Our Approach
Natural Light Done Right, Without The Leaks
Skylights add daylight, ventilation, and openness to a home like nothing else can. But they are also the single most common source of roof leaks, and the reason is almost never the glass. It's the flashing. A skylight installed by a contractor who treats it as an afterthought will leak within a few seasons of Nebraska weather.
Royalty installs, replaces, and repairs skylights as part of a fully integrated roof system, using manufacturer flashing kits woven into the surrounding shingles. We also handle roofing, siding, gutters, and windows if you want to take care of everything at once.
Why It Matters
Why Skylight Flashing Matters More Than The Glass
When a skylight leaks, homeowners almost always assume the glass has failed. It rarely has. The real weak point is the flashing, the layered metal system that seals the joint where the skylight meets the roof. Flashing has to shed water the same way the surrounding shingles do, weaving over and under courses so runoff is carried past the opening rather than behind it. When a skylight is set in a bed of caulk instead of properly flashed, that sealant is the only thing standing between your ceiling and the weather, and sealant does not survive Nebraska freeze-thaw cycles for long.
This is why the quality of the installer matters more than the brand of skylight. A premium unit set with lazy flashing will leak, while a mid-range unit tied correctly into the roof will stay dry for decades. Royalty installs every skylight with the manufacturer's engineered flashing kit, integrated shingle by shingle into the roof, so the skylight becomes a sealed part of the roof system rather than a hole patched over the top of it.
How Our Installation And Repair Process Works
Every project begins with a free on-site inspection. For a repair, we pull back the surrounding shingles to find where water is actually entering rather than guessing from the stain below. For a new installation, we assess the roof pitch, framing, and the interior ceiling to plan the light shaft. Either way, you get an honest recommendation on whether the unit should be repaired, re-flashed, or replaced outright.
On install day our crew removes the old unit or cuts the new opening, sets the skylight to manufacturer spec, and installs the full step-flashing kit woven into the shingle courses. For replacements paired with a new roof, the skylight is flashed as the roof goes on so everything is one continuous, watertight system. We finish the interior shaft and drywall where needed, then test and clean up. Skylight work pairs naturally with roofing and gutter projects if you want to handle the full roofline at once.
The Process
What To Expect When You Work With Us
Free Inspection
We find where water is truly entering and assess whether your skylight should be repaired, re-flashed, or replaced.
Honest Recommendation
You get a clear, itemized plan and quote. No pressure to replace what can be properly repaired.
Integrated Flashing
We install the manufacturer flashing kit woven into the shingles so the skylight becomes part of the roof.
Test and Cleanup
We water-test the seal, finish any interior shaft work, and remove all debris before leaving.
Know What to Look For
Signs Your Skylight Needs A Professional
Water Stains On The Ceiling Around The Skylight
Brown rings or streaking on the drywall near a skylight almost always mean the flashing or seal has failed. Even a slow leak rots the framing and insulation hidden in the shaft above your ceiling.
Condensation Or Fogging Between The Glass
Moisture trapped inside a double-pane skylight means the seal has broken down. The unit has lost its insulating value and is due for replacement, not just a re-seal.
Cracked, Yellowed, Or Hazy Domes
Older acrylic and polycarbonate skylights yellow, craze, and crack under years of Nebraska sun and hail. Once the dome is compromised it will leak and it will not clear up.
Drafts Or Rising Energy Bills
A poorly sealed or single-pane skylight bleeds heat in winter and lets it pour in during summer. If a room with a skylight is always the hardest to keep comfortable, the unit is the likely culprit.
Visible Damage After A Hail Or Wind Storm
Skylights take a direct hit during Omaha storms. Cracked glass, dented frames, and torn flashing are common and are frequently covered under the same claim as your roof.
A Skylight Older Than Your Roof
If your skylight predates your current roof, its flashing was likely reused or patched during the last install. Replacing the skylight with the roof is the only way to guarantee a watertight seal.
Local Knowledge
What Omaha Homeowners Should Know About Skylights
Nebraska weather is hard on skylights. Intense summer sun, hail, high winds, and constant winter freeze-thaw cycles all attack the seal and flashing year-round, which is why an older skylight so often becomes the first thing to leak on an otherwise sound roof.
The single most important decision is timing. If your roof is due for replacement, that is the moment to replace an aging skylight too. The flashing ties into the shingles, so doing both together guarantees one integrated, watertight seal instead of disturbing a new roof later.
Hail and wind damage to skylights is covered by most homeowners insurance policies. Royalty inspects skylights as part of every storm damage assessment and includes them in the claim documentation when damage is present.
Schedule a Free Inspection
Royalty Roofing took care of us after the big windstorm last August and I could not be happier with their work. AJ was always accessible and worked directly with our insurance company to ensure we got our claim paid fully.
Brian B.
My roof needed a complete replacement due to hail damage. Royalty responded immediately and made the whole process seamless. The roof, skylights, and gutters look amazing. Highly recommend their services.
Natalie V.
So glad I decided to work with Royalty Roofing. Nick went to bat for me with insurance. They installed a new roof, siding and gutters and the house looks incredible. Extremely fast and affordable.
Tyson R.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A straightforward skylight replacement is usually completed in a single day. New installations that require cutting a fresh opening and building the interior shaft take longer and are scheduled once we have measured your roof and ceiling.
In most cases yes if the damage was caused by a covered event like hail or wind. Skylights are frequently damaged in the same storm as the roof, and Royalty documents the full scope so the skylight is not left out of the claim.
The overwhelming majority of skylight leaks come from failed flashing rather than the glass itself. Improperly installed or aged flashing lets water run behind the unit and into the ceiling. Correcting it means removing the surrounding shingles and installing a proper step-flashing kit, not just adding more sealant.
Almost always, yes. The flashing that seals a skylight is tied directly into the surrounding shingles. Replacing an aging skylight during a roof replacement guarantees a fully integrated, watertight seal and avoids paying twice for the same roof work later.
Fixed skylights are sealed and bring in daylight only. Venting skylights open to release hot air and moisture, which is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. We install both, including solar-powered venting units with rain sensors.
Yes. We offer financing options for qualifying projects so you can bundle skylight work with a roof or other exterior project without waiting. Ask your project manager about available financing.
Pricing depends on the type of unit, whether we are replacing an existing skylight or cutting a new opening, the roof pitch, and any interior shaft or drywall work involved. Because every job is different, we provide a firm, itemized quote after a free inspection so there are no surprises.
Service Area
Serving the Greater Omaha Metro
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"AJ worked tirelessly with three different claims adjusters and finally got them to do the right thing for us. He is a top-notch professional and his team did a great job on our house."
-- Brian B., Omaha NE