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Level Group Check your skylight

Questions To Ask

When you call a contractor to inspect a skylight or get a quote for work, you are not trying to diagnose the problem from the ground—that is their job. You are gathering information to help them do it faster and to understand what you are paying for. These are the questions that matter, ordered from simplest to most technical. A contractor worth calling can answer all of them clearly and will ask you questions back. If they brush past any of these, they may not be the right fit.

Getting the most out of the conversation

Write down the answers. If you are getting multiple quotes, the details matter more than the price. A contractor who has looked at the skylight, studied the flashing, and seen the interior damage can give you an honest explanation of what failed and why. A contractor who quotes over the phone without seeing it is guessing. The best ones ask you to describe the water marks, the season it appears, and what the roof looks like—then they still come out to look.

Professional contractor with credentials and installation materials at a job site

Ask these questions first

Start with the simplest ones—type of skylight, when it was installed, when the problem started. A contractor who listens to these details is building a picture before they climb the ladder. If they seem impatient with basic questions, that is a signal. The best contractors know that five minutes answering questions saves an hour on the roof later.

Worker lowering a skylight unit into a roof opening during installation
A contractor who can explain why water is coming in from the seal versus the flashing versus the glazing, and what that means for your roof and ceiling, is the one who knows the work.

The full list of questions

  1. What type is the skylight: fixed, opening, or sun tunnel?
  2. Roughly when was it installed (or do you have the original warranty paperwork)?
  3. Where does the water show up inside: one spot or several places around the frame?
  4. When does it leak: all rain, wind-driven rain only, or snow melt?
  5. Have you noticed condensation on the glass or frame, especially in winter mornings?
  6. Are there any visible cracks, gaps, or separation between the frame and the roof?
  7. Does the interior drywall show staining, and if so, how much of the area around the frame?
  8. Has the roof around the skylight been replaced or had any work done in the last ten years?
  9. What is the roof material: asphalt shingles, metal, tile, or something else?
  10. Do you have access to the attic to look at the interior frame and any water damage?

Numbers that change the answer

10
the number of core questions to ask a contractor
5
minutes for a contractor to listen before giving you a quote
3
the main causes they are investigating: seal, flashing, or the unit itself

When the answers point to different fixes

If the water shows up in one spot right where the frame meets the roof, and only in heavy rain, the seal is probably the culprit. If water appears in multiple spots or shows up during snowmelt when wind is not a factor, the flashing has likely failed. If the glass is fogged, the glazing is cracked, or the frame itself is rotting or separating, the unit has reached the end of its life. A contractor who can connect your answers to a specific problem is the one reading the clues. The decision helper on the planning notes page can give you a sense of which of these three directions to expect before you make the call.

Additional resources