A common question our customers ask is, when do we need to replace our skylights? Unlike windows, skylights are generally out of sight and not easily accessible to check the condition. It’s reasonable then to ask, when should you replace your old skylights?
Leaking or compromised
If one of skylight’s several seal points is broken water will seep into the skylight, the wall-attic cavity or leak into the room. The latter problem, a physical leak, is usually the easiest to detect, especially if it’s dripping during a rainstorm. If water seeps into the skylight or cavity around the skylight, you’ll see moisture build up. Finally, with very old skylights it’s possible to have a crack in the acrylic or glass causing skylight to fog, become cloudy or retain droplets.
Upgrading – design, efficiency, ease
New skylights look nothing like the old skylights they’re replacing. New Velux skylights offer solar powered skylights, remote control operators, built-in rain sensors, energy efficient glass, sun-shades, security locks and more. There are few better ways to invigorate your home with new life than to improve the infrastructure, meaning those physical elements that are needed for the operation of your home. They can seem to be unimportant, such as when my father used to say of his 1950s style single 1 ½” shower spigot, “the water comes out in the shower, it’s fine”. Until you replace a tired old skylight with one that has modern design and functionality – you have no idea how it changes the way you live.
Replacing your windows or doors
If you’re ready to replace your worn-out windows and doors, then it’s likely time to proactively replace your skylights at the same time. For all the reasons stated above and because it’ll save you money in the long run. Skylights have a finite service life and replacing them at the same time as you replace your windows and doors will improve the overall energy efficiency and comfort in your home. Consider new styles such as an operable venting skylight where you had a fixed one before or a larger skylight to replace a smaller skylight. Without a doubt you’ll save on your overall installation costs when you do the job all at once.
Replacing your roof
Never throw good money after bad as they say. At Woodland, we highly recommend that you do not choose to re-use old skylights when you replace your roof. The roofer will spend extra time removing shingles and debris and still may disturb your skylights during the tear off phase. You will still need to use a new flashing kit to re-install your old skylights as it’s highly unlikely that the flashing won’t be compromised. Do the math and you’ll find the extra cost to put in a new skylight will more than pay off in longevity, aesthetics and efficiency. It will cost far less for the roofers to replace your old skylight with a new one when the shingles are off the roof. What happens if you choose to re-use the old skylight and a leak develops? You’re responsible for the bill when the roofer needs to return and tear off the new roof shingles to access the skylight.
