Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
Skylights in Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Skylights for homes in Lauderdale Lakes and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Lauderdale Lakes was largely built out between the late 1950s and the 1980s, and the housing stock shows it: single-story concrete-block-and-stucco homes with flat or low-slope roofs, barrel tile or shingle, plus a very large share of low-rise condominium and co-op buildings. Skylights on roofs of that age are often original or first-replacement units, and they have spent decades under a hot, humid subtropical climate with a May–October rainy season and daily summer thunderstorms. That constant moisture, combined with salt-laden air that drifts west off the Atlantic even though the city sits about five miles inland, works steadily on flashing, fasteners and unprotected metal.
Flat Rate Roofing Inc installs new skylights cut and framed into the roof, replaces failed, fogged or cracked units, and sets curb-mounted and deck-mounted skylights with the correct flashing kit rather than relying on sealant. We also diagnose leaks at existing skylights and handle skylight work as part of a re-roof. Our office is at 9610 NW 24th St in Sunrise, in Broward County, and we work under Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334537 — a state certification valid in every Florida county and verifiable on the Florida DBPR website. The company is insured, and every job starts with a free estimate and a written flat rate quote that says what is included.
Lauderdale Lakes is in Broward County, which sits inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so glazing choices are not just a comfort decision here. Hurricane and tropical-storm risk is the dominant hazard in this city — hail, wildfire and freeze damage are essentially non-factors — and wind-borne debris requirements govern what can be installed overhead. Much of the city's condo and co-op stock sits in association-governed communities, so replacement choices are often shaped by both association rules and post-Andrew and post-Irma wind codes. On flat and low-slope roofs typical of the area, the curb height, the flashing detail and the unit's approval documents matter more than the glass itself.
Problems to watch for in Lauderdale Lakes
Sealant used instead of flashing
A bead of caulk around a skylight curb is a temporary fix that dries out and cracks under the Florida sun. Once it fails, water follows the opening straight into the ceiling below.
Wind-driven rain at head and side flashings
Daily summer thunderstorms in the May–October rainy season push rain sideways under head and side flashings. A skylight that never leaks in a steady rain can still drip during a squall.
Fogged or failed glazing
Condensation trapped between panes means the seal has failed, and the unit will not clear up on its own. With year-round humidity here, moisture inside the glass is a common sign the skylight has reached the end of its life.
Corroded fasteners and metal flashing
Salt-tinged air reaching inland Lauderdale Lakes accelerates corrosion on exposed metal, including skylight fasteners, flashings and drip edge. Rusted fasteners loosen the assembly and open gaps at the curb.
Low-slope roofs and standing water
Flat and low-slope sections are common on the city's mid-century homes and low-rise buildings. Water that ponds near a skylight curb has far more opportunity to find a weak point than water running off a steep roof.
Units that do not meet current wind and impact rules
Older skylights installed before current requirements may lack the design-pressure and impact ratings expected in the wind-borne debris region. Replacement is the practical way to bring an opening up to current standards.
Aging original hardware on 1960s–80s buildings
Much of the housing here is working on original or first-replacement components after decades of humidity. Rotten plywood or framing around a skylight opening is often only found once the unit comes out.
What we do
- New skylight installationWe cut and frame a new opening in the roof, set the unit and tie it into the roof covering. Framing changes affect the permit scope, so we confirm the correct path before work starts.
- Replacement of failed unitsFogged, cracked or leaking skylights are replaced with units carrying the required approvals for this site. We remove the old curb detail rather than building over it.
- Curb-mounted and deck-mounted unitsBoth mounting types are installed with the manufacturer's matching flashing kit for the roof covering in place — tile, shingle or low-slope. The flashing kit does the waterproofing, not sealant.
- Leak diagnosis at existing skylightsNot every stain under a skylight starts at the skylight. We trace the entry point at the head, sides, curb and surrounding roof field before recommending repair or replacement.
- Impact-rated skylightsWe specify units with impact and design-pressure ratings suited to the site, which matters on every Broward County property. Approval paperwork is submitted with the permit.
- Skylight work combined with a re-roofReplacing skylights during a re-roof avoids cutting into new roofing later. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is included in our scope, and we handle full cleanup.
Licenses, permits and codes in Lauderdale Lakes
Skylight work tied into the roof covering is normally performed by a DBPR-licensed roofing contractor; glazing or general/building contractors may also be appropriate depending on scope and whether structural framing is altered. Licensing in Florida runs through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and its Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), with local boards such as the Broward County Central Examining Board of Building Construction Trades also playing a role for registered and specialty contractors. Assume licensed work is required and verify the correct category with DBPR or the Lauderdale Lakes building department. A permit from the local building department is typically required for new skylight openings and usually for replacements, since framing, flashing and impact and pressure ratings are inspected. Florida Building Code requirements for glazing in the wind-borne debris region apply, and skylight units require Florida Product Approval with design-pressure and impact ratings suited to the site; in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers Broward and Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade NOAs are generally required. Skylights near pools or decks may also interact with safety glazing requirements — verify with the building department. We pull permits under our own license, schedule and pass inspections, and close the permit out.
When to call
Leak complaints in Florida cluster in the summer rainy season and after storms, and demand in Lauderdale Lakes rises ahead of and during hurricane season from June through November, with the heaviest rush in August through October. Winter is quieter for rain but busier as snowbird residents return and open up homes that have been closed for months, which is when fogged glass and ceiling stains tend to get noticed. Skylight replacements are commonly bundled with dry-season reroofing, so if a re-roof is on the horizon it is worth deciding on the skylights at the same time. Call (954) 775-8990 or request an estimate with the form on this page; the phone is answered around the clock, and the office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
We serve skylight work throughout Lauderdale Lakes, including Oriole Estates, Oriole Gardens, Hawaiian Gardens, Somerset, Cypress Chase, the State Road 7 / US-441 corridor, the Oakland Park Boulevard corridor and the Lauderdale Lakes Mainstreet district, as well as nearby Lauderhill, Plantation, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, North Lauderdale, Tamarac, Sunrise and Wilton Manors.
Skylights in Lauderdale Lakes: questions we hear
- Do skylights in Lauderdale Lakes have to be impact rated?
- Lauderdale Lakes is in Broward County, which is inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and Miami-Dade NOAs are generally required there. Florida Building Code requirements for glazing in the wind-borne debris region also apply. We confirm the product approvals for your specific roof and submit them with the permit.
- Is a permit needed to replace an existing skylight?
- A permit is typically required for new openings and usually for replacements as well, because framing, flashing and impact and pressure ratings are inspected. We pull the permit under our own license, schedule the inspections and close it out. If you want to confirm the requirement yourself, check with the local building department.
- My skylight only leaks during heavy storms. Why?
- Daily summer thunderstorms here drive rain sideways, and head and side flashings are the usual entry points when that happens. Sealant used in place of proper flashing is a frequent cause, since it dries out and cracks in the Florida sun. We trace the actual entry point before recommending a fix.
- Can a skylight go on a flat or low-slope roof?
- Yes — flat and low-slope sections are common on Lauderdale Lakes homes built between the late 1950s and the 1980s. The curb height and the matching flashing kit are what keep water out on a low-slope roof. We review the existing roof covering and condition before quoting.
- I live in a condo association. Does that change anything?
- Much of the city's condo and co-op stock sits in association-governed communities with their own approval processes. You will generally need association approval in addition to the building permit, and the association may specify unit types. We can provide the product approval documents you need to submit.
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