Why is my skylight still leaking even after it was repaired?

Not every roof problem shows up where you'd expect. Sometimes everything looks fine on top, until a small test cut shows what's really going on underneath. That's what happened during a recent inspection near a skylight — and it wasn't good news.

Before jumping into repairs, it helps to actually see what's under the surface. A small section of the roof  was cut open so the layers underneath — the padding, the boards, all the way down to the wood the sample was pulled, inspected, and photographed so the condition of each layer could be documented before anything was patched back into place.

The real story showed up somewhere else on the roof — at the base of a skylight curb. Once the surrounding membrane and trim were pulled back, the wood decking underneath told a very different story than the insulation sample did. The wood was dark, crumbling, and breaking apart in chunks, a clear sign of long-term moisture intrusion and rot. This kind of damage doesn't happen overnight — it's usually the result of water sneaking in around a curb or flashing detail for months, sometimes years, before anyone notices.
This is exactly why core sampling and close-up inspection matter. A skylight curb can look completely intact from the roof surface while the wood holding it up is quietly failing underneath.

Rotted wood under a skylight isn't just an eyesore — it's holding the skylight in place. If it's left alone, it keeps breaking down, which can lead to leaks or a much bigger fix later. Catching it now, during a planned inspection, means it can be handled as a normal repair instead of a surprise emergency after a storm.
Anchor Point Roofing likes to catch this stuff early instead of waiting for it to become a bigger problem. Pulling out the bad wood, putting in new decking, and resealing everything around the skylight fixes it at the source.

Skylights and roof edges are common spots for rot to build up out of sight. Anchor Point Roofing checks these areas closely and won't recommend fixing something without confirming what's actually going on underneath. As the number 1 roofing company for catching problems before they turn into emergencies, a quick look now can save a lot of trouble later. Reach out today to get these vulnerable spots on your roof checked before small damage turns into a major headache.

Location: Chicago, IL