Roof sealant and flashing tape

Roof sealant and flashing tape is a self-adhered waterproofing membrane, usually a rubberized asphalt or butyl-based strip, that installers apply around the perimeter of a skylight. It sits between the skylight frame or curb and the roof deck and the shingles, tile, or metal panels that surround it. Because it bonds to both the wood sheathing and the frame without nails or fasteners, it fills the small gaps that mechanical fasteners would otherwise leave open.

Skylights are one of the most common points of water entry on a pitched roof. The frame penetrates the roof plane, cuts through underlayment, and creates a joint where two different materials meet. Sealant alone tends to crack or pull away as the house expands and contracts with temperature, so a flexible membrane tape is used as the primary barrier at the seams. Installers typically lay it along the lower edge first and work up the sides, lapping each layer so that water sheds downhill over the top of the tape.

Most leaks around skylights trace back to a failed or missing flashing layer rather than the glass or the unit itself. When a skylight drips, the flashing tape is often one of the first things a repair contractor inspects, since a worn or improperly lapped strip can let water track along the rafters and show up on a ceiling several feet from the source. If you are looking for someone to check or redo this work on a Citrus County home, you can find local providers in our skylight repair and leak contractors listing.

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