Fixed skylight
A fixed unit does not open and has fewer moving parts, so its seals are the main risk. A replacement fixed unit is sized to the existing opening where possible, and its flashing is matched to the roof slope and the covering around it.
Serving San Bernardino County
Skylight Replacement in Fontana: Seals, Curbs and Glazing
Replacement of a leaking or failed skylight, with the curb, flashing and seals checked as one assembly.
- Santa Ana wind roof repair
- Storm damage roof inspection
- Winter rain leak repair
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Skylight
Skylight Replacement: what it covers
Quick answer
Skylight replacement in Fontana removes a leaking or failed skylight and fits a new unit with matching flashing and seals. Skylight seals and curbs are common leak points, and the surrounding flashing must be checked at the same time. Fontana Roofing connects callers in Fontana and San Bernardino County with a local crew.
A skylight lets light into a room, and it also breaks the roof surface at a point where water can enter. The seals between the glazing and the frame, and the curb and flashing that join the unit to the roof, must hold for the life of the skylight. When one of those fails, a stain appears in the room below, often in a corner of the ceiling near the unit.
This page explains how a crew decides between resealing a skylight and replacing it, what the replacement includes and why the flashing is checked as part of the same job. It is written for a homeowner who has seen a stain under a skylight or a fogged or cracked pane.
- Service area
- Fontana & San Bernardino County
- Availability
- Call to reach a local roofer
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Warning signs
Signs you need skylight replacement
A skylight is an opening in the roof and a fall hazard. Do not step on or near a skylight, and do not stand on the glazing to clean or check it. Glass that is cracked or fogged can break under load. Keep children and pets away from an opened skylight. (833) 751-2102 connects you with a local crew that replaces the unit with proper fall protection.
- A water stain on the ceiling or wall around a skylight, often in a corner.
- Fogging or condensation between the layers of the glazing.
- Cracked, yellowed or brittle seals around the frame or the glazing.
- A skylight frame that is loose, warped or pulling away from the curb.
- Flashing around the unit that has lifted, cracked or rusted.
- Water dripping from the frame during a rain, even when the glass is clear.
Options
Types and options for skylight replacement
Venting skylight
A venting unit opens for air and has a hinge and a handle as well as its seals. A crew checks the mechanism as well as the seals, and it explains how the vent is operated and maintained so the seals are not stressed.
Tubular daylight unit
A tubular unit is a smaller light shaft through the attic to a ceiling diffuser. It has a dome at the roof, a tube and a diffuser, and each part has its own seal. A crew checks all three when a tube unit leaks.
Resealing instead of replacing
When the glazing is sound and only the seal at the frame has failed, resealing can be an option. The crew says whether the seal can be replaced without opening the unit, and it does not recommend resealing where the frame or the curb is failing.
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Why do skylights leak even when the glass is clear?
A skylight leaks most often at the seal between the frame and the curb, at the flashing around the unit or through a crack in the seal of the glazing. The glass itself is seldom the cause, so a clear pane does not mean the skylight is sealed.
Water finds the seam at the frame, runs down the curb and enters the attic and the ceiling below. The stain can be some distance from the unit, because the water follows the frame and the rafters before it shows.
The flashing kit is a second line of defense. It sits over the curb and under the shingles, and it is the part most often missed when a skylight is resealed rather than replaced.
When should a skylight be replaced rather than resealed?
Replace a skylight when the frame or the curb is failing, the glazing has fogged or cracked between its layers, or the flashing has aged past repair. Resealing can work when only the seal at a sound frame has failed, and the crew says which applies.
A seal that has failed at one side of a sound frame can often be replaced. A frame that is warped, rotted or loose on its curb is not sound enough to take a new seal, and resealing it will leak again.
Fogging between the layers of the glazing is a sign of failed seals within the unit itself. A crew that finds fogging usually recommends replacing the unit, since the glazing cannot be cleaned or resealed from the outside.
Does the flashing need replacing with a new skylight?
Usually yes. A new skylight comes with its own flashing kit, and the old flashing must be checked before it is reused. Old flashing that has rusted, cracked or lifted is replaced, because a new unit on old metal will leak at the first failed joint.
The flashing kit must match the unit and the roof pitch. A crew checks the kit against the opening before the unit is fitted, and it fits the shingles so that water runs over the flashing and into the gutter.
Where the curb is rotted, the crew reports the wood damage and corrects it before the new unit goes in. A skylight set on a rotted curb is a leak waiting to happen.
Can a skylight be replaced in the same opening?
Often yes, when the opening and the curb are sound and the new unit is the same size or a close match. A different size or type of unit may need the opening changed, and the crew shows the homeowner what that involves before it starts.
A new unit of the same size fits the existing curb and opening, which keeps the work short. A larger or a different type of unit needs the curb cut or rebuilt, and that is a separate line in the scope.
The crew checks the framing around the opening before deciding. A rafter that is cut or moved for a new unit needs support, and the technician notes it in the written scope.
What affects the scope of a skylight replacement?
The scope depends on the unit type and size, the condition of the curb and the framing, the pitch and covering around the opening and the access to the attic and the ceiling below. The price is explained and approved before any work starts, and no figure is printed here.
A skylight on a steep roof needs more care to reach, and the crew plans the harness and footing before it climbs. A skylight over a finished room may need the ceiling opened or repaired, which is listed separately.
Where the framing needs work, the crew explains the change and the reason for it in writing, so the homeowner knows what the replacement includes before it is priced.
Our process
How our skylight replacement visit works
Tracing the leak
The crew checks the room below and the attic above the skylight for the wet path. A leak around a skylight often runs down the curb or along the frame before it shows, so the entry point is traced rather than assumed.
Checking the unit and seals
The glazing, the frame and the seals are checked for fogging, cracks and brittle sealant. The crew decides whether the unit can be resealed or whether the whole skylight needs replacing, and it explains the reason.
Checking the curb and flashing
The curb that carries the unit and the flashing around it are checked for rot, rust and lifted edges. A replacement sits on this assembly, so a failed curb must be corrected before the new unit is fitted.
Fitting the new unit
The old unit is removed and the opening is checked. The new skylight is fitted to the curb with its own flashing kit, and the seals are set so that water runs over the joints and not into them.
Checking the shingles and the interior
The shingles around the new unit are checked and matched. The ceiling below is checked for any damage the leak caused, and the crew notes what should be repaired there, since that work is separate from the roof.
San Bernardino County
Why skylight replacement is different in the Inland Empire
Skylights take a lot of sun during the day in the Inland Empire, and their seals and glazing work hard across the seasons. A seal that dries out in the summer heat can open a gap that lets the first heavy rain in, which is why the skylight is one of the items on the pre-season check.
The Santa Ana winds that the National Weather Service warned of in February 2022 can drive rain sideways against a skylight, testing the seal at its upper edge. A crew checking a leak after a windy night looks at the upper edge of the frame first.
A skylight call in Fontana often starts with a stain in a room that has a unit overhead. The crew traces the water from the ceiling to the frame and says whether the unit, the curb or the flashing is the cause.
Where we work
Skylight Replacement across San Bernardino County
- Skylight in Fontana
- Skylight in Rialto
- Skylight in Bloomington
- Skylight in Colton
- Skylight in San Bernardino
- Skylight in Rancho Cucamonga
- Skylight in Ontario
- Skylight in Upland
- Skylight in Montclair
- Skylight in Grand Terrace
- Skylight in Loma Linda
- Skylight in Highland
- Skylight in Redlands
- Skylight in Mira Loma
- Skylight in Riverside
- Skylight in Moreno Valley
- Skylight in Norco
- Skylight in Crestline
- Skylight in Devore
- Skylight in Guasti
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Flashing and Valley Repair
Repair of the metal flashing and valley work where a roof meets a wall, vent or another slope.
Roof Repair
Repair of a leaking, cracked or lifted roof section, done before water reaches the roof boards.
Winter Rain Leak Repair
Repair of roof leaks that appear at the first heavy rain of the season, after months of dry weather.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Repair of the flashing and counterflashing that seal a chimney to the roof, where leaks often start.
FAQ
Skylight Replacement FAQs
How do I know if my skylight has failed?
A stain near the unit, fogging between the panes, a cracked or brittle seal, or water dripping from the frame in a rain are the usual signs. A crew can check the unit from the roof and from inside, and it will say whether the seal, the curb or the glazing has failed.
Can I clean a fogged skylight myself?
Fogging between the panes means the seal inside the unit has failed, and cleaning the outside will not fix it. Do not open the unit, and do not climb onto the roof to reach it. A crew can check the seal and recommend whether the unit should be replaced.
Will a new skylight stop all leaks?
A new unit with new flashing and a sound curb removes the usual causes of a leak. A skylight is still only as good as the shingles and flashing around it, so the crew checks those too. A new unit on an old curb can still leak at the curb.
How long does a skylight installation take?
No completion date is promised. A crew gives a planned sequence and explains what could change it, such as the framing found once the old unit is out, or the ceiling damage below. Any change is reported in writing before the crew carries on.
Should the ceiling below be repaired at the same time?
The ceiling is a separate item. The crew notes any water damage it finds and recommends a repair, which may be done by the homeowner or another trade. Keep the stain and the damage photographed before the ceiling is cleaned or painted.
What should I ask about the crew's license?
Ask for the contractor license number and the C-39 roofing classification, and check the number with the Contractors State License Board. Ask for a current workers' compensation certificate for the company that attends, and ask who is responsible for the ceiling and framing if they need work.