Traditional skylight replacement,
past service life, done right.
When a skylight fogs, leaks after repair, yellows, or drafts, replacement is the call rather than another patch. Miami-Dade NOA flashing, deck inspection on every removal, glazing matched to current impact standards. Family-owned since 1985.
When does a skylight need replacement?
Replace when the unit is past its 15 to 25 year design life, when condensation appears between glazing panes (a sign the seal has broken), when leaks return after a flashing repair, when the glazing has yellowed or cracked, or when the curb shows draft and temperature loss. A typical single-unit replacement completes in 1 day on the existing rough opening; resizing the opening extends the timeline. Istueta has triaged and replaced traditional skylights across Miami-Dade and Broward since 1985.
Four signals that say replace rather than repair.
Targeted flashing repair extends a sound unit by years. None of these four extend a unit that is structurally past its service window.
Fogging between panes
Condensation visible inside the glazing unit indicates the perimeter seal has failed. Once the seal breaks, the insulating gas escapes and moisture enters. The unit is past repair; replacement is the call.
Persistent leaks
Water staining on the ceiling around the curb that returns after a flashing repair. The unit, the curb, or the surrounding roof has structurally failed in a way that targeted re-flashing cannot durably resolve.
Yellowed or cracked glazing
UV degradation that turns acrylic domes yellow over decades, or impact damage that cracked the laminated glass. The unit no longer admits clean daylight and may no longer meet current impact-rating standards.
Drafts and temperature swings
Air movement around the curb perimeter that wasn't there originally indicates seal degradation between the curb and the glazing frame. Conditioned-air loss adds up on the cooling bill in a Miami climate.
A 4-step sequence, typically 1 day.
Replacement removes the old unit, inspects what the old flashing concealed, sets a new curb to the current Miami-Dade NOA, and glazes the new unit. The work is more controlled than a new install (the opening, framing, and ceiling are already there) but the deck inspection on every removal is the layer that catches water damage that should not pass through to the new install.
Triage + evaluation
On-site evaluation confirms whether replacement is the right call versus targeted repair. We inspect the unit, the curb, the flashing course, and the surrounding deck condition. If repair will buy years of service, we recommend repair; if the unit is past life, we estimate the replacement.
Unit removal + deck inspection
The old unit and curb come off. We inspect the rough opening for water damage, rot, or framing compromise that the old flashing concealed. Any deck repair gets sequenced into the project before the new curb is set.
New curb + flashing
The new curb is set on the inspected deck, anchored per the NOA fastening pattern. Flashing integrates with the surrounding roof material in courses (lower under upper) so water sheds at every layer. Step flashing for shingle, pan flashing for tile, custom-formed pans for standing-seam metal.
Glazing + interior touch-up
The new glazing unit seats into the curb on a gasket or sealant bed. If the existing opening is reused, interior disturbance is minimal; if the opening size changed, we coordinate drywall and finish with your interior trades.
When repair is still the right call.
Not every leaking or aging skylight needs replacement. Isolated flashing damage on a unit still within its service window, gasket degradation on a venting operator, or a single damaged shingle around the curb are repair-scope work. We do those too; the triage at the consult tells us which path is right.
For brand-new installations on a previously unbroken roof, see traditional skylight installation. For interior rooms without a workable roof-to-ceiling path, see Solatube tubular daylighting.
Replacement answers,
before you ask.
Most single-unit replacements complete in 1 day. The old unit comes out, the surrounding deck and flashing are inspected, the new curb is set and flashed, and the new unit is glazed. Larger units or projects involving multiple skylights extend proportionally.
Fogging or condensation between glazing panes (a sign of broken seal), persistent leaks that return after a flashing repair, cracked or yellowed glazing, drafts around the curb, and any unit past its 15 to 25 year design life. Repair is appropriate for isolated flashing damage on a still-sound unit; replacement is the call when the unit itself is past service.
Traditional skylights typically last 15 to 25 years in South Florida exposure, depending on the manufacturer, the glazing technology, and the maintenance history. Intense UV and the storm season shorten the upper end of the range; well-maintained units with regular flashing inspection reach the upper end.
Often the existing rough opening accommodates a current-generation replacement unit, which simplifies the work and reduces interior disturbance. Larger or smaller replacement units require deck cutting and flashing reset. We measure the existing opening against the candidate unit's rough-opening spec at the consult.
Every replacement we install carries a current Miami-Dade NOA. Glazing is impact-rated laminated; the curb anchorage matches the NOA fastening pattern. We file the documentation at permit, same as a new install.
Manufacturer glazing-seal warranties typically run 10 to 20 years depending on the product line and are handled by the manufacturer; we provide the documentation at handoff. We focus on getting the flashing integration right so the replacement unit performs as intended.
If the existing opening is reused, the work is mostly external, minimal drywall touch-up. If the opening size changes, interior light-shaft framing and finish are involved. We confirm the scope and coordinate any drywall or paint work in the estimate.
References: Miami-Dade NOA listings
Triage before the next storm.
We walk the roof, evaluate the unit and the curb, and tell you straight whether replacement is the call or a targeted repair buys you years. No charge for the consult.