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WHY IS ROOF FLASHING IMPORTANT
What is Roof Flashing?
Roof flashing is basically a thin layer of metal that goes on certain areas of your roof. It is resistant to moisture as well as other common weather conditions, including heat and rain. Usually it is made from either aluminum, lead or even galvanized steel. The roof flashing rolls into place and is sealed on your roof. It’s primary purpose is to prevent damage from water and reduce the risk of mold.
What Does Roof Flashing Do?
Roof flashing helps to protect your home and roof by closing joints in walls and areas of the roof. By doing this, water is not able to seep into the roofing materials that were put in place during installation. Commonly, valleys, skylights and vents are, and should be surrounded by flashing. This ensures proper protection for all common areas of the roof. However, it is very important that the roof flashing is installed correctly. This ensures the material won’t fail or become less effective over time. It’s also key that the roof flashing is installed properly so that water is actually kept out of places it shouldn’t be. If roof flashing is not properly installed or defective, this could actually damage your roof much faster than had it been installed carefully.
Why Is Roof Flashing Important?
Flashing is a very important part of your home’s roofing system because it prevents water from seeping into your home’s structure and causing damage. If the flashing is not installed correctly or is made of incompatible materials, it can fail and allow water to enter your home’s roof deck, which can lead to serious damage to your home’s structure. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the flashing on your home’s roof is installed correctly and is made of compatible materials. It would be best to inspect the flashing regularly to ensure that it is in good condition and has not been damaged by weather or other factors.
How Does Roof Flashing Work?
The main way that it helps protect your home is by collecting water and helping it flow away from the roof. Whether the roofing is installed on valleys, chimneys or vents, this is how flashing works to protect. Depending on the shapes and angles of a roof, position and size of flashing may fluctuate. But it’s primary purpose is keeping water moving and preventing leaks in your roof. Flashing works by creating a barrier between the roofing materials and the underlying structure of your home. The flashing prevents water from seeping through the roofing materials and into the roof deck, which can cause serious damage to your home’s structure. To work properly, flashing must be installed correctly and made of materials compatible with the roofing materials.
Why Does Flashing Matter?
Flashing is an important part of your home’s roofing system because it prevents water from seeping into your home’s structure and causing damage. If the flashing is not installed correctly or is made of incompatible materials, it can fail and allow water to enter your home’s roof deck, which can lead to serious damage to your home’s structure. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the flashing on your home’s roof is installed correctly and is made of compatible materials. It would help to inspect the flashing regularly to ensure that it is in good condition and has not been damaged by weather or other factors.
How To Install Roof Flashing?
Installing roof flashing is not a difficult task, but it is important to do it correctly to prevent water from entering your home’s structure. There are two main types of roof flashing: step and valley. Step flashing is installed along the edges of your home’s roof, while valley flashing is installed in the valleys where two sections of your roof meet. To install either flashing, you will need to purchase the appropriate materials and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Once you have installed the roof flashing, you should inspect it regularly to ensure that it is in good condition and has not been damaged by weather or other factors.
Roof flashing is a strip of metal that’s installed on the roof to direct rainwater away from areas of your roof, such as your walls and chimney, to ensure that you prevent water from accumulating on the roof and damaging its structure. This also protects your home against water damage.
Types Of Roof Flashing
There are many different types of roof flashing to strengthen your roof structure. These include the following:
Continuous flashing. This is called apron flashing and it’s a single, long piece of metal that diverts water down to the shingles. It covers a joint, such as where the roof meets a wall of siding.
Base flashing. This includes two pieces of flashing that is used for roof structures such as chimneys. Base flashing guarantees that water meets a flashing surface wherever it falls so that it will be transported dowward.
Counter flashing. This type of flashing is placed on the opposite side of, or above, base flashing.
Step flashing. This is flashing that’s rectangular in shape. It’s bent in the middle and is used for wall flashing. It has a scale-like design so that the pieces of flashing overlap each other and slip underneath the shingles. It’s mainly used where a wall meets the roof.
Valley flashing. Valleys on the roof need to have metal flashing installed on them to protect them. Valleys are a part of the roof that accumulate a lot of water.
Skylight flashing. This type of flashing is usually purchased with your new skylight. It protects the skylight and surrounding roof from water damage. If it’s not provided, you’ll have to purchase the skylight flashing separately.
Kickout flashing. This is placed at the start of gutters to draw water away from the wall so that it can enter the gutters properly.
Drip edge flashing. This is flashing that’s placed on the roof edge. It draws water off the roof without it splashing onto the home’s walls or causing any leaks that can result in water damage.
Vent Pipe Flashing
As we’ve learned, flashing helps protect your roof and home from entering water. This also includes piping and vents that sit atop your roof. On most homes, you’ll usually have at least a few vents or piping. Since these are technically openings in the roof, water entry could be a problem without proper flashing installation. For vents, the flashing is usually cone-shaped with a flange at the base. It is worked into the roof shingles as the roofing is initially applied. The way it works is that there is a central sprout opening that is made of metal. It also may be with a rubber compression that wraps around PVC piping. At the bottom is a square piece of metal. The center will slip over the vent pipe. This is where it’s installed beneath the roofing. In doing so, this makes water run out of and away from the pipe opening.
Valley Flashing
The part of the roof slopes downward between two folds of a roof is known as the valley. A strand of metal is installed beneath the shingles of a roof here. Usually it’s is installed at the edges. When water runs from the shingles down into the valley, the flashing is what protects this vulnerable part of the roof from becoming damaged. The water then flows from the roof slopes down the valley and into the gutters.
Chimney Flashing
One of the most common ways water can get into homes is by way of chimney. However, chimney flashing helps to effectively stop water from entering. The way this is done is by installing L-shaped metal pieces between shingles courses all alongside a chimney. At the top of the chimney is the cricket roof. Also known as the saddle roof. Its purpose is to create a slope that keeps water from being able to accumulate behind a chimney.
Then, a large piece of flashing covers the cricket roof and runs alongside the shingle run on top of it. Generally, it is mortared directly onto the chimney itself. This allows for a water tight barrier to be created. On the side of the chimney, counter flashing is also mortared onto either the stone or brick course and runs down on top of the step flashing.
Lastly, chimney flashing is mortared on the front of a chimney. It is going to be mortared at the lowest part of the roof slope. Usually it will sit on top of the next course shingles. This is where any water may run off.
What Metals Are Roof Flashing Made Of?
There are different metals that can be used to make roof flashing. Let’s take a look at their pros and cons.
Aluminum
Aluminum is easy to shape and use, especially because it’s lightweight. Aluminum needs to be coated if it’s used with masonry and concrete, though, and this is because aluminum reacts with alkaline surfaces. If you live in a coastal area, aluminum flashing needs to be coated to prevent corrosion from the moisture in the air.
Copper
Another popular metal for flashing is copper. It’s flexible and easy to shape and can be soldered without a problem. Copper is durable, but it does develop a patina which might not be to everyone’s tastes.
Steel
Steel is the go-to metal used to make flashing for the roof. This is not just because of how durable it is but it’s flexible, malleable, and can be made resistant to corrosion by being galvanized.
What about plastic flashing?
You can find some flashing products that are made out of plastic, but this is not usually recommended. Although plastic is more affordable than metal flashing, it degrades over time when exposed to direct sunlight so it won’t last as long as metal flashing.
Conclusion
Flashing is a material used in roofing to prevent water from seeping through the roof’s seams. It is made of a thin sheet of metal or plastic applied over joints in the roofing materials to seal them and keep out moisture. Flashing can also be used to cover up any holes or gaps in the roof, such as where the chimney passes through it. If you see flashing on your roof, it means that there is something wrong that needs to be fixed right away. Contact a professional roofer to take a look and repair whatever damage has been done.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
What Does Roof Flashing Do?
As we’ve learned, flashing helps protect your roof and home from entering water. This also includes piping and vents that sit atop your roof. On most homes, you’ll usually have at least a few vents or piping. Since these are technically openings in the roof, water entry could be a problem without proper flashing installation. For vents, the flashing is usually cone-shaped with a flange at the base. It is worked into the roof shingles as the roofing is initially applied. The way it works is that there is a central sprout opening that is made of metal. It also may be with a rubber compression that wraps around PVC piping. At the bottom is a square piece of metal. The center will slip over the vent pipe. This is where it’s installed beneath the roofing. In doing so, this makes water run out of and away from the pipe opening.
One of the most common ways water can get into homes is by way of chimney. However, chimney flashing helps to effectively stop water from entering. The way this is done is by installing L-shaped metal pieces between shingles courses all alongside a chimney. At the top of the chimney is the cricket roof. Also known as the saddle roof. Its purpose is to create a slope that keeps water from being able to accumulate behind a chimney.