Skylights in your home can add value to your property and give the rooms a brighter, more spacious appearance. But they may also deteriorate over time, creating an issue.
That is why it is essential to regularly inspect and clean your skylights. Doing so can extend their lifespan, saving you from costly repairs in the future.
1. Cracks in the Glass
Skylights are an excellent way to bring natural light into your home and regulate temperature inside. But if they’re not properly sealed or insulated, leaks may occur sooner than you think.
One obvious sign that your skylight requires repair is a crack in the glass. These cracks occur due to temperature changes causing glass to expand or contract accordingly.
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If your glass is cracked, a two-part epoxy mixture can be used to repair it. Usually, this mixture consists of 50/50 resin and hardener.
This method requires the most effort, but can be completed by anyone. After applying the mixture to your cracked glass, let it air-dry for 24 hours.
2. Leaks
Skylights are an important part of home maintenance, and early detection of leaks can help avoid costly interior damage and repairs in the future.
Leaks can occur for various reasons, but are most often caused by rotting framing or water damage. Check the flashing, or frame, around your skylight to identify the source.
Your roof may have minor fissures, cracks or even rust from water damage if this is the case. In such cases, contact a qualified roofing contractor to repair it promptly.
A temporary solution may be to apply roof cement around your skylight to seal it in. Unfortunately, this only provides a temporary fix and could eventually lead to mold, rot, and other issues in the future.
Another potential issue is the glass of your skylight may be leaking through its weather seal. This can be a slow and sneaky leak, but it will progressively worsen over time.
3. Foggy Panes
Foggy windows can be an eyesore and inconvenience, but they also often indicate an underlying issue that can be corrected with some simple fixes.
Double-pane windows, known as insulated glass units (IGUs), may appear milky or foggy when moisture collects between the panes when their seal fails. When this occurs, temperature differences between inside and outside cause moisture to wick into space and form condensation.
Foggy double-paned windows can be a real hassle to deal with and in many cases the best solution is to replace them. However, there are some defogging methods you can try that are less costly than window replacement and may provide temporary relief from fogging issues.
4. Stained Glass
Stained glass windows are an elegant way to bring life and color to your skylights. These windows can be arranged into patterns and tinted with various hues of glass for a beautiful lighting effect in the room.
This process is highly complex and demands a great deal of skill. Additionally, it’s potentially hazardous, necessitating intense focus to ensure success.
It is recommended to inspect stained glass in your skylights regularly for cracks, bubbles and leaks.
Stained glass is a type of glass that has been colored using oxides when heated in a furnace. This material of glass is often employed for windows and decorative pieces.
Skylights Windows Inspection checklist
The best way to avoid serious problems with your skylights window is to schedule annual service for them. These professional roofers can clean them, check for leaks and provide general maintenance to keep them in great condition.
To start with, they should be cleaned a few times a year to prevent build-ups of film or mould from building up in the frame and wood that could result in serious damage if left unchecked.
Here are the Skylights Windows Inspection checklist:
- Do a thorough inspection
- Identify the problem
- Look for root causes
- Develop a plan to fix the problem
- Implement the solution
- Measure the results
What other things do you have to take note of to inspect the skylights windows?
When your windows are in good shape, they enhance your home’s appearance and give it more energy efficiency. They also provide excellent noise reduction and keep your home cozy in winter, spring, and summer.
They can make your house more comfortable, and they can reduce your energy costs too. That’s why it’s important to keep them in good shape and repair any damage that needs to be addressed before they start performing poorly. So what should you do when you notice that your skylights need repairs?
One of the main things that you have to take note of is whether your skylights are leaking. A skylight leak is often considered a sign of poor installation and care, but it can also be the result of condensation, which can be caused by cold weather. If you see water on your roof or around your skylight windows, it could mean that your roof and flashing are not sealing properly or are damaged.
Another common problem that can lead to a skylight leak is that the frame of an insulated glass allowed some water to pass. The insulated glass seal needs to be resealed, and in some cases the entire window may need to be replaced, so that the leak will stop. It’s important to ensure that the frames and flashing of your insulated glass are properly sealed, and that the linings of the frame and glass remain free from debris.
A quality insulated glass skylight is made with small weeping holes around the outside of the glass. These are designed to allow condensation that forms on the inside of the glass to escape into the outside air, which helps prevent leaks from forming.
