Commercial Skylight Repair and Replacement in Texas

Translucent roof panels, curb-mounted skylights and smoke vents on existing commercial roofs: repaired, replaced or closed up.

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Roofing Contractors Association of Texas member

Skylights and translucent panels

Skylights that let light in and keep water out

Skylights bring daylight into warehouses, workshops and factories, but they age faster than the roof around them. Translucent panels yellow, turn brittle and crack, and the joints between skylight and roof are common leak points. Total Cladding and Roofing repairs and replaces skylights on existing commercial and industrial roofs in Texas, from translucent panels in metal roofs to curb-mounted skylights on flat roofs, and closes up openings that are no longer wanted.

A skylight that leaks does not always need replacing. The leak may be at a lap, a fastener or the flashing around it. Panels that have yellowed, cracked or become brittle are usually replaced, and the replacement should be planned with any roof restoration, because skylight panels are not coated with the roof.

Request a skylight review or call (210) 775-0995.

Translucent skylight panels in a profiled metal roof

What You May Need Next

Other Services That Could Help Your Project

Skylights on commercial roofs

Most commercial skylights fall into four types.

In-plane translucent panels

Fiberglass or polycarbonate sheets made in the same profile as the metal roof panels, such as R-panel, PBR or corrugated, and fixed in place of a metal sheet.

Curb-mounted skylights

Domed or flat units on a raised curb, flashed into the roof, common on flat roofs. Single, double and insulated versions are made.

Insulated daylighting panels

Multi-layer translucent panels that let light in while limiting heat gain and loss, used where the building is cooled or heated.

Smoke vents and roof hatches

Openings for smoke venting or roof access, which need the same flashing and maintenance as skylights.

Why skylights leak and fail

Sun damage:

years of UV make fiberglass yellow and brittle, and the surface can wear back until glass fibers are exposed. Light transmission falls and the panel cracks more easily.

Cracks and hail damage:

brittle panels crack under hail, foot traffic and thermal movement.

Laps and fasteners:

a translucent panel expands differently from the steel beside it, which works the fasteners and side laps loose over time.

Curb flashings:

on flat roofs, most skylight leaks are at the curb flashing rather than the skylight itself.

Condensation:

single-layer panels are cold in winter and can drip condensation that looks like a leak.

Replacing translucent panels in a metal roof

A replacement panel has to match the roof profile, length and lap arrangement so it nests with the metal sheets on each side. The laps are sealed with tape sealant, and the panel is fixed with the fasteners and spacing its manufacturer specifies; overtightened or misplaced screws are a common cause of cracking.

When a metal roof is being restored, skylights are replaced first and the coating is then taken up to them, not over them. When the roof is being replaced, the new skylights are chosen with the new roof panels. Insulated translucent panels are an option where the building is heated or cooled. See metal roof restoration and metal roof replacement.

Replacing curb-mounted skylights

On a flat roof, the skylight unit, its curb and the membrane flashing work together. A failed dome or lens can sometimes be replaced on its existing curb, while a rotten or low curb is rebuilt so the flashing can run high enough above the roof surface. When a roof is replaced or recovered, the new roof is thicker, so curbs often need raising to keep the flashing height. See flat roof waterproofing.

Skylights and fall protection

Skylights and translucent panels will not carry a person’s weight, and falls through them cause serious injuries every year. Federal workplace rules require employers to protect workers from falling through skylights, using screens, covers, guardrails or fall arrest. Fixed skylight screens are a lasting way to protect anyone who goes onto the roof, including maintenance staff and other contractors. During our work, skylights near work areas are treated as openings and protected.

Light and heat under the Texas sun

More skylight area brings in more light and also more heat. Clear or high-transmission panels can make a space hotter in summer and add glare, while diffusing and insulated panels spread light more evenly and limit heat gain. Manufacturers publish light transmission and solar heat gain figures for their panels, which makes it possible to choose a panel for the light the space needs without overheating it.

Fiberglass or polycarbonate

Most in-plane panels are fiberglass-reinforced plastic or polycarbonate.

Fiberglass panels are lower in cost and made in most metal roof profiles. A UV-resistant surface film or coating slows weathering, and heavier panels with better surface protection last longer in strong sun.
Polycarbonate panels have much higher impact strength, which helps against hail and dropped tools, and are made with a UV-protected outer surface. They expand more with heat, so their fixing details matter.

Both types lose light transmission and strength with age, which is why the age and condition of existing panels matter as much as the material.

Hail and skylights in Texas

Skylights are often the first part of a roof to break in a hailstorm. Aged fiberglass panels crack or hole under hail that leaves the surrounding steel only dented, and the damage may not be noticed until the next rain. After a hailstorm, skylights are one of the first things to check. Polycarbonate panels and fixed skylight screens both reduce the risk, and screens also protect people working on the roof.

Daylight and lighting

Daylight from skylights can reduce how long lights need to be on during the day, especially where lighting has daylight sensors that dim fixtures when there is enough natural light. Evenly spaced, diffusing panels light a space more usefully than a few large clear ones. When skylights are replaced, it is worth looking at where daylight is actually needed below, since racking, mezzanines and new equipment can leave old skylights lighting the wrong places.

Maintenance

Skylights need cleaning to keep their light transmission, and their fasteners, laps, screens and curb flashings checked at each roof inspection. Cracks, crazing, yellowing and fibers showing at the surface are signs a panel is reaching the end of its life.

Closing up unused openings

Skylights over areas that no longer need daylight, or that leak repeatedly, can be removed and the opening filled with a metal panel matching the roof. On a flat roof, the curb is removed or capped and the deck and membrane made good. Fewer, better-placed skylights can be a sensible part of a roof refurbishment.

Replacing skylights above a working building

Changing a skylight opens a hole in the roof for a short time, directly over the space below. Each panel or unit is removed and replaced in one visit, so the opening is closed the same day, and the area underneath is protected or cleared while the work is done. Broken pieces of old fiberglass and dust are contained rather than dropped into the building. Work is timed around production, stock and the weather, and we agree the sequence with your site contact before starting.

What affects the cost

The number and type of skylights, the panel or unit chosen, the roof profile, curb work, access and height, protection needed below, and whether the work is part of a larger roof project all affect the price. Replacing panels during a restoration or replacement usually costs less than a separate visit later.

Talk to our team

Request a skylight review

Contact TCR with the property address, the number and type of skylights if you know them, and photographs of any leaks or damage. We will inspect them and tell you whether they can be repaired, need replacing or are better closed up.

Request a Skylight Review

Frequently asked questions

Commercial Roof-light Installation And Replacement FAQs

Does a leaking skylight need full replacement?

Not always. The leak may be in the unit, frame, curb or surrounding flashing. Identifying the source determines the repair.

Could the water be condensation?

Yes. Moisture can form when indoor air reaches a cold surface. Leak timing and conditions help distinguish condensation from rainwater entry.

Can a new translucent sheet match the old roof?

It needs a compatible profile and connection, not just the same width. Older products may require further identification before ordering.

Can a person stand on an old skylight?

Do not assume it can carry a person. Skylights need appropriate access and fall protection arrangements for inspection and work.

Can you replace a skylight above a working area?

The area below may need temporary isolation and protection because removal creates an opening through the roof.

Will clearer skylights make the space hotter?

They may change solar gain as well as daylight. Unit selection and glazed area need to suit the building's thermal and lighting requirements.

Can an unused opening be closed permanently?

Yes, with a suitable detail that restores support, insulation and weather protection. A loose cover does not replace a complete roof connection.

Are equipment curbs part of the skylight service?

We can review roof openings and associated flashings. Mechanical disconnection or alteration may require a separate equipment contractor.

What affects the price?

Height, access, unit size, profile, quantity and the condition of the curb or adjacent roof all affect the work.

What photos should I send?

Photos from a safe location showing the unit and indoor concern. Include the address and whether the problem is damage, leakage or poor daylight.

UK refurbishment experience, a Texas office

Refurbishment specialists

Our business grew through roof and cladding refurbishment in the UK. That experience shapes the work we now offer from our Texas office.

Repair what can be retained

We investigate the roof problem and explain what can be repaired, restored or replaced, so you can decide how to invest in the building.

Roofing and cladding together

We can coordinate roof, insulation, wall panel and drainage work, including the connections where separate repairs can leave problems behind.

A plan for your working building

We agree access, work areas and protection with your site team, including any restrictions needed while the roof is opened.

Roofing and cladding systems

Roofing systems and materials for Texas facilities

Tell us about the building

Start with the address and the roof or cladding problem. Photographs are helpful if you already have them.

Arrange a site visit

We review the affected areas and discuss how you use the building and what you want the work to achieve.

Review the quotation

Your quotation explains the proposed repairs or refurbishment, the areas included and the price.

Agree the work plan

We discuss timing, access, deliveries and protection with your site contact before work begins.

Complete the work

We carry out the agreed work and discuss any changes needed if opening the roof reveals additional damage.

Handover

We review the completed work and provide the care information and documents included in your project.