WHY ROOF FLASHING IS IMPORTANT

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Without a proper roof flashing system, your entire house is susceptible to some pretty scary stuff. This would include leaks and water damage, mold, rotting, and even pest infestations. So, what is roof flashing, and how can you tell if yours needs to be replaced?

Simply put, roof flashing uses a waterproof material (usually steel) to direct water away from the most vulnerable areas of your roof. Unless you have adequate roofing experience, we do not recommend messing with your roof flashing as a DIY project. You’ll need to bring in a local roofing professional to help you make repairs to your flashing system.

However, it’s still useful to know what roof flashing is and how it works. The more you understand what to look for, the sooner you can identify potential issues—ultimately preventing costly, severe damage.

Purpose of Roof Flashing

A roof flashing system is designed to direct the flow of water off a roof, bypassing the areas that are the most susceptible to water damage. More specifically, roof flashing materials are strategically placed to close corners and crevices where water could seep in without it (think chimneys, skylights, vents, etc.).

How Does Roof Flashing Work?

When rainwater or melted snow flows down the roof, it can pool in areas where the roof intersects with a vertical surface or changes slope. Contractors install roof flashing to redirect water away from these areas into gutters and drainage systems. Here’s how roof flashing works in roof installation.

A roofing professional will identify areas where roof flashing is necessary. These are areas vulnerable to roof leaks, such as skylights, vents, and chimneys.
Your chosen flashing material will depend on factors such as climate, budget, personal preferences, and local roofing codes and regulations.
The roofing contractor will cut the flashing to ensure it fits around each roof penetration.
The roofer installs flashing using nails or screws and shapes it to the roof’s contours.
The contractor uses roof sealant or cement to create a watertight seal between the flashing and the roof surface.
Multiple flashing layers are usually overlapped. This helps to direct water away from the roof and towards the gutters or downspouts.
The contractor inspects the installation to ensure the roof flashing is securely attached, watertight, and sloped for drainage.

Types of Roof Flashing

Though the overarching idea of roof flashing is the same, there are different types that fit some situations better than others. Here are seven common types of roof flashing you should know:

Base Flashing

Base flashing helps prevent water damage at vertical-to-horizontal intersections on a roof where the roof meets a vertical wall juncture. Base flashing is installed underneath siding and shingles, so it’s not easily seen.

Step Flashing

Step flashing involves “L” shaped pieces of flashing material that are installed along the corner where the roof meets a sidewall. This type of flashing is partly visible, so homeowners may choose a more expensive material to better match their home’s exterior.

Counter Flashing

Counter flashing is placed either above or opposite of base flashing. It’s most commonly used between the roof’s surface and a chimney or a brick wall. Its purpose is to protect the base flashing. The most effective way to install counter flashing on a chimney is actually while the chimney itself is being built. However, you can still add counter flashing to an already existing brick structure.

Continuous Flashing (aka Apron Flashing)

Continuous or apron flashing is a long piece of flashing that reroutes water from vertical walls and sloped roofs into a gutter.

Valley Flashing

Valley flashing involves using flashing materials to line the dip where two sides of a roof come together and form a valley. This helps direct running water off of the roof and into the gutters.

Kickout Flashing (aka Diverter Flashing)

Kickout flashing is needed when a gutter ends against a sidewall. This kind of flashing helps prevent water from running down the sidewall and diverts it into the gutters instead.

Drip Edge

Drip edge flashing is placed around the edges of a roof to prevent water from dripping behind the gutters and rotting out the roof in the process.

Skylight Flashing

Skylight flashing protects the junction where the skylight meets the roof and uses both step flashing and counterflashing. Some skylights offer or require their own flashing kits to ensure a snug fit and proper seal to reduce the chance of leaks.

Gutter Apron Flashing

While very similar to drip edge flashing, gutter apron flashing is installed underneath the shingles and over the gutter’s back edge. It helps prevent water from getting behind the gutter and into the roof system by creating a barrier.

Types of Roof Flashing Material

Steel is the most common roof flashing material, but you can use other materials depending on your project.

Aluminum Flashing

Aluminum is a lightweight material that is easy for roofers to form into the correct shape. Unfortunately, aluminum can corrode when in contact with concrete or masonry, so in order for it to stand up to these applications, it must be coated.

Copper Flashing

Copper flashing can also be shaped easily, holds up well to soldering, and is very durable. Copper is more expensive than other flashing materials and will naturally patina over time.

Steel Flashing

Steel is the most popular option for roof flashing. It can be shaped into the correct form and both stainless and galvanized steel are corrosion-resistant.

Signs of Flashing Issues

Unless you’re an experienced roofing professional, it may be difficult to notice when your flashing system needs to be replaced, but you can look out for these easy-to-spot signs:

Noticeable corrosion and rust in flashing and gutters
Curling or broken shingles
Patches on the roof
Water damage in the attic or interior walls (water stains, mold, etc.)

Spotting signs of flashing issues and addressing them early can help prevent damage to the roof.

What Are Signs of Roof Flashing Problems?

Although roof flashing is durable, flashing can deteriorate over time and become damaged or loose, which can lead to leaks. It’s a good idea to perform an annual check to identify roof flashing problems to help prevent potential issues.

You can check the inside of your roof from your attic and perform an exterior check by walking your home’s perimeter with a pair of binoculars. Don’t climb onto your roof. It’s dangerous to you and potentially damaging to your roof as well.

Inside the home, check for:

Leaks into your home, garage, or porch
Ceiling water stains
Visible water dripping down the backside of decking or a chimney in the attic space
Attic water stains
Daylight shining around ceiling vents or pipes in your attic

From the ground outside your home, check for:

Loose, damaged, or missing shingles
Loose, damaged, or missing flashing

Any of these could signal a problem with your flashing, or they could point toward other issues that may be causing leakage. Either way, if you see any of these indicators, it’s a good idea to have a professional look at your roofing system right away.

How to Repair Flashing

Roof flashing is a tricky task. Even the smallest spaces that are missed or not properly sealed can be an expensive problem later on down the road. If you think that you may have water damage issues due to faulty flashing, it’s best to hire a professional for an inspection.

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Roofing is our heritage, quality is our tradition.

CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM

WHY ROOF FLASHING IS IMPORTANT

Without a proper roof flashing system, your entire house is susceptible to some pretty scary stuff. This would include leaks and water damage, mold, rotting, and even pest infestations. So, what is roof flashing, and how can you tell if yours needs to be replaced?

However, it’s still useful to know what roof flashing is and how it works. The more you understand what to look for, the sooner you can identify potential issues—ultimately preventing costly, severe damage.

Purpose of Roof Flashing

How Does Roof Flashing Work?

A roofing professional will identify areas where roof flashing is necessary. These are areas vulnerable to roof leaks, such as skylights, vents, and chimneys.

Your chosen flashing material will depend on factors such as climate, budget, personal preferences, and local roofing codes and regulations.

The roofing contractor will cut the flashing to ensure it fits around each roof penetration.

The roofer installs flashing using nails or screws and shapes it to the roof’s contours.

The contractor uses roof sealant or cement to create a watertight seal between the flashing and the roof surface.

Multiple flashing layers are usually overlapped. This helps to direct water away from the roof and towards the gutters or downspouts.

The contractor inspects the installation to ensure the roof flashing is securely attached, watertight, and sloped for drainage.

Types of Roof Flashing

Though the overarching idea of roof flashing is the same, there are different types that fit some situations better than others. Here are seven common types of roof flashing you should know:

Base Flashing

Base flashing helps prevent water damage at vertical-to-horizontal intersections on a roof where the roof meets a vertical wall juncture. Base flashing is installed underneath siding and shingles, so it’s not easily seen.

Step Flashing

Step flashing involves “L” shaped pieces of flashing material that are installed along the corner where the roof meets a sidewall. This type of flashing is partly visible, so homeowners may choose a more expensive material to better match their home’s exterior.

Counter Flashing

Continuous Flashing (aka Apron Flashing)

Continuous or apron flashing is a long piece of flashing that reroutes water from vertical walls and sloped roofs into a gutter.

Valley Flashing

Valley flashing involves using flashing materials to line the dip where two sides of a roof come together and form a valley. This helps direct running water off of the roof and into the gutters.

Kickout Flashing (aka Diverter Flashing)

Kickout flashing is needed when a gutter ends against a sidewall. This kind of flashing helps prevent water from running down the sidewall and diverts it into the gutters instead.

Drip Edge

Drip edge flashing is placed around the edges of a roof to prevent water from dripping behind the gutters and rotting out the roof in the process.

Skylight Flashing

Skylight flashing protects the junction where the skylight meets the roof and uses both step flashing and counterflashing. Some skylights offer or require their own flashing kits to ensure a snug fit and proper seal to reduce the chance of leaks.

Gutter Apron Flashing

While very similar to drip edge flashing, gutter apron flashing is installed underneath the shingles and over the gutter’s back edge. It helps prevent water from getting behind the gutter and into the roof system by creating a barrier.

Types of Roof Flashing Material

Steel is the most common roof flashing material, but you can use other materials depending on your project.

Aluminum Flashing

Aluminum is a lightweight material that is easy for roofers to form into the correct shape. Unfortunately, aluminum can corrode when in contact with concrete or masonry, so in order for it to stand up to these applications, it must be coated.

Copper Flashing

Copper flashing can also be shaped easily, holds up well to soldering, and is very durable. Copper is more expensive than other flashing materials and will naturally patina over time.

Steel Flashing

Steel is the most popular option for roof flashing. It can be shaped into the correct form and both stainless and galvanized steel are corrosion-resistant.

Signs of Flashing Issues

Unless you’re an experienced roofing professional, it may be difficult to notice when your flashing system needs to be replaced, but you can look out for these easy-to-spot signs:

Noticeable corrosion and rust in flashing and gutters

Curling or broken shingles

Patches on the roof

Water damage in the attic or interior walls (water stains, mold, etc.)

Spotting signs of flashing issues and addressing them early can help prevent damage to the roof.

What Are Signs of Roof Flashing Problems?

Although roof flashing is durable, flashing can deteriorate over time and become damaged or loose, which can lead to leaks. It’s a good idea to perform an annual check to identify roof flashing problems to help prevent potential issues.

You can check the inside of your roof from your attic and perform an exterior check by walking your home’s perimeter with a pair of binoculars. Don’t climb onto your roof. It’s dangerous to you and potentially damaging to your roof as well.

Inside the home, check for:

Leaks into your home, garage, or porch

Ceiling water stains

Visible water dripping down the backside of decking or a chimney in the attic space

Attic water stains

Daylight shining around ceiling vents or pipes in your attic

From the ground outside your home, check for:

Loose, damaged, or missing shingles

Loose, damaged, or missing flashing

Any of these could signal a problem with your flashing, or they could point toward other issues that may be causing leakage. Either way, if you see any of these indicators, it’s a good idea to have a professional look at your roofing system right away.

How to Repair Flashing

Roof flashing is a tricky task. Even the smallest spaces that are missed or not properly sealed can be an expensive problem later on down the road. If you think that you may have water damage issues due to faulty flashing, it’s best to hire a professional for an inspection.