Does homeowners insurance cover skylights?
Short answer. Yes, skylights are part of the house, so homeowners insurance covers them against sudden events such as hail, wind, falling limbs and fire. It does not cover fogging between panes, yellowed domes, failed seals, condensation or leaks from aged flashing.
Skylight damage that is usually covered
- Hail: cracked or crazed acrylic domes, broken glass, dented metal frames and flashing.
- Falling limbs: shattered glazing and bent frames, plus the roof around them.
- Wind: displaced flashing or a damaged curb.
- Resulting water damage: ceiling, walls and belongings soaked through a storm damaged skylight.
Usually not covered
- Fogging or moisture between glass panes, which means the insulated seal failed with age.
- Yellowing, chalking or brittleness of old plastic domes from sun exposure.
- Condensation dripping on cold mornings.
- Leaks from sealant or flashing that wore out over time.
- Blinds and motors that wore out, unless damaged by a covered event.
Why skylights get missed on claims
Hail damage to a dome can be hard to see from the ground, and adjusters focused on shingle test squares sometimes skip skylights. After a storm, look up from inside in bright light for star cracks or crazing, and photograph the outside if you can do it safely. Ask that each skylight appear on the estimate, either for reflashing during a roof replacement or for replacement if damaged.
Hail size matters
Older acrylic domes become brittle in the Georgia sun and can crack from smaller hail than newer glass units. For thresholds, see hail size and roof damage. For interior damage, read interior water damage coverage, and to separate storm damage from age, see wear and tear vs storm damage.