Common Problem with Roofing: Cracked Flashing – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

Common Problem with Roofing: Cracked Flashing

Flashing consists of thin metal pieces under your roof shingles and on the joints of your roof.  This material creates a water-resistant barrier to protect your home from roof leaks.  Flashing is installed near chimneys, vents, and skylights.  When flashing breaks, large cracks may appear and destructive water intrusion results.

Sometimes, pieces of flashing are visible, appearing like long runs of sheet metal.  Visible flashing may wear out due to exposure to the elements, and a compromising crack may appear over time. Some flashing is hidden, with a rubberized coating over it, and isn’t as susceptible to the elements or damage. 

The tar that seals the flashing together can tend to corrode over the years, and cracks may result.  If your flashing is pulling up from your roof itself, then it wasn’t installed correctly and needs to be replaced.

Roof flashing is a barrier material designed to protect a roof’s valleys, seams, joints, and edges from water damage, fallen twigs, storm debris, and the like. Flashing is also installed around skylights, vents, dormer windows, pipes, and chimney stacks, sealing gaps and cracks between those pieces and the roof’s surface.

Why a Home Needs Roof Flashing

Water is most likely to seep into a home’s roofing materials around the valleys and seams connecting the roof sections.  It also stagnates in the gaps around vents and along the edges of chimneys. Flashing provides a solid barrier in these areas, preventing a roof’s materials from absorbing water or pooling in the dips and cracks of a roof.

Flashing is vitally important for your home’s roof and interior water leaks are often caused by poor-quality, damaged, or missing flashing!  Water damage to a home’s structure, drywall, ceilings, and interior surfaces is typically costly and time-consuming to repair, too.  It risks mold and mildew forming behind walls and under carpets and carpet padding.

To better understand the importance of quality flashing installed properly on your home’s roof, note some vital details about various flashing materials.  Remember to discuss your options with a roofer so you know you make the best choice for your home, based on its overall structure as well as your budget!

Roof Flashing Materials

Copper is often pricey, but still a popular roof flashing material.  It is resistant to corrosion and has a long lifespan compared to other options.  Copper is also somewhat malleable and easy to install.

Polished copper offers an attractive color which enhances the appearance of a home’s roof and makes it appear less industrial.  Aluminum, galvanized steel, and lead flashing are also popular choices for homeowners and roofers.  These materials are all strong and durable.

Lead is typically very affordable although not as malleable and eco-friendly as other flashing materials.  When choosing flashing material for your home’s roof, consider its replacement costs as well as its expected lifespan.  While some flashing materials are more expensive to purchase and install, they might remain a more cost-effective option over the years!

How to Tell if Roof Flashing is Damaged

A full inspection by an experienced roofer is the best choice for spotting damaged roof flashing. Here are other signs that it’s time to replace the flashing on your home’s roof:

  • Standing water anywhere outside the home.

  • Standing water on the roof.

  • Water leaks inside a home, especially around a chimney, dormer window, or any component protected with flashing.

  • Mold and mildew forming behind walls might signal water leaks in the roof, often the result of damaged flashing.

  • Cracks along a chimney front might indicate damaged flashing around the area where the chimney meets the home’s roof.

How to Fix Cracked Flashing

Fixing cracked flashing begins with getting up to your roof and securing a safe way to stay there while you make repairs.  This can be a major risk, and it’s important to consider if the dangers involved in doing the repair yourself outweigh the benefits.

  • Locate the source of the leak.  Once you find the leak, pry up the nails that secured the old flashing.

  • Repair small holes. If there are corroded spots in your flashing, they can be repaired by filling tiny holes with roofing cement and patching any holes under an inch in diameter with the same material as your flashing.  Roughen up the area around the hole with sandpaper and clean.  Cut a patch larger than the hole and use roofing cement to seal it.

  • Remove the cracked segment of flashing. Lift shingles out of your way to get to the cracked flashing and eliminate it.

  • Add new flashing. Using roofing nails, fasten your new flashing the same way the old flashing was secured.

  • Add sealant. Apply a coat of roofing sealant to the nail heads. Use masonry caulk to seal joints between the flashing and your chimney.

  • Inspect routinely. Create a regular routine of checking your flashing (seasonally and after major storms) around your home’s chimney and roof vents. Make sure they aren’t letting in damaging moisture. If you aren’t comfortable with the risks involved with checking your flashing, hire someone to do it.

Roof Flashing Repair Is Not a DIY Job!

While high-quality flashing in good repair is vital for protecting your home from water damage, flashing repair is not a DIY job!  Metal flashing is sharp around the edges. It is also often heavier and more cumbersome than many homeowners realize.

Your home’s roof, chimney, vents, pipes, and other components also need a thorough inspection for potential damage before flashing repairs.  Damaged, worn, or missing flashing often leads to cracks and leaks around vents, pipes, and chimneys. Installing new flashing without making proper repairs to the roof and its components increase the risk of internal water damage.

Bottom line: It’s safest and will give you the best long-term results if you hire a qualified professional roofer to fix your flashing.