Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
Skylights in Margate, FL
Skylights for homes in Margate and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Margate sits in Broward County's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, about eight miles inland from the Atlantic, with a hot, humid subtropical climate and a May–October rainy season of near-daily thunderstorms. A skylight is a hole cut through the roof, so every one of those wind-driven rain events tests the head and side flashings. Add constant UV and salt-tinged air on easterly breezes, and sealants and fasteners around a skylight age faster here than they would inland up north.
Flat Rate Roofing Inc installs new skylights cut and framed into the roof, replaces failed, fogged or cracked units, and diagnoses leaks at existing skylights. We work with curb-mounted and deck-mounted units using the correct flashing kit for the roof system, whether that is the barrel or flat concrete tile, asphalt shingle or low-slope roof typical of Margate's housing stock. Work is often combined with a re-roof, which is the cleanest way to integrate new flashing. You get a free estimate and a written flat rate quote that says what is included.
Most of Margate's roughly 58,593 residents live in housing built during the 1960s–1980s buildout boom — the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year (2022) puts the median year built at 1978, and most homes are owner-occupied. On a home that age, an original or first-replacement skylight likely predates current Florida Building Code impact and wind pressure requirements, and the sealant someone used in place of proper flashing has had decades of Florida sun to dry out and crack. Margate also has a very large share of low-rise condos, villas and 55+ community buildings, where the association controls or must approve roof work, so plan for that approval step before scheduling.
Problems to watch for in Margate
Sealant used instead of flashing
A bead of caulk around a curb is a short-term fix that dries out and cracks under intense South Florida sun. The repair is a proper flashing kit matched to the surrounding roof system, not more sealant.
Leaks at head and side flashings
Wind-driven rain during the May–October rainy season pushes water uphill and sideways, finding gaps a vertical downpour never would. Head flashing is usually the first place to inspect on a Margate skylight leak.
Fogged or failed glazing
Condensation between panes means the unit's seal has failed, and year-round high moisture in Margate keeps feeding it. A fogged unit is replaced, not resealed.
Units that predate current impact rules
Skylights on 1960s–80s Margate homes often went in before today's windborne-debris requirements. In Broward's HVHZ, a replacement unit generally needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance.
Corroded fasteners and flashings
Salt-laden air on easterly breezes and constant humidity accelerate corrosion of fasteners and flashings across South Florida. Rusted screws at a curb let water track into the deck below.
Rotten deck around the opening
A slow skylight leak often shows up as soft plywood at the curb before it ever stains a ceiling. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is included in our scope.
Tile roof detailing
Barrel and flat concrete tile roofs are widespread in Margate, and skylight flashing on tile has to be integrated with the pan and underlayment rather than surface-sealed.
What we do
- New skylight installationWe cut and frame the opening in the roof and install the unit with the correct flashing kit for that roof system. Permits are pulled under our own license.
- Replacement of failed unitsFogged, cracked or leaking skylights are replaced with units that meet Florida Building Code impact and wind pressure requirements, with Notice of Acceptance documentation where the HVHZ applies.
- Curb-mounted and deck-mounted unitsBoth mounting types are handled, each with the flashing kit the manufacturer specifies for the surrounding tile, shingle or low-slope roof.
- Leak diagnosis at existing skylightsWe trace where wind-driven rain is entering — head flashing, side flashing, curb or glazing seal — before recommending a repair or replacement.
- Skylights during a re-roofReplacing skylights while the roof is open lets new flashing tie into new underlayment correctly. Inspections are scheduled, passed and the permit closed out, with full cleanup.
Licenses, permits and codes in Margate
Roofing work in Florida must be performed by a licensed contractor. Skylight installation and replacement in a roof is typically handled by a licensed roofing contractor, or by a general or building contractor, and glazing or window specialty licenses can also apply depending on scope. Florida does not have a widely recognized standalone state 'skylight' license class, so confirm the correct scope with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the City of Margate or Broward County building department. Adding or replacing a skylight normally requires a permit, particularly where the roof opening or framing is altered, and like-for-like replacement may still require a permit in most South Florida jurisdictions — verify with the local building department. Units must meet Florida Building Code impact and wind pressure requirements; in Broward's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone the unit generally needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, and flashing details must be compatible with the surrounding roof system. Flat Rate Roofing Inc holds Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license CCC1334537, a state certification valid in every Florida county and verifiable on the DBPR website. The company is insured.
When to call
Leak complaints in Margate surface during the May–October rainy season and after storms, while replacements and upgrades are commonly scheduled in the dry season, often alongside a re-roof. Demand across Broward also climbs ahead of and during the June 1–November 30 hurricane season, with a second bump in October–November as snowbirds reopen seasonal homes and condos — if you are in an HOA or condo association, start the approval conversation early. Our phone at (954) 775-8990 is answered around the clock, and the office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also request a free estimate using the form on this page.
We serve Margate including Oriole Estates, Oriole Gardens, Oriole Golf & Tennis Club, Holiday Springs Village, Paradise Gardens, the Carolina Club area, the Atlantic Boulevard, Coconut Creek Parkway and State Road 7 / US 441 corridors, and the Royal Palm Boulevard area.
Skylights in Margate: questions we hear
- Do I need a permit to replace a skylight in Margate?
- Adding or replacing a skylight normally requires a permit from the local municipal building department or county building division, especially when the roof opening or framing is altered. Like-for-like replacement may still require a permit in most South Florida jurisdictions. We pull permits under our own license, schedule inspections and close the permit out.
- Does my skylight have to be impact rated here?
- Margate is in Broward County, one of the two counties designated as the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone under the Florida Building Code. In the HVHZ a skylight generally needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, with impact-resistant glazing or approved protection required in windborne-debris areas. Verify the specific requirement with the local building department.
- My skylight only leaks in heavy storms. Why?
- Margate's rainy season brings wind-driven rain that pushes water sideways and up under head and side flashings, which a calm shower never reaches. It usually points to a flashing detail or dried-out sealant rather than the glass itself. We diagnose the entry point before quoting a repair.
- Should I replace skylights during a re-roof?
- It is the cleanest option, because new flashing can be integrated with new underlayment and the surrounding roof system. On Margate homes dating to the 1960s–80s, an original skylight is often near the end of its life anyway. Ask for both options on your written flat rate quote.
- I live in a condo or HOA community. What changes?
- A very large share of South Florida homes, and many buildings in Margate, are in condominium or HOA communities where the association controls or must approve roof work. Get written approval before scheduling. We can provide the scope documentation your board asks for.
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