Skylight windows provide a number of great benefits, including an exceptional amount of daylight and lower energy costs. However, skylight windows require maintenance just like any other type of window. You may even need to complete a skylight window replacement. To understand the complications of replacement skylights, you must first learn about the wide varieties of skylight windows available.

Types of Skylight Windows

The skylight replacement parts you’ll need will depend on the type of skylight windows that you have, or the type of replacement skylights that you desire. Some common types of skylight windows are:

• Barrel vault
• Dome
• Flat
• Hip ridge
• Lean to
• Polygon
• Pyramid
• Ridge
• Round.

Once you determine the type of skylight windows you’d like to replace, you must choose from different skylight window replacement materials, including:

• Acrylic
• Glass
• Lexan.

In terms of window glazing for skylight glass replacement, your options include:

• Dual glazing
• Insulated glazing
• Single glazing.

As you personalize your skylight window replacement, you’ll also need to choose a mounting frame. Two of the most common options are curb mount and self curbing. The type of mount you choose will affect how you measure for your skylight glass replacement. Once you have your measurements, you can then choose your skylight window.

Energy Star® Skylight Windows

To save additional money, look for Energy Star® rated replacement skylight windows, which offer additional energy savings. These skylight windows will be rated on:

• Air leakage
• Condensation resistance
• Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
• U-factor
• Visible transmittance.

Skylight Glass Replacement

Replacement skylight installation isn’t easy, even for do-it-yourselfers. Your local hardware store should be able to recommend a contractor, or even a roofer who can install replacement skylight windows. Many skylight companies also offer installation among their services.

If you do decide to complete the skylight glass replacement on your own, you’ll want to follow this process:

• Make sure that the area of the roof where the skylight is located is in good shape.
• Measure the old skylight from on top of the roof.
• Select the correct type of skylight window replacement.
• Remove the existing skylight by prying back the part of the roof surrounding the window.
• Remove existing mounting brackets.
• Attach the skylight replacement parts for mounting, and follow the skylight installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.
• Apply caulking around the base of the skylight window.
• Examine the new skylight window from your home interior.

Skylight Window Replacement vs. Repair

Note that oftentimes, it is not the skylight itself that needs replacing: Skylight windows rarely break. More often, improper installation and mounting may cause leaks around the skylight, making it look like there is a need for skylight window replacement. In this case, you may only need to repair certain parts of these skylight windows rather than replace them entirely.