Water dripping near a skylight in a Poquoson commercial building can come from several places: the glass or frame seals, the curb the skylight sits on, or the roof flashing around the curb. A stain under the frame doesn't tell you which. We inspect commercial skylights and roof openings in Poquoson and around Chesapeake, VA, and figure out where the water is actually getting in. If the skylight unit itself is leaking, a skylight specialist may need to repair or replace it. If the curb or flashing has failed, we rebuild it so the new flashing has solid support. You get photos and a clear explanation of the repair.
Poquoson is a low-lying coastal city with a mix of commercial and public buildings. Hurricane Isabel caused widespread flooding there in 2003, but that doesn't mean any particular roof has storm damage today. We confirm the building, who can give us access and where the leak is showing up. Then we inspect the skylight curb, flashing and the wood and insulation around it. We separate roof problems from skylight unit problems and plan protection before any permanent work begins.
Skylight unit or roof flashing?
A skylight has its own seals around the glass and frame, separate from the roof flashing around the curb. Either one can fail while the other is still fine. We inspect the flashing and how the roof ties into the curb. If the skylight itself looks like the problem, we recommend having a skylight specialist check it. Sometimes a controlled water test helps narrow down the source, with the room below protected while we do it.
Our skylight and penetration flashing repairs in Poquoson start with that inspection. Buildings in Hampton get their own inspection. There's no point reflashing the curb if the skylight frame is leaking, and a new skylight won't fix bad flashing around it. We explain what roof work is needed and what the skylight specialist needs to do. If they need access first, we schedule our work around them. Our recommendation is based on what's actually leaking.
Rotted curbs under the skylight
The curb is the raised wood or metal frame the skylight sits on. If it's rotted or loose, new flashing won't stay attached, no matter how good the materials are. We check the curb and the roof around it before planning the repair. Sometimes we have to remove the old flashing to see how bad the damage is. A rebuilt curb can change the size of the flashing needed, so we measure after the curb is repaired, before ordering parts.
When insulation and cover board around a skylight curb need replacing, we confirm what's wet first. Buildings near Newport News get their own inspection. We test suspicious areas using methods suited to your roof. Ceilings and equipment below can limit how we test, and we plan around that. Dry, sound insulation stays where the repair allows. If we find more damage once the roof is open, we photograph it and explain the extra work before we continue.
Tying the new flashing into the roof
The new curb flashing has to bond to the membrane around the skylight. We identify your roof type and check for old sealants or worn membrane that might keep new materials from sticking. Sometimes the repair has to extend past the visibly damaged seam to reach good material. Corners are the trickiest part, since that's where flashing most often fails. We plan the repair around those corners instead of slapping a single patch over the whole area.
Our commercial roof repair crews rebuild skylight curb flashing in Poquoson so it fits your roof. We make sure the flashing doesn't interfere with the skylight frame. If a skylight specialist needs to make adjustments, they do that before we finish. A roof repair can't fix a damaged skylight unit. Photos show you exactly where the repair starts and stops and which parts of the old roof stayed. The surface has to be dry and the weather right before new flashing goes on.
Protecting the room under the skylight
Removing flashing around a skylight opens the roof right above the room. The building manager tells us what needs protection below, like furniture, finishes or equipment. We only open what we can seal that day. If the skylight unit is waiting on repairs, that may limit how much roof work we can finish. New flashing parts and any specialists need to be scheduled before we start. If ceilings or electrical equipment got wet, your maintenance staff or an electrician should check them.
Our emergency roof repair crews can put temporary protection on a leaking skylight right away. The temporary seal ties into the roof around the curb. If we're waiting on parts or a skylight specialist, we explain what needs to happen before the permanent repair. We coordinate so the specialist's work doesn't damage our new flashing. You'll know clearly what's temporary and what's permanent. If water shows up somewhere new in the meantime, we check it against the temporary setup.
After the skylight repair
When the curb flashing is rebuilt, we check the corners, edges and where it meets the surrounding roof. If a skylight specialist worked on the unit, we note that in the record. Any open questions about the skylight itself are listed separately. Future cleaning or maintenance crews should avoid damaging the new flashing. If the area gets disturbed later, we inspect it fresh. Photos show exactly what was repaired and what stayed.
Our roof condition reports for Poquoson buildings include before-and-after photos. For office buildings, the building manager confirms which rooms need protection. Interior contractors decide when ceilings and finishes are ready to repair. A dry skylight doesn't mean the ceiling around it is dry inside. If a new leak appears, tell us when it started and where you saw it. You can report leaks nights and weekends with the address, and we'll confirm timing based on your access.
Poquoson's history of hurricane flooding is a good reason to check roof drainage and edges regularly, not a reason to assume storm damage. After a big storm, compare any roof openings, loose metal or clogged drains with leaks inside. Keep dated photos and a simple map showing which area was inspected. If temporary protection makes sense during storm season, we'll note its limits and when it should be checked again, so a temporary patch doesn't get mistaken for a permanent repair.
Commercial Roofing Questions
Does water under a Poquoson skylight mean the roof flashing failed?
Not necessarily. The skylight's own seals, the curb or the roof flashing could be the cause. We inspect each one before recommending a repair.
When do we need a skylight specialist?
When the skylight unit itself is leaking or damaged. We coordinate with them so their work and our flashing repair fit together.
How do you decide how much of the curb to rebuild?
We check the curb and remove old flashing if needed to see the damage. Rotted or loose sections are replaced so the new flashing has solid support.
Can you finish the roof work if the skylight still needs repair?
Sometimes we can finish part of the roof work. We clearly note what's temporary and what's still waiting on the skylight specialist.
What should the photos show after the repair?
The rebuilt curb flashing, the corners and where the new flashing meets the old roof, plus a note on the skylight unit's condition.
Leaking skylight in Poquoson?
Send us the Poquoson address and photos of the water near the skylight. We'll find out whether it's the skylight or the flashing and explain the repair.