Does home insurance cover skylight leaks?
Short answer. Home insurance covers a skylight leak when a covered event caused it, such as hail cracking the glass or dome, a falling limb, or wind lifting the flashing. Leaks from aged flashing, failed seals or condensation are treated as maintenance and generally are not covered.
Where skylight leaks come from
- Flashing: the most common source. The metal and membrane around the curb or frame can fail with age or be damaged in a storm.
- Cracked glazing: hail can crack acrylic domes and, less often, glass. Falling limbs can break either.
- Seals: the seal between the glass and frame dries out over time.
- Condensation: warm humid air hitting cold glass drips like a leak, but it is not one. It shows up on cool mornings, not during rain.
- Roof above the skylight: water entering upslope can run down to the skylight opening.
How coverage usually breaks down
- Likely covered: hail cracked dome, limb impact, wind damaged flashing, plus resulting interior water damage.
- Likely not: failed seals, old flashing, condensation, fogging between panes, rot from a slow leak.
What to do
- Note when it drips: only in rain, only in wind driven rain, or on cool mornings.
- Photograph the skylight from inside and, if safely possible, from outside.
- Look for cracks or dents in the dome or frame after a hail storm.
- Protect the area below and dry wet drywall quickly.
Skylights are often replaced during a reroof because their flashing is tied into the roof. For interior damage, see interior water damage coverage, and to separate storm damage from age, see wear and tear vs storm damage.