Replacing Cracked or Fogged Glass
Broken or fogged glazing reduces light and insulation. We replace individual panes or complete glazing units without always needing to change the skylight frame or flashing, to a high standard.
Wellington Skylight Glass Replacement
New Glass for a Sound Skylight Frame Skylight Glass Replacement
Skylight Glass Replacement in Wellington
When a skylight is cracked, chipped or fogged between the panes, the frame and flashings are often still in good order, so skylight glass replacement in Wellington may be all you need rather than a whole new skylight. We remove the damaged glazing, measure for a replacement sealed unit or pane, and fit it back into the existing frame with new seals, leaving the ceiling lining and roof flashings undisturbed.
Overhead glass has to do more than a wall window. It must keep out rain driven sideways by Wellington wind, cope with hail and falling branches, and stay in place if it does break, because it sits above the people underneath. That is why the type of glass matters as much as the size, and why we check the whole skylight before recommending glazing alone.
Skylight Glass Replacement
Skylight Glass Replacement Services in Wellington
Safety and Laminated Glass
Overhead glazing must be safe. We supply laminated or toughened glass that complies with building requirements, reducing the risk of injury if the glass is ever damaged, from a local team.
Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Replacement glass can include low-e coatings, argon fill and tinting. These upgrades improve insulation, reduce glare and help keep your home comfortable in both summer and winter, backed by experience.
Skylight Glass Replacement
Signs Your Skylight Glass Needs Attention
Glass problems are usually visible from inside the room. The pattern of the damage often tells us what caused it, which shapes the right repair.
Fogging between the panes
Mist or droplets trapped between the two panes of double glazing mean the edge seal of the sealed unit has failed. It cannot be wiped away because the moisture is inside the unit, so the unit needs replacing.
Cracks from impact
A star or bullseye crack usually comes from hail, a branch brought down in a gale or something dropped on the roof. Laminated glass holds together when this happens, but a cracked pane still needs replacing before water finds the break.
Stress cracks from the edge
A crack that starts at the frame edge and runs across the glass can point to frame movement, uneven support or heat stress. We check the frame and fixings too, so the new glass does not crack the same way.
Cloudy edges on laminated glass
Milky patches or small bubbles around the edge of a laminated pane can mean moisture has reached the interlayer. It tends to creep slowly, but it spoils the view and is a sign the glass edge has been sitting wet in the frame.
Perished glazing seals
Hardened, split or shrunken glazing rubbers let water in around the glass even when the pane itself is fine. These can often be replaced on their own, as covered on our skylight repair page.
Glass that moves in the wind
If a pane rattles, shifts or whistles in a strong northerly, the beads, clips or packers holding it may have loosened. Left alone, the movement wears the seals and can chip the glass edge, so it is worth checking before the next storm.
Skylight Glass Replacement
Laminated and Toughened Glass Explained
Skylight glass is overhead glazing, and NZ glazing standards set out what is suitable above people. In practice, most double-glazed skylights use toughened glass on the outside and laminated glass on the inside. Toughened glass is several times stronger than ordinary annealed glass and breaks into small, blunt pieces. Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds fragments together, so a broken pane stays in the frame instead of falling into the room.
When we replace glazing, we match or improve on the original make-up. Old single-glazed skylights with plain or wired glass are worth upgrading. We can also include low-emissivity coatings that reduce heat loss in winter, and tinted or solar-control glass for rooms that overheat. Each unit is specified for the size and position of your skylight rather than taken off a shelf.
Skylight Glass Replacement
Replace the Glass or the Whole Skylight?
Glass-only replacement is the most economical route when the rest of the skylight is sound. It is not always the right call, and we will tell you plainly which way your job leans.
When glass only makes sense
The frame is solid and square, the flashings are watertight, the shaft lining is dry, and replacement glazing for that model can be made or sourced. Most of the work is done without stripping flashings.
When the whole unit should go
The timber frame is rotten, the aluminium frame is corroded or bent, the flashings leak, or the model is obsolete. New glass in a failing frame rarely pays off, and skylight replacement is the better spend.
Checking before we quote
We inspect the frame for rot or corrosion, look for stains in the shaft, check the flashings from the roof and find the maker's label if there is one. That tells us whether new glass alone will fix the problem.
What happens on the day
We measure the existing glazing accurately and order a made-to-measure sealed unit. On the day we remove the old glass, clean and check the rebates, fit new seals and glazing, and check the skylight is weathertight before we leave.
Protecting the room below
Taking out broken glass from above means fragments can fall. We cover floors and furniture under the skylight, keep people out of the room while the old glass comes out, and set up safe roof access before work starts.
Keeping it dry in the meantime
If the glass is broken and cannot wait for the replacement, we fit a secure temporary cover over the opening. We prioritise urgent leaks, so call us as soon as it is safe if water is coming in.
Skylight Glass Replacement
Why Choose Our Skylight Glass Replacement Specialists in Wellington
When skylight glass is cracked, fogged or failing, replacing only the glazing is often cheaper than fitting a whole new unit. Our specialists check whether the frame and flashing are sound, then replace panes or sealed units with correctly sized, compliant glass. Overhead glazing must be safe, so we supply laminated or toughened glass that reduces injury risk if it is ever damaged. We can also upgrade to double glazing, low-e coatings or tinting to improve insulation and cut glare. Work is planned carefully to protect your interior, and the opening is made weathertight again before we leave. You get safe, efficient glazing at a sensible price. Get in touch today.
- Frame and flashing assessed before replacing glass
- Laminated or toughened safety glazing
- Low-e, tinted and double glazed upgrades
- Interior protected throughout the work
- Often cheaper than full replacement
Skylight Glass Replacement
Related Services
Glass is only one part of a skylight. Visit our main skylight page for the full picture of what we offer, or look at these closely related services.
Helpful answers
Skylight Glass Replacement FAQs
Call our team if you need advice for your property or roofing project.
04 888 0115Can fogged double glazing in a skylight be fixed without replacing it?
Not reliably. Fog between the panes means the sealed unit's edge seal has failed and moist air has got into the cavity. Drilling and drying a unit may clear it for a while, but the seal is still broken and the insulating performance does not return. Replacing the sealed unit is the lasting fix, and it can usually go back into the existing frame.
Is fogging between the panes the same as condensation on the glass?
No. Moisture between the panes is a failed sealed unit. Moisture on the room-side surface is ordinary condensation, caused by warm humid air meeting cold glass, and the glazing itself may be fine. Wipe the glass: if the mist comes off, it is surface condensation, and the fix is ventilation or insulation rather than new glass.
Why do skylights use laminated glass?
Because the glass sits overhead. If a laminated pane breaks, the plastic interlayer holds the pieces together and keeps them in the frame, rather than dropping glass into the room below. That is why laminated glass is the normal choice for the inner pane of a skylight, and why we never replace overhead glazing with ordinary annealed glass.
How long does it take to get replacement skylight glass?
Sealed units are made to measure, so there is a lead time between measuring and fitting that depends on the glass make-up and the supplier's schedule. We give you a realistic timeframe with the written quote. If the existing glass is broken and letting water in, we make the opening weathertight while the new unit is made.
Can I swap my skylight glass for polycarbonate?
Sometimes, particularly in older domes and flat roof lights, but it is not a direct swap in a glazed roof window. Polycarbonate is lighter and tougher but scratches more easily and moves more with heat, so the frame and seals must suit it. Our polycarbonate skylights page explains the trade-offs in more detail.
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