Everything You Need To Know About Roof Flashing

by / Monday, 06 May 2019 / Published in Tips

If you have recently been experiencing leakage from your roof, then it may not be the shingles that are the problem, but rather the flashing. Roofing maintenance should always include your flashing in order to extend the lifespan of your entire roof and keep yourself and your home safe and protected against the elements.

What is the purpose of roof flashing?

Roof flashing, in most cases, is made from either aluminum, copper, or galvanized sheet metal. Its purpose is to seal the joints around the edges of the roof, such as around the vents and chimney, so water cannot enter your home through the small gaps around these areas.

Roofing contractors in Napa know that the majority of roofs will come equipped with galvanized sheet metal flashing, but there are exceptions, as there always are. Copper roofing, for example, will typically be fitted with copper flashing, while amateur DIY roofers tend to opt for aluminum flashing since it is the easiest to install and also the cheapest option out there. Regardless of which material is ultimately used, the flashing is almost always built with the use of soldering.

Protect your roof by installing proper flashing

As already mentioned, the purpose of flashing is to keep out water along the vulnerable edges of a roof. Thus, when it comes to the perimeters of your skylight, your roof surface or dormer walls, your roof valleys, and your chimney, then you will be best off installing flashing as means of preventing leaks and water damage from occurring. This is an important aspect of staying safe under a strong roof.

In short, whenever there is a seam between two surfaces, install flashing. Water runoff is heavy around these areas and damages tend to appear first there if preventative measures haven’t been taken. Thus, if there is a leak, you know that there is a gap between the two surfaces.

Exploring the different types of flashing available

Not every type of flashing fits on every roof. It really depends on the style and practicality of a roof, and in most cases, different areas of the roof will even require different types of flashing to be used.

Chimney flashing is fitted around the base of the chimney and made up of several different components, such as step flashing, saddle flashing, and flashing around the bottom.

Cap flashing also belongs to the chimney and will hang over every edge of the already installed flashing mentioned above. Thus, making it an extra layer of protection against water leaks.

Step flashing is commonly found on vertical walls and sloped roofs, and generally in combination with drip edges. Your contractor will be able to explain how it is installed.

TOP (888) 429-5815