Skylight Repair & Replacement in Calgary: Fix the Leak, Keep the Light
Skylights fail at their flashing and seals years before the glass ever does - which is why most "leaking skylights" in Calgary are actually repairable without replacing the unit. We reseal, reflash, repair, and replace skylights on shingle, tile, and flat roofs.
I'm Gjin Bajraktari, founder of APEX Roofing Repair INC. Skylight leaks are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed repairs we run - water entering at a skylight can surface a metre away on the ceiling, and "condensation drip" gets mistaken for "leak" all winter long.
Leak, Condensation, or Attic Rain?
Three different problems produce a wet skylight in Calgary - and three different price tags. Our free assessment tells you which one you have, with photos.
A true leak
Outside water gets in - during rain, chinook snowmelt, or ice-dam backup. The fix is flashing, seals, or (for cracked or fogged units) replacement. Water appears during or after weather events.
Condensation
Indoor humidity hits the cold glass - common on single-glazed or older units during cold snaps. Water appears on the inside surface in cold, dry, clear weather. Fixes range from humidity management to a modern low-E, argon-filled unit.
Attic rain
Frost that built up inside the skylight shaft during a cold snap melts out all at once when a chinook arrives. It masquerades as a leak, but the skylight is innocent.
More on attic rainSkylight Repairs, Done to Hold
- Reflashing - the most common permanent fix - we rebuild the flashing kit where the skylight meets the roof: step flashing up the sides, saddle at the top, apron below. On tile roofs this takes tile-handling skill most Calgary crews don't carry.
- Seal & gasket replacement - on units whose frames are sound but weeping at the perimeter.
- Curb repairs - on flat-roof skylights - re-membraning the curb where ponding water and thermal cycling split the seams.
- Ice-dam-related repairs - skylights sit mid-slope where Calgary ice dams park; we add ice-and-water shield around the opening so backup water can't find the frame.
- Hail damage documentation & repair - acrylic domes crack and glass units fracture in serious hail. We photograph and repair or replace as part of the claim scope.
Brands, Glass, and When It's Time
Replace rather than repair when the unit itself has failed: fogged glass, cracked acrylic domes, rotted frames, or 20-plus-year-old single-pane units that bleed heat all winter. Modern double-glazed, low-E, argon-filled glass runs dramatically warmer on the inside pane - less condensation, less heat loss, no more curtain of cold air under the skylight in January.
Solar-powered fresh-air skylights
The venting upgrade worth naming: solar fresh-air units open to vent the indoor humidity that fogs glass and drips as "condensation" all winter, then close automatically on a built-in rain sensor - no wiring to run. On a replacement, it's the difference between a skylight that only lets light in and one that also lets moisture out.
Velux
The global standard - deck-mount and curb-mount, fixed or venting, with the widest size range and strong warranties. We install and service Velux across Calgary.
Columbia Skylights
BC-made and well-suited to Canadian climates, popular in Calgary on both pitched and flat roofs, and often the value pick at matching quality.
Fakro
European units with solid venting options; we service and replace these as well.
The smartest time to replace a skylight is during a roof replacement. The flashing integrates in one pass, you pay one mobilization instead of two, and the skylight's lifespan aligns with the roof's. If your roof is due, decide on the skylights first - see roof replacement.
Roofing Meets Building Science
A skylight is a hole in your roof - the question is whether it's a well-managed one. General handymen reseal them with caulking every two years and call it maintenance; we fix the flashing system so the repair holds. APEX Roofing Repair INC. is Alberta-registered, based at 924 14 Ave SW #902 in Calgary, owner-operated, with a 5.0 average rating. I carry current Fall Protection certification and Red Cross First Aid & CPR/AED Level A - the same certifications that let us work your skylight safely on a steep tile roof.
Skylight Questions
How much does skylight repair cost in Calgary?
Can you just reseal my skylight with caulking?
My skylight only drips in winter. Is it leaking?
Do you install new skylights where there wasn't one?
Velux or Columbia - which should I buy?
Should I replace skylights when I replace my roof?
Skylight leaking? Diagnose it free.
We'll tell you whether it's a leak, condensation, or attic rain - with photos - before you spend a dollar. Serving Calgary and surrounding communities.