Next Project: Roofing & Fixing the Skylight

[gunDriller]

I have 2 small leaks in my skylights that I am taking a shot at fixing.

I got a quote. $1250 for 2 new skylights and the associated roofing.

I've been up on the roof twice now. A friend holds the ladder and helps out in 1 1/2 hour work sessions.

These are photo's from yesterdays work session -

http://s403998394.onlinehome.us/sky/P1010001_sky.jpg

http://s403998394.onlinehome.us/sky/P1010002_sky.jpg

http://s403998394.onlinehome.us/sky/P1010003_sky.jpg

http://s403998394.onlinehome.us/sky/P1010004_sky.jpg

http://s403998394.onlinehome.us/sky/P1010005_sky.jpg

The last picture shows one of the probable leak spots. The friend said to use Henry's roof goop, comes in a 1 gallon container. To goop it all over the perimeter of the skylight. The lip is about 2 inches. So he said the fix is to goop it in about a 3 inch wide 'swath'.

Since I am a total roof beginner, but spent a lot of my engineering career designing waterproof enclosures, I'm thinking -
A/ maybe I can fix it, and
B/ Maybe I will end up hiring a pro roofer to re-roof around the skylight.

The $1250 quote I think was make work. I talked to another roofer who is retired but experienced. He said that the trick is to seal the skylight around its entire perimeter. That there may be zero need for new skylights.

That is why I am peeling away the roofing tiles. I use pieces of plywood, clamp them, and tie them back, like when a surgeon operates on a human being, they need to move flesh out of the way.

I am trying to peel the roofing tiles without damaging anything. So far I have cracked one shingle.

I'm thinking, I don't want to make it difficult for a roofer to clean up after me.

Anyway, it is a Work-in-Process.

Note, indoors it is leaking in 2 obvious places, below the 2 downhill corners of the skylight.

Next work session, probably -
1. Peel back the other long side, and the "up-hill" side, to get access to the skylight interface/seal on 3 sides.
2. Use the caulking gun Henry's (it's like RTV but toluene is the solvent) and lay it down thick. 3 inches wide, all the way around. Work it into the cracks, try not to breath the fumes.
3. Let it dry.
4. Bucket of water test. Run indoors & look for leaks.
5. No leaks = success. Remove clamps, use a few roof nails, tack down the roofing shingles like nothing happened.
6. Persistent leaks = call the roofer.

So, what do you guys think ?

[palani]

1) Remove the house to an environment that only snows and you won't have to worry about leaks

or

2) Flex Seal ...CALL NOW!!!! OPERATORS ARE WAITING!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofMwxrWDUmQ

[MNeagle]

That skylight looks so murky I'd replace it. Is the actual light leaking or the flashing?

[Horn]

like when a surgeon operates on a human being, they need to move flesh out of the way.

A surgeon with roof goop scares me.

I wonder if a fiberglass epoxy wouldn't do the trick?

fiber to bridge the gap instead of filling it.

Oh the suspense! :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91Dse2o3DQ

[Horn]

http://www.mrchimneyman.com/chimney-services-and-repairs/exterior-chimney-repairs/flashing-repairs

[Dogman]

Have used a product called "snow roof" that works very well around here on leaks, its white but can be painted.

[gunDriller]

http://www.mrchimneyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Flashing-repairs-before-and-after-index-photo-1024x576.jpg

Looks very effective.

It is an old skylight. Blurry & not clear.

[Dogman]

http://www.mrchimneyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Flashing-repairs-before-and-after-index-photo-1024x576.jpg

Looks very effective.


The skylight was basically placed on the opening in the roof and roofed around.

That looks like it exactly, did not know it came other than white color, easy to apply and if done right it will last for years being flexible!

Site prep is important, clean, clean and clean so the elastromer makes a good bond with the surface.

[madfranks]

That skylight looks so murky I'd replace it. Is the actual light leaking or the flashing?

I agree - if you can afford it put a new skylight in. BTW, in your second photo, the way those shingles are lapped with the side of the skylight, water will flow right in. Skylights have to be properly flashed so any water flows away, not in.

[Horn]

The goop stuff may fill only, and gap out over time itself unless you can bridge it too with a fiber mat.

May need something to fill the gap so you can bridge it also.

There is no flashing on that skylight because it is so low profile.

[Horn]

http://s403998394.onlinehome.us/sky/P1010005_sky.jpg



See how the continental plates fit perfectly into one another?

That's the distance your skylight is expanding...about (1) 8 penny nail heads from all accounts...

Maybe a floating flexible bridge will do :)

[Horn]

Check this guy had/has some same skylights as you.

Looks like the original were flashed with something like fiberglass @ about 1 minute in.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7ZzeqU6-qA

[gunDriller]

I bought a gallon can of Henry's roof-goop (basically, tar) and spread it around this morning.

I did uphill & sides of the larger skylight. Basically had peeled back the roofing & roof paper, and cleaned it.

Then smushed about 40% of the can (0.9 gallons x 0.40 ~ .36 gallons) around the perimeter, the surface that comprises the roof & the flange of the skylight.

Let the roof shingles & paper back down. Put weights on top, unless weights weren't enough. Also used a few nails to tack it down so it would make a bond with the tar and hopefully fill any space associated with a leak.


So, tomorrow we do the bucket of water test. Not sure if I can celebrate yet but it would be great if this works. :)

[mick silver]

it time to buy some new ones ... http://www.homedepot.com/p/VELUX-21-in-x-45-1-2-in-Venting-Deck-Mount-Skylight-with-Tempered-LowE3-Glass-and-White-Solar-Powered-Blackout-Blind-VS-C06-2005DS00/203229814?N=5yc1vZc5eo plus if it warm there you can vent the house . have two of theys . and you need some flashing around them plus the ones you show us are rotten. tar only go's so far it's not a fix and you will need to remove the shingles around does light first before you try anything fix . left the shingles and remove the nails so you can use the shingles again

[Neuro]

As I understand it skylights almost always sooner or later leads to leaks and problems, consider getting rid of it entirely!

[gunDriller]

Thanks everybody for the replies !

The fixes withstood the first rains.

For the small skylight, there was a visible crack. I patched that using tar.

I want to see some heavier rains, or to do the bucket test.

Now working on patching up the paint on the inside - scraping, sanding, etc.