RV Skylight & Vent Cover Replacement - Fort Lauderdale

Florida's UV index is among the highest in the continental United States. RV skylights and vent covers are made of polycarbonate or ABS plastic, both of which degrade under prolonged UV exposure. Over 5 to 10 years of year-round sun exposure in Broward County, these components become yellowed, brittle, and prone to cracking. A cracked skylight is both a UV entry point and a future water intrusion risk.

Yes. A cracked skylight allows water to enter around the break during rain events. Broward County's frequent and intense afternoon thunderstorms quickly exploit any opening in a cracked skylight. Water that enters through a cracked skylight travels down the framing, into the ceiling, and eventually into the wall - causing the same progressive damage as any other roof leak.

Skylight replacement typically runs $175 to $450 depending on the size and type of skylight. The skylight dome itself is typically $75 to $200 as a part. Labor includes removing the old dome, cleaning the mounting flange, applying new sealant to the mounting frame, and installing the new dome. The service call diagnostic fee of $89 to $149 applies to all visits.

We work with the most common RV skylight brands: Heng's, Jensen, SL Series, and generic OEM skylights found on major RV brands. Most RV skylights use a standard 14x14 inch or 14x22 inch opening that accepts standard replacement domes from any of these manufacturers.

Vent covers (the exterior caps over roof vents) crack and degrade in Florida's UV environment more quickly than in northern states. We recommend inspecting all vent covers annually and replacing any that show significant yellowing, cracking, or brittleness. A cracked vent cover in Broward County's storm season will eventually fail completely and allow water intrusion into the vent opening.

Skylight replacement is a straightforward repair that we perform at campsites throughout Broward County. The job requires roof access, the replacement dome (which we carry in standard sizes), and appropriate sealant. Most skylight replacements are completed in 1 to 2 hours.

Many RV skylights have two components: an outer dome (exterior) and an inner cover (interior, visible from inside the coach). While replacing just the outer dome is possible, if the inner cover is also aged and yellowed, replacing both at the same time makes sense - it saves a second service call and ensures a complete, uniform result.

Leaking around the skylight frame perimeter - rather than through the dome itself - indicates failed lap sealant around the skylight's mounting flange where it meets the roof membrane. This is addressed with a Dicor lap sealant service around the skylight frame and does not necessarily require skylight replacement. Our technicians check both the dome condition and the frame seal during every skylight inspection.

Heavily yellowed and brittle skylights should be replaced - the UV degradation has compromised the structural integrity of the plastic. Lightly yellowed skylights can sometimes be restored with a plastic restorer product, but this is a temporary cosmetic improvement that does not address the underlying material degradation. Replacement domes are relatively inexpensive and provide a permanent solution.

We use Dicor lap sealant around the perimeter of the skylight mounting flange where it interfaces with the roof membrane. For the skylight dome-to-frame interface, we follow the manufacturer's recommendation - some skylights use a foam gasket, others require sealant in that joint. Using the wrong sealant type (particularly silicone) around a skylight on an EPDM roof can chemically degrade the roof membrane over time.