Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
Skylights in Tamarac, FL
Skylights for homes in Tamarac and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Tamarac 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 it lives or dies on flashing detail and glazing strength. In a city where wind-driven rain and wind-borne debris are real design factors, the unit and the flashing around it have to be right the first time.
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 both curb-mounted and deck-mounted units using the correct flashing kit for the roof system, and we handle impact-rated units. Tamarac's housing stock leans heavily toward concrete-block-and-stucco homes, villas and low-rise condominiums with tile or flat roofs, so flashing details vary a lot from one roof to the next.
Tamarac incorporated in 1963 and grew as a planned retirement and golf-course community through the 1980s, and Census ACS 5-year (2022) data puts the median year built at 1980 — so much of the housing is roughly 40 to 60 years old, and most homes are owner-occupied. On roofs of that age, skylights are often original or were reworked with sealant used in place of proper flashing, and Florida sun dries that sealant out. Persistent humidity and salt-carrying sea breeze off the nearby Atlantic also corrode fasteners and flashings faster here than in inland parts of the country. Because a large share of Tamarac residents live in HOA- or condo-association-governed subdivisions, including several 55+ and gated communities, association approval may be part of the process before work starts.
Problems to watch for in Tamarac
Sealant instead of flashing
A skylight caulked rather than flashed will hold for a while, then fail as Florida sun dries the sealant out. Once it cracks, the May–October rainy season finds it quickly.
Wind-driven rain at head and side flashings
Near-daily thunderstorms in the rainy season push water sideways and uphill. Head and side flashings that were never detailed correctly can leak even when the glazing is sound.
Fogged or failed glazing
Condensation between panes means the seal has failed and the unit is at the end of its life. In Tamarac's year-round high moisture, fogging tends to show up before any obvious leak does.
Units that predate current impact rules
Skylights on Tamarac roofs built in the 1960s–80s often predate today's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone wind-load and impact requirements. Replacement is the usual point at which a unit is brought up to current approvals.
Corroded fasteners and flashings
Constant humidity and salt air accelerate corrosion on the metal holding a skylight assembly together. Rusted fasteners loosen the flashing laps that keep water out.
Flashing that fights the roof system
Tile and low-slope flat roofs are both widespread in Tamarac, and each needs its own flashing approach. A kit meant for one system installed on another is a recurring source of leaks.
Rotten decking around the opening
A slow skylight leak soaks the plywood at the curb before anyone sees a ceiling stain. Once the roof is opened, the damaged deck has to come out.
What we do
- New skylight installationWe cut and frame the opening, set the unit and flash it into the surrounding roof system. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is included in our scope.
- Replacement of failed unitsFogged, cracked or leaking skylights are swapped out for units carrying the approvals required in Broward's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone.
- Curb-mounted and deck-mounted workWe use the correct flashing kit for the unit type and for the tile, shingle or low-slope roof it sits in.
- Leak diagnosis at existing skylightsWater at a skylight does not always start at the skylight. We trace it before recommending a repair or a replacement.
- Impact-rated unitsImpact-resistant glazing or approved protection is required in windborne-debris areas, and Tamarac falls inside the HVHZ.
- Skylight work combined with a re-roofReplacing skylights during a re-roof lets the flashing be tied into new roofing rather than patched into old. It is a natural time to upgrade older units.
Licenses, permits and codes in Tamarac
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 Tamarac building department. Adding or replacing a skylight normally requires a permit from the local municipal building department or county building division, particularly where the roof opening or framing is altered, and like-for-like replacement may still require a permit in most South Florida jurisdictions. Skylights 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, and the company is insured. We pull permits under our own license, schedule and pass inspections, and close the permit out.
When to call
Skylight leak complaints tend to 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. In Tamarac, demand also climbs ahead of and during the June–November hurricane season, with a second bump from late fall through early spring as snowbird residents return and reopen seasonal homes. Our phone is answered around the clock at (954) 775-8990, the office keeps weekday hours Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and you can request a free estimate with the form on this page. You get a written flat rate quote that says what is included, and full cleanup when the work is done.
We serve Tamarac including The Woodlands, Colony West, Mainlands of Tamarac Lakes, Tamarac Lakes, Westwood, Sabal Palm, Lime Bay, Heathgate-Sunflower, Vanguard Village and Land Section, along with nearby North Lauderdale, Margate, Coral Springs, Sunrise, Lauderhill, Coconut Creek, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale.
Skylights in Tamarac: questions we hear
- Do I need a permit to replace a skylight in Tamarac?
- Adding or replacing a skylight normally requires a permit from the local municipal building department or county building division, especially where the roof opening or framing is altered. Even a like-for-like replacement may still require a permit in most South Florida jurisdictions. We pull permits under our own license and close them out.
- Does my new skylight have to be impact-rated?
- Tamarac 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 is fogged but not leaking. Does it need replacing?
- Fogging between panes means the seal has failed, which is a sign the unit is at the end of its service life. In Tamarac's year-round high moisture that often shows up before a visible leak. We can look at it and give you a free quote either way.
- Do I need HOA approval first?
- A large share of Tamarac residents live in HOA- or condo-association-governed subdivisions, including several 55+ and gated communities, and associations in South Florida often control or must approve roof work. Check your association's rules before scheduling. We can work within an approval timeline.
- Should I replace skylights during a re-roof?
- It is a sensible time, because the flashing can be tied into the new roof system rather than patched into old roofing. Many Tamarac homes date from around 1980 per Census ACS data, so original skylights are often due anyway. Replacements and upgrades are commonly scheduled in the dry season alongside a re-roof.
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