Pittsburgh homes from the 1920s in Lawrenceville and Bloomfield often have original skylights that leak where the flashing meets the roof deck. Cold winters here make the metal expand and contract, cracking the seal around the frame. We pull the old lead, clean the curb, and bed new step flashing with high-temp sealant rated for our humid summers and freeze-thaw cycles. Cheap crews skip the counter flashing and just caulk, so water finds the seam again by the next spring.
Access on steep pitches common in Mount Washington and Regent Square adds time and safety lines. We check the attic for wet insulation first, then work from the roof. Most skylight leaks we see tie back to missing cricket flashing behind the unit, which lets snow and rain pool. We install a new cricket sized to the skylight width and tie it into the existing shingles so water sheds left and right.
Allegheny county permits are required when we open more than 100 square feet or change the skylight size. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection same week. Homeowners in Point Breeze and Greenfield call us after big storms because wind-driven rain pushes water under old rubber gaskets. We replace the gasket with a manufacturer boot kit and add a second bead of polyurethane caulk rated for 20 years.
Common Skylight Leak Causes in Local Homes
Older curb construction without proper slope lets water sit. We see this on two-story homes in East Liberty where second-floor skylights get ignored until ceiling stains show up.
Skylight Leak Repair Services We Offer
✓Emergency Skylight Leak Fix
Same-day response for active drips in Oakland and South Side homes. We tarp and seal the curb until full repair.
✓Skylight Flashing Replacement
Cut out failed step flashing and install new lead on homes in Squirrel Hill and Shadyside.
✓Commercial Skylight Leak Repair
Fix leaks on flat roof skylights at small buildings in the Strip District using reinforced EPDM patches.
✓Skylight Gasket and Boot Swap
Replace dried rubber gaskets and boots on older units in Bloomfield without removing the whole frame.
Skylight Leak Repair Cost in Pittsburgh, PA
| Service | Typical Range | What Affects It |
|---|---|---|
| Fix skylight leak on single story home | $450–$650 | Easier access, standard flashing swap |
| Skylight leak repair on two story roof | $650–$950 | Steep pitch or limited ladder setup adds time |
| Add cricket behind skylight | $250–$400 | Extra metal work and shingle tie-in |
| Replace skylight gasket and boot only | $300–$500 | No full flashing removal needed |
| Free estimate | Free | Call 24/7 for leak inspection at your address |
Ranges are typical for Pittsburgh, PA and confirmed with an exact written quote before any work starts.
How it works
- 1
Inspect inside and out
Check attic for wet spots and roof for cracked flashing. Takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- 2
Remove old flashing
Lift shingles, pull lead or metal, clean the curb. 1 to 2 hours.
- 3
Install new flashing and seal
Bed step flashing, add cricket if needed, seal with high-temp caulk. 2 to 3 hours.
- 4
Test and clean up
Hose test the repair and check attic again. 30 minutes.
Pricing
Most skylight leak repairs in Pittsburgh run between $450 and $950.