Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
The flat-rate skylights specialist in Opa-locka, FL
Skylights for homes in Opa-locka and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Opa-locka is known for its 1920s Moorish Revival architecture, a legacy of Glenn Curtiss's planned city, and much of the housing is single-story concrete block (CBS) from the mid-20th century. If you are choosing who should cut, frame or reflash a skylight in a home like that, look for three things. The contractor should hold a Florida roofing certification you can verify, put in writing exactly what is included, and use units rated for Miami-Dade's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone.
We hold Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license CCC1334537, a state certification valid in every Florida county and verifiable on the Florida DBPR website. Our office is in Sunrise, and we serve Opa-locka. You get a free estimate and a written flat rate quote that says what is included.
Opa-locka has a tropical monsoon climate with hot, very humid summers, and hurricane season from June to November brings high winds, flooding rain and occasional tornadoes from tropical systems. A skylight is an opening in the roof, so it faces all of that. Sealant used in place of proper flashing can dry out in the Florida sun, and wind-driven rain tests every head and side flashing. In older masonry homes and buildings, a leak at a skylight can also reach ceilings and fixtures that are already dealing with humidity. The wind-borne debris requirements that apply here also shape which units are suitable.
Problems to watch for in Opa-locka
Sealant standing in for flashing
Caulk or roof cement applied around a skylight can dry out and crack in Florida sun. Once it does, water can get under the roof covering and the leak often appears well away from the unit.
Wind-driven rain at head and side flashings
During tropical systems and summer thunderstorms, rain can be pushed sideways into flashing details that only shed water falling straight down. A correct flashing kit is designed to handle that.
Fogged or failed glazing
In Opa-locka's constant humidity, a unit with a failed seal can show condensation or fogging between the panes. That usually means the unit itself needs replacing, not just cleaning.
Cracked domes or glass
Hurricane-season winds can throw debris at a roof, and a cracked skylight lets rain straight in. Wind-borne debris requirements are why impact-rated units are worth discussing.
Old units on mid-century roofs
Many Opa-locka homes date from the mid-20th century, so an existing skylight may be long past its service life. Its curb, framing and flashing may also not match current requirements.
Leaks that look like skylight leaks
Water showing up near a skylight may come from the roof covering around it rather than the unit. Leak diagnosis at the existing skylight finds the real source before anything is replaced.
What we do
- New skylight installationWe cut and frame the opening into the roof and set the unit with the correct flashing kit, so the roof stays watertight around it.
- Replacing failed, fogged or cracked unitsWe remove the old unit and fit a replacement, whether curb-mounted or deck-mounted, with proper flashing rather than a bead of sealant.
- Leak diagnosisWe trace leaks at existing skylights to the real cause, whether that is the unit, the flashing or the surrounding roof, and quote the fix in writing.
- Impact-rated unitsFor the wind-borne debris region, we can work with impact-rated skylights suited to the site. Your written quote says what is included.
- Skylights combined with a re-roofIf a new roof is planned, the skylight work can be done as part of it. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement are included in the scope, and the job ends with full cleanup.
Licenses, permits and codes in Opa-locka
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, regulates contractor licensing in Florida. As the state puts it: "Roofing work in Florida legally requires a licensed roofing contractor and generally a permit from the local building department; a contractor's license is verified on the Florida DBPR website." Skylight scope can vary, for example when structural framing is altered, so confirm the right license category with DBPR or the local building department. Permits are typically needed for new skylight openings and usually for replacements, because framing, flashing and impact and pressure ratings are inspected. We pull permits under our own license, schedule and pass inspections, and close out the permit. On product approvals: "Miami-Dade and Broward are Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Roofing products used there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for that use; elsewhere in Florida they need a Florida Product Approval (or local approval). Either way the product is installed per its approval." Opa-locka is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and skylight units generally need Miami-Dade NOAs, so verify details with the building department.
When to call
Leak complaints tend to cluster in the summer rainy season and after storms, and Opa-locka's hurricane season runs from June to November. Replacements are often bundled with dry-season reroofing, so a skylight that is only fogging can sometimes be planned into a re-roof. To get started, call (954) 775-8990. The phone is answered around the clock, and the office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also request a free estimate with the form on this page.
We serve Opa-locka and nearby areas including Magnolia North, Sherbondy Village, the Opa-locka Airport area, Miami Gardens, Carol City, Bunche Park, Golden Glades, Biscayne Gardens and Westview.
Skylights in Opa-locka: questions we hear
- Who installs skylights in Opa-locka?
- Flat Rate Roofing Inc serves Opa-locka from our Sunrise office. We hold Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license CCC1334537, which you can verify on the Florida DBPR website. You get a free estimate and a written flat rate quote that says what is included.
- Does a skylight in Opa-locka need a Miami-Dade NOA?
- Opa-locka is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, where skylight units generally need Miami-Dade NOAs. Confirm the requirement for your specific unit with the building department. We install products per their approvals.
- Can an older concrete block home in Opa-locka get a new skylight?
- Much of the housing here is single-story CBS from the mid-20th century, and a new opening has to be cut and framed into the roof. The unit is set with the correct flashing kit, and the opening is subject to permit inspection. We look at the roof first, then quote the work in writing.
- Is my skylight leaking because the unit failed?
- Not always. Leaks can come from dried-out sealant, flashing that has been overwhelmed by wind-driven rain, or the roof covering around the unit. Fogging between the panes usually points to a failed unit. Leak diagnosis tells you which it is before you pay for a replacement.
- Can a skylight replacement be done with a new roof?
- Yes. Replacements are commonly bundled with dry-season reroofing. Doing both together lets the skylight flashing tie into the new roof covering. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement are part of our scope.
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