Skylight Flashing and Roof Leaks

Skylight flashing is designed to make an adjustment between the sloped roofing and the skylight curbs. Done right, and as part of a correctly installed roofing system, skylight flashing allows you to enjoy your skylight for many years. Done wrong, you can end up with leaks that can utterly ruin the room below the skylight.

Skylight Flashing is Critical

Many contractors don’t understand the importance of skylight flashing; they tend to see tar and underlayments as the primary methods of protecting against leaks. In reality, your skylight flashing must be properly installed if you want a water-shedding system that will last for years to come.

Training is Key for Skylight Flashing

Because skylight flashing is such an integral part of your roofing system, it should always be installed by someone with technical experience and hands-on knowledge. This experience and knowledge should extend to an awareness of the issues related to tying skylight flashing into a variety of exterior finishes, including wood, stucco and vinyl.

It should be noted that the Alberta Building Code does not cover skylight flashing. This has resulted in a lack of proper training in the installation of skylight flashing.

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Tags: Roof Leaks, skylight flashing

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Your company has replaced my roof early in June and I would like to compliment on a job well done. You have really done my roof right. The quality and craftsmanship is excellent and your team is very professional. It’s been a great pleasure to have been working with your company. Again, thank you very much for a job well done.
J. Chwiecko, Calgary Homeowner
The work was done on time, as promised and the attention to the job at hand was first rate and excellent. My first time with Done Right was just great! Thanks for the Excellent work!
Glen, Calgary Homeowner
The work was efficiently performed and completely satisfactory. The scope of the completed work and bidding was as agreed. We can certainly recommend Done Right Roofing.
The Duzinski’s, Calgary Homeowners, SW
Excellent customer service! All around great work.
T. Schmidt, Calgary Homeowner
I appreciate how quickly the roof was reshingled. Very speedy, very polite – A very positive experience for the homeowner.
N. Merryfield, Calgary Homeowner, SW
Excellent roofing job. Took clean up thoroughly. Did not cause any damage to flower bed. Courteous staff.
Dan, Calgary Homeowner
We were impressed with competence of the roofers, the speed at which they progressed, their courteous manner and the cleanup of materials. In this matter I also was pleased to find my driveway void of materials. At this point your team seems to be working together well and all issues are addressed as they arise. There seems to be a strong customer and work ethic within your company.
S. Drumand, Calgary Homeowner, NE
The service was great and the roofers were great too.
P. Zabok, Calgary Homeowner
The estimator showed up on time for the consultation and the roofing crew was here first thing in the morning and did not dink around. They got to work right away and continued right through the day. The only time I saw them stop was for lunch.
Maureen, Calgary Homeowner
Great timeliness and follow-through. Also within budget.
R. Phelps, Bragg Creek Homeowner

Quality Tips

Nailing the shingle at both the nailing line and at the top of the shingle, on the roof gables, will prevent the wind from lifting up the shingle.
Although it is not required, it is strongly recommended that, in high snow areas, ice dam protection is used on roof pitches of 5/12 and under.
Using a course of starter shingles up and down both sides of an open valley can insure that the valley is 100% leak proof.
Using a course of starter shingles up and down both sides of an open valley can insure that the valley is 100% leak proof.
Shingle installation instructions vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. They must be followed exactly to protect the homeowner’s warranty.
To avoid leaks around roof penetrations use a “Back Pan” shingle over the back of the penetration, but under the main shingle course.
A quality contractor should formally inspect every single roof that their company installs. Otherwise, poor workmanship will go undetected, leading to long-term problems.
Roofing is considered a “Skilled Trade” by the Government of Canada. Everyone on the roof should have a minimum of internal Certification to a maximum of Journeyman training.
Only tear-off as much old roof area as can be replaced or at least waterproofed with underlayment in one day. Calgary has volatile weather and you never know!