Should You Replace Skylights During a Roof Replacement in the Treasure Valley?

Yes, in almost every case. If a skylight is more than about ten years old, replace it while the roof is already open. Dodd Roofing and Exteriors gives Treasure Valley homeowners the same answer every time, because the expensive part of a skylight job is opening the roof around the unit, and a tear off already does that. Matching the age of the skylight to the age of the roof also puts both on the same warranty clock.

Why is a roof replacement the cheapest time to replace a skylight?

During a tear off, the shingles, underlayment, and flashing around the skylight curb come off anyway. Setting a new unit in at that point adds a short block of labor to work the crew is already doing. Handling it later means paying a crew to mobilize, cut back sound shingles, rebuild the flashing, and blend the patch into a roof that was just finished. That standalone version usually runs two to three times the add on price.

What happens if you leave an old skylight under a new roof?

Skylight seals fail quietly. The glass unit loses its seal, fogs between the panes, and starts dripping on warm afternoons, and the first thing most people notice is a stain on the drywall below. The new roof is not the problem, but nobody knows that until someone opens it up. Cutting into a two year old roof also puts a fresh seam in a sound system and can complicate the workmanship coverage explained in our roof warranty guide.

How long do skylights last in Idaho sun?

Most residential skylights run fifteen to twenty years, and Treasure Valley summers shorten that. Strong UV, wide day to night temperature swings, and long stretches above ninety degrees work seals and gaskets harder than a mild climate does, the same way they age shingles faster. If yours is an acrylic dome original to a home built in the nineties or early two thousands, it is past due even if it has not leaked yet.

Does a new skylight need a new flashing kit?

Yes. Manufacturers build a flashing kit for the specific model and the specific roofing material, and installing without the matched kit usually voids the unit warranty. The kit includes the deck seal, step pieces up both sides, and the head and sill flashing that carries water around the curb and back onto the shingles. Reusing twenty year old aluminum flashing on a new skylight is the most common shortcut we find on installs that failed early.

Who replaces skylights with a roof in the Treasure Valley?

Dodd Roofing and Exteriors handles skylights as part of roof replacement work in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Garden City, and Middleton. We list the skylight as its own line on the roof estimate so you can see the add on before you decide, and financing covers it along with the roof. Call (208) 295-9421 to set up a free inspection.

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