Skylight Maintenance, Dos and Don’ts—What to Consider Before Installing Yours

Table of Contents

1. Skylight Maintenance, What to Consider Before Installing Yours?
2. Possible Maintenance to Plan for
3. How to Spot a Leak
4. Skylight Maintenance
5. General Cleaning of Skylights
6. Mechanical Parts Also Need Attention
7. Extra Care in These Situations

Skylight Maintenance, What to Consider Before Installing Yours?

So, you’ve heard about the many benefits of skylights and you’re including them in your next home renovation. No question, doing something like a VELUX skylight installation will add value to your home. But, as with any change to a property, proper research is necessary.

Without knowing some facts about using and looking after this installation, you won’t get as much value from it. Also, knowing about the future maintenance you’ll do helps you plan so your unit lasts longer.

So, what TLC will a skylight need?

Possible Maintenance to Plan for

A skylight is a bit different than similar building features like windows. For proper maintenance you need to consider all its different components:

• Wood: Some skylights will have wood as part of the structure. This will require special maintenance, such as applying primer and varnish from time to time. Remember to cover other components like gaskets during the painting process, so you don’t ruin them.
• Skylight panes: The panes need to stay clean on both the outside and inside. If you allow dust and debris to accumulate it can prevent light from entering the room, so you’re ruining the efficiency of your skylight. Also, too much buildup can damage the pane.
• Flashing: The entire area around a skylight should be kept clean and clear. This means you need to clear away leaves and other debris that may land there after a storm. If you don’t add this to your home maintenance tasks, the water won’t flow away from the skylight, which could lead to bigger problems like roof leaks.
• Glazing: You need to check your glazing from time to time and note if there’s any condensation. This is an easy fix—you simply need more ventilation. So, ventilate for a few minutes, three times daily, and see if the condensation clears.

How to Spot a Leak

Skylights are super handy to allow more light into homes and if your quality units like VELUX skylights are installed by a reputable company, you don’t have to be too paranoid about major problems. The experts know how to install skylights to limit problems like leaks.

But they do happen.

While you can’t prevent them completely, they’re easy to spot if you keep your eyes peeled. And you do have to get into the habit of checking for tell-tale signs. Left untreated, a small leak can develop and result in damage to the roof, your home’s insulation and other areas.

Skylight Maintenance

It’s advisable to not view a leak as a DIY job. Rather call in the professionals if you notice any of the following:

• You notice moisture on the carpet of the room with your skylight
• The ceiling has moisture stains
• You notice mold in your home, attic, or the roof space

An expert will be able to find the source of the problem and if it is the skylight, it’s usually quite easily fixable.

General Cleaning of Skylights

The good news is that quality skylights aren’t very high maintenance. And the better products you invest in, the less time you’ll spend looking after them. But, when you do need to clean the panes, avoid chemicals and abrasive products.

Also, don’t simply wipe off the accumulated dust because this can scratch the surface of the pane. Always use water as part of the cleaning process. Using a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge is your best option, rather than brushes that can scratch the plastic or glass.

Mechanical Parts Also Need Attention

If you have a skylight that can open, remember to schedule maintenance checks for the mechanical components too. When these parts don’t move often enough they tend to get stuck, so give them a wiggle every now and then.

Extra Care in These Situations

A few important tips for skylight maintenance best practices:

• It’s especially important to make a point of looking for signs of leaks after a storm and even more so if your area had snowfalls.
• You don’t necessarily have to remove the snow or ice layers from the window. As soon as the sun is out and heats the roof, the window is one of the first areas that will warm enough for the ice to melt and the water to flow away. Just make sure there’s no debris blocking its way on the roof; so clear those gutters.
• Don’t leave bird droppings or the sap from a nearby tree’s berries too long before cleaning the exterior. You risk staining or it may become so difficult to remove a tough mess that you end up scratching your skylight.

Conclusion

With quality products like the skylights carrying the VELUX name, you know you’re investing in quality. For home or office renovations, this type of unit is always a practical solution to getting more light into a room and even improving ventilation. And thanks to it lowering power usage, you’re making a decision that even benefits the environment. And now you know how to look after it, so you’ll optimize the benefits.

Have any more tips about making the best of appliances and home installations? Let’s talk!

Thank you for reading!