I have two Velux stationary skyights that have begun to leak after about 12 years. They don’t leak alot, and we are in the ninth year of a drought, but I’m refinishing my hard wood floor under one of them. They are on a cedar shake low pitch roof under lots of trees. I’ve cleaned all debris from around them and tarred up any of the step flashing that have any vertical gaps. The units came with screw holes in the top of the flashing that frames the windows. I have caulked these. The newer versions of these don’t have these screw holes.
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Velux used to make a head flashing specifically for low pitched roofs.
I don't think they still do.
>>>>>>>>>They are on a cedar shake low pitch roof under lots of trees.
How low of a pitch? Until recently (and it's just new models that can be applied on low slopes), Velux skylights could not be installed with less than a 3/12 pitch on the glass, meaning a pitched curb had to be installed on roofs of less than 3/12.
Also, cedar should not be installed on less than 4/12 roofs without special considerations:
http://www.cedarbureau.org/installation/roof_manual/page07.htm
And it might be that your cedar roof is leaking, but the water is entering the living space at the skylight hole.
And, the next time you get the urge to smear tar on anything but a tar roof, smear it in your hair. It'll do just about as much good. There's nothing harder to diagnose and fix than a flashing situation with tar smeared on it. Good luck.
http://grantlogan.net/
I think you are onto it. cedar shingle do fione at 4/12, but a shake roof at 5/12 can scare me with a skylight in it, depending how well it is installed.Still with shakes, it is more likely the roof leaking. I don't know he he is seeing the water com in at.Tarring his step flashings was a bad move, eh?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
So what pitch is this roof?
And clean that tar off the step fl;ashings. That makes fizing this harder and can actually trap watter
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
...smear tar in your hair.........that was funny.......View Image
I can't get this tar out of my hair. Any advice
Dudley
Shave your head.http://grantlogan.net/
That'll cure him
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Liberal dosing of WD-40 followed by a wire brush wheel on the drill or grinder
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
You mentioned the you caulked the screws holes that hold on the metal flashing cap.
It sounds like you're refering to the metal cap flash that covers the drain channel. Try removing the screws and metal caps. Clean any debris fom under them. There is a channel created there that diverts the water down the side of the skylight, and allows it to drain out the bottom and down the roof. If debris is caught under there, the water will back up and look for another route, possibly into house.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
The screw heads point up to the sky and appear to attach the metal cap to the top of the window frame. I appreciate your advise and will remove same along with the cap and thoughly clean.
Somehow I get the impression that tar is not the thing to use!
FWIW if the skylight was properly flashed it shouldn't leak after 12 years. If it truely is leaking someone relied on caulk to keep the water out, never a good idea.
I have seen many older skylights with water stains as a result of condensation that many thought were roof leaks.
>>>>>>I have seen many older skylights with water stains as a result of condensation that many thought were roof leaks.Yup, that and fart fans. If he's a Montana man he probably gets some mighty cold temps on the outside of that glass from time to time.http://grantlogan.net/
OK. You've got my attention. Whats a fart fan?
The only time I have the leak is during the spring and it takes a pretty good downpour even then. Our low spring time temps are about 50 degrees. We've had light rain almost everyday for the last two weeks and to my surprise it hasn't leaked.
>>>>>Whats a fart fan? Bathroom vent.You've obviously eliminated the condensation option.http://grantlogan.net/