Finding the Real Cause
Leaks around skylights come from failed flashings, sealant, condensation or cracked glazing. We investigate carefully to identify the true cause rather than simply applying sealant over the symptoms, with care.
Wellington Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
First Question: Leak or Condensation? Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing in Wellington
Water around a skylight is one of the most common calls we get, and skylight leak repair and resealing in Wellington always starts with working out where it is actually coming from. Rain getting past the flashing, a failed seal, a rotten upstand and plain condensation can all leave the same brown stain on the shaft. Treating the wrong cause wastes money and leaves the real problem growing quietly inside the ceiling.
Wellington makes diagnosis tricky. Rain arrives sideways in a northerly gale and can be driven uphill under flashings that cope perfectly well in still conditions, so a skylight may only leak in one wind direction. Cold, still winter nights produce heavy condensation in older units. We read the clues, test where needed, and fix the source rather than smearing more sealant on the outside. Our skylight overview covers the wider range of skylight services.
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing Services in Wellington
Resealing and Re-flashing
We remove deteriorated sealant, correct flashing faults and reseal the skylight with quality products, delivering a lasting solution that stands up to Wellington's driving rain and strong winds, on schedule.
Protecting Your Interior
Ongoing leaks damage ceilings, insulation and framing. Fixing a leaking skylight early prevents stains, mould and costly interior repairs, protecting your home and its long-term value, to a high standard.
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
Reading the Clues
When and where the water appears tells us a lot before we even climb a ladder. It is worth noting these patterns before you call.
Drips Only During Rain
Water that appears during or just after rain points to a leak in the flashing, seals or roofing around the unit. If it only happens in strong wind from one direction, the fault is usually on the side facing that wind.
Drips on Cold, Dry Mornings
Water running down the glass or shaft on a clear, cold morning with no rain is condensation. It is a ventilation and insulation problem, covered on our skylight condensation fixes page.
Drips Long After the Rain Stops
Water that keeps appearing a day or two after rain has stopped is usually draining slowly from somewhere it has been held, such as a saturated timber upstand, wet insulation or sagging underlay above the ceiling.
Staining on the Upslope Side
A stain on the shaft wall facing up the roof usually means water is getting past the back tray or head flashing, often because debris has built up behind the skylight and dammed the flow.
Staining Down One Side
A stain running down one side wall of the shaft often points to a side flashing that has lifted in the wind, or a side channel blocked with debris, letting water spill over its edge into the roof.
Black Mould Along the Frame
Mould in the corners of the frame and the top of the shaft is a sign of long-term moisture, which may be chronic condensation, a slow leak, or both together.
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
Where Skylight Leaks Usually Start
On older skylights, the upstand or kerb is a frequent culprit. Timber kerbs absorb water through failed paint or open joints, rot, and stop holding the unit tightly. On pitched metal roofs the back tray is the other common failure: leaves and moss collect behind the skylight, water backs up, and in a strong wind it is pushed over the top of the tray and into the roof.
Side flashings lifted by wind, sheet ends above the unit that were never turned up, underlay that was cut but not lapped back over the opening, and loose or corroded fixings all let water in. Sometimes the unit itself is the problem, with glazing seals that have shrunk away from the glass. Where the flashing is the root cause, our skylight flashing replacement service replaces it properly.
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
When Resealing Works and When It Does Not
Resealing is the right fix when a specific joint or glazing seal has failed on a skylight whose flashing is otherwise well designed. We cut out the old sealant completely, clean and dry the surfaces, and apply a neutral-cure sealant that is compatible with the glazing and the frame. Some sealants attack acrylic and polycarbonate, so the product matters as much as the workmanship.
Resealing does not work when sealant is being asked to do the job a flashing should be doing. A skylight that only stays dry because of a bead of silicone across the back tray will leak again as soon as the sun and roof movement break that bead down. In that case we will tell you, and quote the flashing repair instead.
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
How We Track Down the Source
We inspect the shaft, lining and framing from inside first, looking at staining, moisture and timber condition. On the roof we check the flashings, sheet ends, upstand, seals and fixings. If the cause is still not clear, we run a controlled water test, starting low on the roof and working upward, so we can see exactly which area lets water through. After the repair we re-test to confirm it is dry. Leaks that turn out not to be the skylight at all are handled through our roof leak detection and repair service.
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
Why Choose Our Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing Specialists in Wellington
A leaking skylight is frustrating, and quick fixes with sealant rarely last. Our specialists investigate whether the water is coming from failed flashings, perished sealant, cracked glazing or condensation, because each cause needs a different cure. We remove deteriorated sealant, correct flashing faults and reseal using quality products that withstand Wellington's driving rain and UV. After the repair, we check the surrounding roofing and ceiling for hidden moisture damage so problems do not linger. You get a clear explanation of what went wrong, photographs where helpful and a lasting solution. Fixing the cause early protects your ceilings, insulation and framing from stains, mould and costly repairs. Contact our local team today.
- True cause of the leak identified
- Flashings corrected and sealant renewed
- Quality products built for UV and rain
- Surrounding areas checked for hidden damage
- Clear explanations with supporting photos
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing
Related Services
Depending on what the inspection finds, the fix may lead to one of these related services, from flashing work to condensation control or a wider roof leak investigation.
Helpful answers
Skylight Leak Repair and Resealing FAQs
Call our team if you need advice for your property or roofing project.
04 888 0115Why does my skylight only leak in some storms?
Most likely because of wind direction. Wellington rain is often wind-driven, and a flashing detail that sheds water in light rain can let it through when a gale pushes water up the slope or sideways under a side flashing. Noting which storms cause the leak, northerly or southerly, helps us find the weak side quickly.
Can I just put silicone around my skylight to stop the leak?
It may stop it for a while, but it rarely lasts. Silicone over a dirty or wet surface does not bond well, it breaks down in UV, and it can trap water inside the joint it was meant to protect. It can also block the paths flashings use to drain water. A lasting fix means finding and correcting the actual entry point.
How can I tell if my skylight shaft has hidden water damage?
Look for bubbling or flaking paint, soft or crumbling plasterboard, dark staining in the corners, and a musty smell. From the roof space, check the timber framing around the shaft for staining, softness or mould. We probe and moisture-check the framing during an inspection, because rot can be well advanced behind a lining that still looks sound.
Does condensation on my skylight mean it is faulty?
Not necessarily. Some condensation on cold mornings is normal, especially on single-glazed units or in bathrooms and kitchens. Heavy condensation that runs down the shaft regularly points to cold glazing, an uninsulated shaft or poor ventilation in the room. Double-glazed units, shaft insulation and better extraction all help.
Should a leaking skylight be repaired or removed?
If you still value the light, repairing or replacing the unit is usually best. If the room has enough light without it, or the skylight has leaked for years, removing it and closing the roof with matching roofing and a sealed ceiling is a permanent fix. We cover that on our Skylight Removal and Roof Sealing page.
Wellington Roofing
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