Necessary to replace skylights when re-roofing?

[Mikepier]

I am looking to get a new roof soon. It is approx 20 years old ( 2 layers on roof now), as well as the 2 skylights. The skylights are in good shape and do not leak. However, whoever installed the skylights ( prior owner of house) had put them on top of the old shingles (instead of the plywood sheathing), then the new roof was placed afterwords. So I have 2 questions.

1) If the skylights are in good shape, should I just leave them? The inside is boxed in finished sheetrock and it will require tearing it out to replace the skylight

2) If I keep the skylights, will the skylight flashing pose a problem with the new roof since it is resting slightly higher on the old roof and sheathing?

[dpb]

Should be able to take down to the exterior boxes w/o disturbing the inside and reflash as a new installation would have been.

I would not recommend leaving old flashing and roof and trying to do something over the top of that; that's just asking for trouble down the road.

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[Mikepier]

That was my next question: are the skylights attached only to the roof, or are they attached to the ceiling joists inside? If I can remove the skylights without disturbing the inside sheetrock, that would be great.

[mart]

Try posting in roofing.com under construction preferably with pictures.

[JohnnyD]

Yes, you can remove the skylight. Be sure to order and use the proper Skylight Puller for your skylight. Whatever you do, don't pry up on it and whack it with a hammer. Just ask James Hall, if you need more details. He's an expert on this!

[Mikepier]

Here are some pics of my skylights and roof

[Mikepier]

Here are some pics

ttp://picasaweb.google.com/mikerock92/Skylight?feat=directlink

[Mikepier]

Here are some pics

[Ron]

A "Skylight Puller"? Is that anything like a "Sky Hook"?

[Molly Brown]

The roofer is supposed to completely remove the skylights. He should not have to disturb the sheet-rock to do this. Remove all the old roofing material, re-install the skylights and install the new roofing material. If he can=92t do this he doesn=92t deserve to be giving estimates without knowing what the hell he should be doing.

[Larry]

Why? The OP is getting some good info here. Are you suggesting there are not knowledgeable replies?

[Larry]

It certainly depends on the manufacturer of skylight. On Velux, you do _not_ remove the skylight frame/box/curb, only the top so you can work the apron/step/rear pan flashings. Also, water/ice shield or felt should be installed up the curb, to prevent condensation from the flashings.

Some of those cheap bubble lights should be tossed, instead of trying to reuse.

[Larry]

The curb on your lights look very small, hard to tell from the picture. Most curbs are either 4" or 6", which will accept proper flashing.

Do you know if the side flashing is single or step? I do not see any apron flashing, could be the pictures?

You may want to consider new ones, simply because seals go bad on lights. This would be an ideal time to replace, with a quality light such as Velux. How old are these?

Remember, you want proper flashing. Mastic/tar is a very poor substitute for flashing.

[Mikepier]

It's single flashing, and it does have an apron flashing

Approx 20 years old

[Mikepier]

I think I incorrectly posted just 1 picture. Here is the proper link

[trader4]

I'm having a hard time imagining any skylights where the roofer is supposed to completely remove skylights to re-shingle a new roof. My velux are fastened to the cut-in boxes that are built in to the roof. The only thing involved from a roofing standpoint is the flashing.

Whether these should be replaced depends on what condition they are in, who manufactured them, experience with any other windows from same manufacturer, etc. If they are a lesser brand, are fixed type so they are less expensive, at 20 years, I'd probably replace them because it's easier done now and they don't last forever.

[Larry]

I'm having a hard time imagining any skylights where the roofer is supposed to completely remove skylights to re-shingle a new roof. My velux are fastened to the cut-in boxes that are built in to the roof. The only thing involved from a roofing standpoint is the flashing.

Whether these should be replaced depends on what condition they are in, who manufactured them, experience with any other windows from same manufacturer, etc. If they are a lesser brand, are fixed type so they are less expensive, at 20 years, I'd probably replace them because it's easier done now and they don't last forever.

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Actually, Velux fastens to the roof deck with an "L" bracket.

The only skylights where a roofer should have to remove the entire light, are ones you shouldn't reuse. There are plastic ones, the manufacturers say they're the same material used in aircraft/spacecraft, regardless, they're plastic garbage. The light has so called built in flashing, which are set in mastic/Karnak.

I agree, at 20 years it would be rather foolish to reuse the existing. Seals go, just like windows/doors. Better to replace now, than at a greater cost later.

[Larry]

It's single flashing, and it does have an apron flashing

Approx 20 years old

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Single flashing is not a good idea, should be step flashing.

At 20 years old, I would replace now. It's going to be more involved later, which adds to cost.

[Ron]

.

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The Space Shuttle's windows are made out of aluminum silicate glass and fused silica glass.

[Mikepier]

OK, let's say I want to replace the skylights. Does that still involve messing up the sheetrock inside? Or can the skylight be removed without disturbing the inside?