Skylights are a strategic design move that makes your home look bigger, brightens spaces and improves curb appeal. However, despite their many benefits, skylights are easy to neglect. Couple their hard-to-reach position with the safety risks associated with roof maintenance, and it is easy to see why.
An unmaintained skylight can be an eyesore, especially in Atlanta’s heavy pollen season. In addition to the aesthetic issues, it can lead to structural problems like molding and leaks. In this piece, we explore why skylight cleaning is part of your home maintenance plan, offer a safe alternative to DIY and give you a simple maintenance schedule.
More Than Window Cleaning
With its subtropical climate, Atlanta receives a generous share of rainfall annually — over 50 inches of rainfall annually. Pair that with its pollen-heavy spring, leaves and other debris, and you have a recipe for an unsightly skylight. The buildup can encourage grime formation on your skylight, reducing the amount of natural light coming into your space. Constant dirt buildup also affects the durability of your skylight.
The accumulation can weaken the seals around the fixture, resulting in potential leaks and water damage. The scratched glass and cracks may lead to costly repairs if left unattended. Other challenges that result from unmaintained skylights include:
Structural Damage
Debris accumulation can cause water damage to both your skylight and home. Skylights are designed with small drains in the frame called weep holes. The function of weep holes is to guide water away from the home’s interior, whether it is water from condensation or rain. However, weep holes can get clogged with pine needles, pollen and even leaves without regular maintenance. These materials can get washed down from the glass into the frame, forming plugs that block the drain system. With nowhere to go, water will pool against the skylight’s seals. This water buildup will result in slow drips onto your roofing, which is only evident when staining appears on the ceiling.
Reduced Durability
Debris buildup on your skylight also reduces its durability. The flashing and seals on your skylight are the structure’s primary defense against moisture. However, accumulating dirt and leaves creates a sponge effect, retaining water long after it has rained. The constant moisture and the elements can strain the seals and weather stripping, accelerating wear.
Reduced Light
One of the major advantages of skylights is the increased natural lighting in your home. With skylights ushering ample light into your space, you don’t need to worry about increased lighting to make your space feel brighter. With grime buildup, you may find your rooms looking darker. It’s like turning down the dimmer switch on your free lighting source. These dimmer rooms may require artificial lighting to brighten the space, adding to your energy bill.
Lower Heat Gain
Another reason homeowners love skylights is passive solar gain. Passive solar gain is a simple phenomenon by which the sun’s rays enter your home, heating your interior. This design method is particularly beneficial in winter, reducing the need to heat your space. However, debris and dirt can create a layer on your skylight that limits the amount of rays entering your home.
Glass Stains
Debris accumulation, like bird droppings, can result in a sticky film that is hard to remove. When left unattended for prolonged periods, these stains can etch into the skylight, causing permanent, cloudy stains.
Benefits of a Professional Skylight Cleaning Service
If you are an expert DIYer with a rich library of how-tos, cleaning your skylight can seem easy and a great way to save money. But there are reasons choosing a professional service is a better option for your home.
- Enhanced safety: Getting onto roofs requires equipment, experience and expertise. Roofs are sloped and slippery, which can result in falls and injuries for people without the proper training. Insured professional technicians have both the right tools and experience to clean your skylights without risking safety.
- Access to the right materials: Professional skylight cleaners have access to non-abrasive solutions and cleaning tools to ensure your skylight gets a scratch-free scrub down. Their specialized techniques mean they know the best practices to reduce the chances of streaks and cracks. Beyond washing motions, professional cleaners know the right water and protective coating to use on your skylight.
- Save money: Although it is hard to believe, working with a professional skylight maintenance service provider in Atlanta can save you money. Your home is one of your most significant investments, and attempting a DIY on a delicate fixture like a skylight can lead to some expensive repairs down the line. Specialist cleaners know how to handle the project with the care it requires.
- Expert eye: Another advantage of working with a professional technician is getting more than a clean skylight. Professionals have the experience and training to spot subtle signs of damage in their early stages. This approach turns a cleaning service into a preventive checkup that helps you get ahead of expensive repairs.
Create a Smart Roof Care Plan
The best way to ensure consistent skylight cleaning is to make it part of your roof care plan. Pairing your roof cleaning service in Atlanta with your skylight maintenance plan can save time and money. You can bundle both services to get a holistic service that ensures the overall health of your roof.
Some professional service providers offer a discounted price for a bundled approach to skylight, roof and gutter cleaning. When your team comes in to clean the gutters, they already know to handle the full roof maintenance, ensuring your skylight is maintained every year.
We recommend setting a bi-annual cleaning schedule. Have professional cleaners handle the roof care service in the autumn, right after the leaves fall, and in spring, after the pollen-heavy shedding and before the heavy summer downpours.
Your Local Skylight Experts in Atlanta
Skylight cleaning is not a luxury in Atlanta’s climate but a necessity for maintaining skylight longevity and energy efficiency. The right professional team brings the expertise and experience required for protecting your home’s roofing system.
For over 20 years, A Better Gutter Cleaning has been helping Atlanta residents guard their homes from the elements. Our award-winning team offers a bundled service that combines gutter cleaning with skylight maintenance. We can add shingle replacement if your roof needs it. Our professional team will arrive on time and provide the quality service your home deserves.
We value transparency and integrity, so we are always upfront about the services we offer on your roof. Our advanced technology lets you get quick quotes, schedule services and even pay without talking to anyone. Get a quote today.
