Will insurance cover a leaking skylight?
Is it the skylight or the roof?
A skylight has three possible leak points: the glass or dome and its seals, the flashing kit that ties the unit into the shingles, and the shingles around it. Water stains on the shaft walls can also be condensation, which forms when warm, humid indoor air meets cold glass. Condensation shows up on cold mornings without rain; a true leak shows up during or right after rain.
Usually covered
- Hail that cracks a plastic dome or breaks glass.
- Wind that lifts or bends the flashing or curb.
- A limb that strikes the unit.
Usually not covered
- Plastic domes that yellowed and cracked from years of sun.
- Failed insulated glass seals and fogging.
- Flashing that was reused or sealed with caulk during an earlier roof job.
Skylights in a roof claim
When a roof is replaced after a storm, the skylight flashing should be replaced too, and a damaged skylight can be replaced on the same claim. Flashing kits are made for specific skylight models, so an older unit may need replacing just to get proper flashing. That cost is not always covered unless the skylight itself was damaged, so ask before work begins. See what roof adjusters look for and Robust Roofing's guide on skylight leaks versus roof leaks.