Roof System Components: Roof Flashing

Roof System Components: Roof Flashing

Roof flashing is an essential way to prevent leaking through your roof. The flashing acts as a sealer between the joints in the roof.

Certain areas of your roof and walls are more susceptible to leaks and water damage. This is definitely true in the case of a dormer wall, roof valleys, skylight edges and, the chimney. Wherever water runoff is heavy, or two surfaces meet, they will need roof flashing.

Materials Used for Flashing

Popular materials used for roof flashing include galvanized, copper, and aluminum. The most common material is galvanized sheet metal. Aluminum flashing is usually used for DIY homeowners and copper is used especially for copper roofs.

Roof Flashing Types

Flashing is most often formed through soldering, though there are a variety of different kinds of roof flashing. Chimney flashing will be used at the base of the chimney in multiple parts. There will be flashing around the bottom, step flashing around the sides, and finishing with saddle flashing around the top. Additionally, flashing around the chimney, a cap flashing is used to lap over the edges of the rest of the flashings to keep water out.

In the case of a vertical wall or a sloped roof, step flashing is used. Drip edges will stop any water from trying to seep underneath the roof around the eaves. Around skylights, integral flashing is used as well as step flashing around the base, the sides and saddle flashing around the top.

The most common areas leaks occur are where pipes penetrate the roof surface or in valleys. These areas should be sealed with special asphalt roofing cement. In order to prevent leaking around areas with pipes, one should invest in vent pipe flashing. 

Damaged Flashing

Since flashing is installed at your home’s most vulnerable areas, it’s not uncommon for it to be damaged. Damage can occur in several ways, like cracking, warping or being torn away completely.

Flashing may become damaged because of poor installation, sloppy repairs, age and exposure as well as weather related issues. 

 If issues are significant, call the experts at Highland Residential Roofing.