Cause 1: Failed flashing kit
The curb flashing and step flashing around the skylight take the same beating as chimney flashing — thermal movement, wind, age. When the kit fails, water enters at the frame edges and stains the surrounding drywall. The fix is a proper flashing rebuild, not caulk around the frame.
This is the most common real skylight leak we see in NY homes, and it’s very fixable without replacing the unit.
Cause 2: Failed seals and gaskets
Rubber gaskets and seals dry out in NY sun just like pipe boots do. Water then seeps between the frame and glazing. Resealing works when the unit is otherwise sound — typically under 15–20 years old.
Fogging between the panes is the telltale: the insulated glass seal has failed internally. That’s a unit replacement, not a reseal — and we’ll tell you honestly which one you have.
Cause 3: Condensation mistaken for a leak
On cold mornings, warm interior air condenses on cold skylight glass and drips — looking exactly like a leak but needing no roofing work at all. If it happens without rain and evaporates by midday, suspect condensation.
The fix is humidity control and sometimes upgraded glazing — not flashing. We test for this specifically because ‘repairing’ condensation as a leak wastes your money.
Repair or replace? The honest framework
Repair (re-flash/reseal) when the unit is sound, under ~15–20 years, and the glass seals are intact. Replace when there’s internal fogging, frame rot, or the unit predates modern flashing standards.
And if you’re re-roofing anytime soon, do the skylight then — open-roof access makes it dramatically cheaper. Call Roof Leak Repair Plus at (888) 974-0663 for an honest assessment of your Levittown skylights.
Related Services
- Emergency Roof Leak Repair in Levittown
- Roof Leak Detection in Levittown
- Roof Flashing Repair in Levittown