Hilliard Local
Skylight Installation & Repair in the Columbus Metro
New installs, leak repair, and reflashing done by roofers, because the flashing around a skylight is a roofing job, not a glass job.
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Skylight Installation & Repair: What a Roofer Sees That a Glazier Doesn't
Skylight installation and repair across the Columbus area is a roofing job, not a glass job. Nearly every skylight leak SOS Home Ohio opens up in Franklin County is a flashing failure, not a cracked pane. The glass almost never fails. It's the seal between the skylight curb and the surrounding roof that lets water in, and sealing that joint is a roofer's work. We're a roofing contractor first, an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor rated 5 stars across 49 Google reviews, and Paul or Andrew will get on the roof, find where the water is actually getting in, and tell you straight whether you need a reflash, a new unit, or nothing at all. Call 614-913-3809.
Skylight installation and skylight repair sound like two services, and on a Columbus-area roof they're really one skill applied two ways: integrating a hole in the roof with the shingles, underlayment, and flashing around it so water runs past it instead of into it. We won't put a price on this page, because an honest number depends on the unit size, whether it's a new cut or a swap, the roof pitch, and what we find when we pull the existing flashing. What we can tell you is why skylights leak here, how curb-mount and deck-mount units differ, and when a repair is the right spend versus a full replacement. Every job is different, contact SOS Home Ohio for an accurate estimate. While we're up there we'll also flag anything relevant on your surrounding roof or the flashing at nearby chimneys and walls.
Skylight Leak Repair: Why Skylights Leak in Ohio
It's almost never the glass. Here's what actually fails, and why a roofer is the one to fix it.
How Skylights Actually Work
Curb-Mount vs. Deck-Mount, and Why the Flashing Is the Whole Job
Two mount types, one skill: building the roof to shed water past the hole in it.
It's a Flashing Kit, Not a Caulk Bead
A skylight sits in a self-flashing "curb," a built-up frame that rises above the roof plane, and the flashing kit wraps that curb in layers: sill flashing at the bottom, step flashing up the sides woven into the shingle courses, and head flashing at the top tucked under the uphill shingles. Get the layering order wrong and water finds the gap. Getting it right is roofing, not glazing.
Curb-Mount vs. Deck-Mount
Curb-mount units sit on a wood curb you build up above the roof deck and are the common choice on lower-pitch roofs and flat-roof additions. Deck-mount units attach directly to the deck with an integrated flashing flange and sit lower and cleaner, which reads better on a steeper, visible slope. The right one depends on your pitch and roof type, and we'll tell you which fits your house.
Repair vs. Replace the Unit
Skylights carry a service life like any roofing component, and the seals around the glass unit degrade over a couple of decades of Ohio sun and freeze-thaw. If the glass has fogged between the panes or the frame itself is failing, reflashing a dying unit is throwing good money after bad. That's a replacement conversation, and we'll say so.
Best Done With the Roof
The single best time to install or replace a skylight is during a roof replacement, while the shingles are off and the deck is open. The flashing integrates into the new roof instead of being cut into an existing one, and the warranty on both lines up. If you're already planning roof work, this is the moment to add the skylight.
Our Process
How We Handle a Skylight Install or Repair Call
Four stages from your call to a sealed skylight. Call 614-913-3809 to start with the free inspection.
- 01
Diagnose and Plan
Paul or Andrew gets on the roof, not just the ladder. For a leak, we trace the actual entry point with a camera and a hose test rather than assume it's the skylight. For a new install, we check the pitch, the deck, and the framing to confirm the unit type and location that fits the house.
- 02
Open and Prep
On a repair, we pull the old flashing completely rather than caulk over a failing seam. On a new cut, we open the deck, frame the opening square, and set the curb or deck-mount flange to spec. Half-measures at this stage are exactly what we get called back to fix on other companies' work.
- 03
Flash and Seal
We rebuild the flashing in the right order: sill, step flashing woven into the shingle courses, head flashing tucked under the uphill shingles, with ice-and-water shield around the opening as a secondary barrier. The layering is what keeps it dry through a Franklin County winter, so we don't rush it.
- 04
Test and Walkthrough
We water-test the finished install before we call it done, and we document the work with photos so you can see what was sealed and how. Our own crew does the whole job, start to finish. We don't subcontract the roof work and hope it hands off clean.
When a Skylight Is the Wrong Call
A skylight is right for some Columbus-area homes and the wrong call for others. Here's when we'll tell you to hold off.
- Your roof is near the end of its life
- Cutting a new skylight into a roof that needs replacing in a year or two means paying to flash it twice. Wait and do it with the new roof, when the flashing integrates cleanly and one warranty covers both.
- The "leak" hasn't been diagnosed yet
- Don't buy a new skylight to stop a leak before anyone has confirmed the skylight is the source. We've traced plenty of skylight leaks to a pipe boot or shingle a few feet uphill. Get it diagnosed first.
- The glass is fine and only the flashing failed
- If the unit is sound and only the flashing lifted, you need a reflash, not a replacement. We won't sell you a whole new skylight to fix a flashing seam we can rebuild.
- You want one on a low-slope roof without planning for it
- Low-slope and flat sections need a curb-mount unit and extra waterproofing detail. On the wrong slope without that, a skylight is a leak waiting to happen, and we'll steer you right before, not after.
What a Proper Skylight Job Covers
These are the items we address on a standard skylight install or repair. Not every job includes all of them, but nothing gets skipped that shouldn't be.
- 01
Reflashing a Leaking Skylight
We remove the old flashing entirely and rebuild it in layers, sill, step, and head flashing woven into the shingles, rather than smearing sealant over a failing seam. Reflashing a sound unit is a one-time fix that lasts decades when it's done in the right order.
- 02
New Skylight Installation
For a new skylight, we frame the opening square, set the curb or deck-mount flange, run ice-and-water shield around the opening, and tie the flashing into the surrounding shingle courses. The surrounding roof is left as watertight as the skylight itself.
- 03
Full Skylight Replacement
If the glass has fogged between panes or the frame is failing after decades of Ohio sun, we swap the whole unit and reflash it fresh. We match the opening and mount type so the roof around it doesn't need rework beyond the skylight.
- 04
Surrounding Flashing Check
While we're up there we check the flashing at nearby chimneys, walls, and pipe boots, because the same freeze-thaw that lifts skylight flashing lifts theirs too. Catching a second failing seam on the same visit saves you a separate roof repair call later.
Straight from Google
What Our Customers Say
Had a very bad garage roof , this company did a remarkable job and I now have a building I can use . Thanks for the hard work and great crew. THEY ALSO WENT BEYOND GETTING ME THE INSURANCE PAYMENT THAT I WAS ENTITLED TOO. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY IF YOU WANT A COMPANY THAT WILL TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT AND HONESTY.
Sheila BowersmithSep 2026 · GoogleSOS is a great roofing company. Andrew, site supervisor, has been very professional and friendly. My wife and Iiked the way he explained about the roof replacement process, now we feel comfortable with the result of the work. Thanks
Tad NishimuraSep 2026 · GoogleThis company was exceptional. On time, great work and extremely kind and informative! I would recommend to anyone needing roof repairs or replacement. A trustworthy company.
Beth BairdJul 2026 · GoogleSOS did a great job with my roof. From the initial estimate, working with the insurance company, explaining the process. They completed the job professionally and made sure everything was to my satisfaction before I signed off. They helped turn a very complex process into an easy one.
Greg RamahMay 2026 · GooglePaul from SOS came out today and was great. He clearly showed me the problem areas and what they would need to do to fix them. There was no sales pressure to get a new roof like many places do. I will do another review once the repairs are done.
Keith GreyMar 2026 · GooglePaul came out to inspect the roof after those big wind & hail storms. He was able to identify the issues and proposed affordable, smart solutions. Highly recommend!
Laura AMar 2026 · GoogleVery pleased with the level of detail provided in the roof inspection following wind and hail damage to my roof and chimney cap. The inspection was thorough and comprehensive, offering a clear picture of the condition and remaining life of the entire roof system—including gutters, downspouts, roof surface, and attic interior. Paul and his team did an excellent job helping me understand my situation and the next steps toward resolving the issues. They answered all of my questions with patience and expertise.
Andy WirtMar 2026 · GoogleSOS Roofing is true to its name. I contacted the company for emergency help for a friend. The company owner, Paul, responded immediately, arrived on-site in two to three hours, and had the emergency handled a short time after that. Due to a roof leaking badly in a serious rain and windstorm, a speedy response and solution was definitely needed. SOS Roofing provided that solution, preventing serious interior damage to the home. I highly recommend this company and its owner.
BBMar 2026 · GoogleSkylight Installation & Repair Questions, Answered Directly
Why is my skylight leaking?
How much does skylight replacement cost in Columbus?
What's the difference between a curb-mount and a deck-mount skylight?
Can you repair a skylight, or does it have to be replaced?
Is it better to install a skylight during a roof replacement?
Why hire a roofing contractor for a skylight instead of a handyman?
Get a Skylight Diagnosis This Week
A free estimate starts with a real diagnosis on the roof, not a guess from the driveway.