Skylights in New York

Skylights work in New York, in practice

New York roofs take a specific kind of beating. In this region, ice dams at the eaves are the classic failure mode — meltwater backs up under the shingles and shows up as a ceiling stain two rooms away. That shapes what we find on inspection more than anything else: damage concentrated at the details — flashings, penetrations, valleys, ridges and the perimeter — rather than evenly across the field of the roof.

nor’easters bring sideways rain that drives into flashing joints and dormer walls On top of that, dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter work nails loose, open seams and crack old flashing

summer heat is milder, but UV still dries out and curls 3-tab shingles by the 18-year mark.

The housing stock matters too. Across New York, most stock was built either side of the middle of the last century, and a lot of it has had at least one re-roof already. Roofs on that stock tend to age in clusters, which is why a single storm event can produce years of concentrated roofing work in one neighbourhood and none two streets over.

Why skylights is not a one-size job here

A well-installed skylight brings light into a space that would otherwise need electricity during the day, and on the roof it is a penetration like any other — which is exactly how it should be detailed.

We install new units on properly built curbs with correct flashing, replace failed or fogged units, and repair leaks caused by curb rot, inadequate flashing, deteriorated sealant or condensation that was misdiagnosed as a leak.

Dispatch in New York

Lakeway Roofing is based in Lakeway, TX, and dispatches crews nationwide through vetted, licensed roofing contractors. In New York we work 760 listed cities, and every one shows exactly which ZIP codes are active and what dispatch priority that market carries.