issue is if the installer nailed the shingles through the flashing, then those nails could start rusting and cause a skylight to leak.

Most of the time it would be debris collecting on the top end of the skylight that causes the leak.

Another issue could be that the seal between the frame and the glass could dry out and start leaking.

What is the difference between a flat roof and a pitched roof skylight?

Most of the times it’s the flashing. A skylight that is for a shingled roof will have step flashing. It is important to weave the step flashing into every line of shingles.

The person in the image is starting to install the shingles around the skylight as well as the step flashing with every row of shingles.

skylight leak Repairs - The flashing is stepped with every line of shingles
Step flashing are for skylights installed on shingle roofs
You will see the first step flashing metal as he installs the shingles around the skylight.
In this image step flashing is installed

Skylights for flat roofs

When a skylight is installed on a flat roof, then the flashing around it should be one solid piece. That’s when the rubber roof gets attached to the flashing with adhesives.

EPDM uses contact cement to glue the rubber to the metal. That is one of the more difficult areas to accomplish and to make sure it would last a long time without leaking.

With Torch Down Rubber Roofs, roofers have applied their own techniques. Some would try to heat weld the rubber to the metal. This is a process where they melt one side of the membrane and then stick it to the metal flashing. Because of the expanding and contraction of the Torch Down Roofing System, the heat fused rubber to the flashing will eventually pop loose.

We have developed our own technique over the years. What we do is use Modified Bitumen Adhesives to apply the rubber membrane to the flashing.

Skylights are an ongoing problem for roofs.

Skylight flashing for a flat roof. The best way to attach the rubber roof to the skylight is with Modified Bitumen adhesive.

Skylight flashing for flat roof. The best way to attach the rubber roof to the skylight is with Modified Bitumen adhesive.
Notice we are using an adhesive to adhere the rubber membrane to the skylight flashing. In this case there is no step flashing as on a shingle roof

In the image above you will notice the helper is about to roll the rubber membrane forward unto the tar adhesive. Below is an image of that particular adhesive we use to attach the rubber membrane to the flashing.

The only Tar to make roof repairs on hot tar and Modified Bitumen rubber roofs.
This is the Modified Bitumen Adhesive we use with all our Torch Down Roofing Systems. Karnak 81 Trowel Grade
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1 thought on “Skylights, the problem of every flat roof. Repairing flashing”

  1. Some of the areas your roof may require repairs are the loose or missing shingle that were damaged from hard winter winds. Shingles are extremely brittle in cold temperatures, and hard driven cold winds can easily break shingles. Flashing repairs are also important to repair because exposed nails and sealants such as caulking often dry out and fall apart. This creates open gaps for water to easily cause an enormous leak.

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