Commercial skylight repair is two jobs in one: the glazing and the roofing around it. On Orange County commercial buildings, a leaking skylight often has nothing to do with the glass; water gets in at the curb flashing where the skylight meets the roof. Which half is failing decides whether you need a seal, a new unit, or better flashing.
The roofing side of a skylight
A skylight sits on a raised curb, and that curb is flashed into the roof membrane the same way an HVAC unit or a hatch is. In practice, that transition is where water most often gets in, rather than through the dome. As a roofing contractor, our focus is that curb-to-roof detail: the base flashing, the counterflashing, and the way the membrane turns up the curb. Get those right and the opening can stay dry for years; get them wrong and no amount of sealant on the glass will help.
Skylights also move. The dome expands and contracts with the heat, the curb cycles with the deck, and the flashing has to absorb all of that. That constant movement is why a detail that was fine for a decade can suddenly start weeping, and why a proper repair rebuilds the flashing instead of simply re-caulking it.
Commercial skylights come in several forms, from single dome units to large structural glazing and continuous ridge units over a warehouse, and each ties into the roof a little differently. A small curb-mounted dome is a quick flashing job; a long aluminum-framed run involves more flashing length and more places for water to find a way in. In Orange County that ranges from rows of domes over tilt-up warehouses in Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine to daylighting panels over showrooms and retail closer to the coast, where salt air also works on aluminum frames and fasteners. Telling us the type and roughly how many units are involved helps us bring the right materials on the first trip.
If you have a skylight dripping onto a showroom or warehouse floor, that is both a water problem and a slip hazard. Book a roof diagnosis online and we will find out whether the leak is the glazing or the flashing before anyone guesses at a fix.
Common commercial skylight repair issues
On flat and low-slope commercial roofs, skylight problems tend to fall into three groups.
Curb and flashing leaks
Old sealant-only details, flashing that was never turned up high enough, and counterflashing that has pulled away all let water track down the curb and under the membrane. This is the most common and the most fixable; rebuilding the flashing usually stops the leak without touching the skylight itself.
Cracked domes and panels
Acrylic and polycarbonate domes grow brittle under years of UV and can crack, craze, or yellow. A cracked panel leaks directly and should be replaced, but we still inspect the curb, because a brittle dome and tired flashing often age together and a half-fix just brings us back next season.
Condensation that looks like a leak
Not every drip is a leak. A poorly ventilated skylight can sweat on cool mornings, especially over humid interior spaces or under the coastal marine layer, and drop water that mimics a roof leak. We check for staining patterns and timing so you are not paying to chase rain that was never getting in.
What a skylight inspection covers
When we come out, we look at the whole assembly rather than just the spot that is dripping. That means the condition of the dome or glazing, the sealant and gaskets, the base and counterflashing, the curb height above the roof surface, and the membrane for several feet around the opening. We also note whether the curb is tall enough for the roof type, because a curb that sits too low will keep leaking no matter how well it is flashed. The result is a clear picture of whether you are looking at a quick flashing repair or a unit that has reached the end of its service. If you want the rest of the roof assessed on the same visit, our 4-Phase Roof Inspection ends in a full written report. We document what we find with photos so a facilities manager or owner can see the condition for themselves rather than taking a verbal report on faith, and so the same record is there the next time the roof is serviced.
Fall protection and roof access
Skylights are an opening in the roof, and California workplace safety rules treat them as a fall hazard during rooftop work. Our T.E.A.M. Certified crews protect the opening and set up access safely before working around it. That is not a detail to skip, and it is one reason skylight work belongs with a roofing contractor rather than a handyman who may not be equipped for work around a roof opening.
Repair now or replace at your next reroof
If the skylight is sound and only the flashing is failing, a targeted repair is the sensible move. If the units are brittle and the roof itself is near the end of its life, it is usually smarter to replace the skylights while the membrane is already open. We cover that timing in our note on skylight replacement during a reroof, and the broader program lives on our commercial roofing page. For a general look at why skylights leak, including on homes, see our guide to skylight leak repair.
Frequently asked questions
Is the leak coming from the glass or the roof?
Usually the roof side, because curb flashing is the more common failure point. We inspect the flashing first, because fixing a sound skylight's flashing is simpler and longer-lasting than replacing a unit that was never the problem.
Can you match an older skylight if a panel is cracked?
Replacement domes are made for many standard curb sizes, so a compatible unit can often be found. Where an exact match is not available, replacing the unit on the existing curb is usually straightforward and lets us upgrade the flashing at the same time.
Do you handle skylights during a full reroof?
Yes. Reroof time is the ideal moment to reset or replace skylights, because the membrane is open and the new flashing can be tied in cleanly rather than worked around.
When a skylight is dripping or a dome has cracked, send us the details through our contact page or call Rescue Roofer at 1-888-346-7663, and we will sort the glazing from the flashing and keep your Orange County building dry.