Welcome to Family Roofing

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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.

 

ROOF FLASHING PROBLEMS

Roof flashing is an important part of your roof.  The right flashing will protect your home and keep your roof safe from water damage and leaks.  There are many types of roof flashing.  You may choose to incorporate each of these types in your roof or a combination of these types to adequately protect your home from water damage and leaks.

Types of Roof Flashing for Your Home

Common types of roof flashing include:

• Continuous flashing:  Continuous flashing is one long piece of flashing that protects the joint between the vertical walls of the house and the slope of the roof.

• Drip edges:  Drip edges protect the edges of your roof.  They are installed under the roof along the eaves.  It helps water move away from the roof when it rains or storms.

• Valley flashing:  You can find this W-shaped metal flashing on the valley of the roof where two roof planes join.

• Vent pipe flashing:  This cone-shaped flashing covers pipes in the roof.

• Step flashing:  Roofing contractors bend this flashing 90 degrees and use it for roof-to-wall coverage.

• Base flashing:  Roofing professionals install this flashing as a bottom piece to help direct the rain downward and prevent damage.

• Cap flashing:  Cap flashing goes around chimneys, walls, windows, and other flat areas. It runs water off in the opposite direction.

• Counter flashing:  Counter flashing is similar to cap flashing. It is placed opposite of base flashing to complete the coverage.

• Chimney flashing:  You can apply this flashing directly around chimneys. It typically consists of a base and cap flashing together.

• Saddle flashing:  This flashing covers protruding beams or railings.

• Skylight flashing:  Some skylights come equipped with their own flashing. This protects the skylight and the roof from damage.

• Kick-out flashing:  Kick-out flashing may be used to bridge the gap between step flashing and gutters.  It directs water away from walls and into the gutter.

Flashing helps direct water away from the cracks and fixtures in your roof and home.  With the right flashing, your home will stay dry, and your roof will last longer.  Determining the right combination of flashing for your home is not easy. That is why most homeowners turn to professionals for help.

Common Roof Flashing Problems

Roof flashing is not one of the most well-known parts of a roof.  If you’ve never dealt with roof maintenance before, it’s possible you might not even know what it is.  However, roof flashing is an important material for keeping your roof watertight and secure.  Roof flashing is a thin layer of water-repellent metal that directs water away from spots on your roof that could be vulnerable to moisture damage.  You can usually spot flashing connecting chimneys and vents to your roof or sealing joints between the outside roof and wall.

When roof flashing fails, it can leave your home vulnerable to leaks, mold, and other forms of water damage.  Learning to spot common roof flashing problems can help you get repairs done before the damage takes place.

What Causes Damage to Roof Flashing?

Like any other part of your roof, roof flashing is made to go the distance.  That being said, there’s no such thing as a maintenance-free roof.  While roof flashing is typically very durable, there are conditions that can cause it to be damaged to the point of ineffectiveness:

• Old age:  This is one of the reasons it’s important to learn everything you can about a roof before you take ownership of a home.  Even the best roof flashing will eventually start to fail.  Be sure to look at your building plans, roofing warranties, and all other roof documentation so you know what to expect.

• Harsh weather:  High temperatures can cause the metal roof flashing material to contract and expand, resulting in wrinkles and imperfections on the flashing surface that can cause leaks.  Flashing can also be damaged by hazardous weather like hail and high winds, which can knock flashing out of place or even put holes in it.

• User error:  One of the reasons you want to work with a professional when having roof flashing installed is that if it’s done incorrectly, the flashing can pull free and will no longer protect the parts it’s supposed to keep safe.

• Settling foundation:  In some cases, cracks and warps in roof flashing can indicate issues with the foundation of a home.  An experienced roofer will be able to advise you if that’s what is occurring.

Defective Flashing

Flashing protects your roof’s joints and seams from excess water.  These seams and joints are incredibly vulnerable parts of any roof.  It’s composed of sheet metal and prevents water damage to your building.  Over time the flashing can deteriorate from contraction and expansion that occurs because of changing weather patterns.  Problems can also result from improper installation.

If you have leaks in your roof, the flashing is one of the first things you should check. Many flashing problems involve some type of damage to the membrane on your roof. It’s the membrane that protects your home from extensive weather damage and other kinds of roof damage.  Below are some common problems associated with poor roof flashing.

• Blow Offs

  Open seams and joints will eventually lead to blow-offs where part or all of the roof blows off of your building.  Flashing problems diminish the puncture resistance to a roof’s membrane.  Reduced resistance to puncturing means that the membrane is more likely to puncture or tear once it separates from the roof’s substrate

  This type of damage can result from poor installation or maintenance issues. Also, using cold adhesives that aren’t allowed to cure long enough before they’re exposed to high winds and rain can cause blow-offs. High winds such as hurricane-force gusts are typical causes of blow-offs, and these are quite common low-slope roof problems.

• Billowing

  Billowing occurs when large sections of the membrane detach and flutter with high wind. This damage also occurs from poor flashing installation or maintenance issues.  It’s essential to address billowing immediately because it could lead to blow-off.  A roofing professional may need to cut part of the membrane as an emergency fix.  While cutting the membrane may allow water that’s gathered to penetrate the building, it will release the pressure on your roof preventing additional membrane detachment.

• Tenting

  Dimensional shortening of the membrane on a roof causes roof shrinkage, also known as bridging or tenting.  This roofing problem happens when there is a dimensional change in the roof’s membrane. It applies additional pressure to the flashing and roof seams eventually causing a rupture.  This shortening is irreversible.

  Tenting must be addressed immediately before it tears open letting water into the building.  It often causes dry spots beneath the flashing or penetration of the roof.  Contact a roofing professional for an immediate assessment of your roof.  They may need to cut the tented areas so that they can dry out.  Then they’ll install new materials such as modified bitumen and roof mastic.

Professional Roofers

Damaged or poorly installed roof flashing can wreak havoc on your rooftop.  It’s critical to contact a roofing expert so that they can evaluate any problems your roof may have have. Only an expert can provide proper guidance and service your roof correctly so that you don’t experience significant property damage.