How to Fix a Leaky Skylight That Has Wood Shingles

Repairing Wood Shingles

• 1

  Position a ladder securely next to the roof area where the skylight is located. Climb up the ladder to get on the roof. Always enlist the aid of another person to spot you while working on a roof.

• 2

  Inspect the wood shingles around the skylight area for breakage, curling or splits. If the shingles look sound, the problem is likely an improperly fitted skylight or poor installation. Contact the company that installed the skylight to remedy the leaking.

• 3

  Repair wood shingles that are curled or lifted up by simply using a hammer and roofing nails to secure them flat against the roof. Seal the area with the nails with roofing cement.

• 4

  Close gaps in the wood shingles by hammering roofing nails in at an angle. Seal the seams and nail heads with the roofing cement.

Replacing Wood Shingles

• 5

  Split a broken or warped shingle by using a chisel and a hammer to break it apart. Do this along the wood grain. Pull off the pieces of the shingle and discard them.

• 6

  Insert a flat bar under any remaining pieces of the wood shingle that you cannot pull off. Hit the flat bar with a hammer a few times to loosen the nails. This allows you to remove the remaining pieces. Use caution to avoid damaging the roofing material underneath the wood shingle.

• 7

  Measure the area without the shingle with a ruler. Cut a spare wood shingle with a hacksaw to fit the area where you removed it, except make the shingle 1/2 inch smaller. This allows 1/4 inch on each side for the wood shingle to expand during wet weather conditions.

• 8

  Set the spare shingle in the area and use a hammer to tap it into the space. Stop the tapping motion when it is 1/4 inch from the correct position compared to the surrounding wood shingles.

• 9

  Secure the wood shingle by hammering roofing nails into it directly below the wood shingle above it. Hammer the nails in by angling them slightly in an upward position.

• 10

  Position a small wood block against the edge of the wood shingle nearest you and tap it into place with the hammer. Do this so it is no longer 1/4 inch below the other shingles. This simple repair is often all that is necessary to stop any skylight leaks.