Skylights often require little to no maintenance. Because of their slope, location and even shape, heavy rains usually wash off most of the dirt and debris that collect on them. You may however have to clean the interior part from time to time and the outside too if heavy downpours fail to do the job for you. Read on to find out more what you need to know about what it takes to take care of these magnificent lighting fixtures.

The frame

Skylight frames are mostly made up of aluminum. Other than washing them when cleaning skylight glazing, they do not need any other form of maintenance. It gets a little different for homeowners who live by the ocean. Humidity levels are usually high there, something that can attract rust if the aluminum used on the frame is of a low quality. The same can be said about skylight frames that are made of steel or other types of metal. Simply paint them to keep rust at bay.

Plastic

Polycarbonate and acrylic are the two most common types of plastic generally used in skylights. These should not be hard for you to maintain. First off, note that plastic is extremely susceptible to abrasions and scratches. Certain solvents can also damage them. With that in mind, avoid using gritty clothes or abrasive pads and cleaners.

As far as cleaning fluids are concerned, mild liquid detergents are recommended. Do not use strong solvents or window cleaning fluids like denatured alcohol, gasoline, acetone or tetrachloride. They will cause cracks within minutes. A weak solution of water and household ammonia is highly recommended. Then remember to prevent water stains and spots by blotting dry with a damp cellulose sponge or a chamois.

You may also want to remove foreign material such as need glazing paper, caulking, grease or roofing tar stuck in your acrylic skylight. For that you will need kerosene, methanol, a good grade of naphtha or hexane applied with a soft cloth.  You may also use the naphtha or hexane to remove foreign materials from polycarbonate domes.

Protecting plastic

Automobile polish does the job with ease. It should not be confused with cleaner polish.  Floor wax can also be used. Simply buff the plastic surface lightly with the said wax or polish then wipe it with a damp piece of cloth. The polish will go a long way to protect the luster while the polish will protect the surface from further damage.

Plastic repair

The plastic fastening around your skylights may need repair. You don’t have to hire a contractor for the repair job. Try to obscure the abrasions or scratches on the skylight with automobile wax. Alternatively, you can polish the scratched area with automobile cleaner polish and a soft cloth.wax will fill the scratches while polish will smooth the scratches and get rid of them.

Glass

Glass is delicate, so you have to be careful when washing, repairing or replacing any skylight part made of glass.  You may also have to be careful with your choice of cleaners. Mild detergents, household ammonia and soap are highly recommended. Remember that you don’t have to clean the skylight during the rainy seasons. As already hinted, heavy rains will always get the job done. Restrict yourself to cleaning during summer or other dry seasons.

Leak check

This is one main problem that often comes with skylights. First off, note that leaking can be attributed to poor installation work. In other words, you have to find a good contractor to install the skylight. Then use your desired design according to the instructions on the user manual. Most contractors try to modify square skylights into diamond skylights by tilting them. This will only leave you with a skylight that has unwanted slopes, which can let in leaks. If the skylight is meant to be a square one, let it be.

If by any chance the leak is caused by flashing, contact a professional. You will always know of the leaks as they create stains or bulging. Either way, avoid trying to fix the leaking problem without first finding the cause or the source of the leak. More often than not, leaking starts from the condensation channel.  That is the area designed to collect excess condensation and let it evaporate back into the air. Poorly insulated skylight tunnels can also cause leakage. All these areas should be examined by a professional to determine whether they are causing leaks.

Thermal expansion

Thermal expansion can easily cause sealant failure. This mostly happens in places where the weather is always hot. So the next time you notice that your window and door frames have expanded, check too on your skylights. The sealants may have expanded which means you will have a lot of water leaking in to your house during the rainy season. Fix the problem on time then ensure that you always go for the best skylight brands in the market.