What Do I Need to Know About Roof Flashing?

Shingles elevate the look of your home, and they are the first line of defense against all weather conditions. They are made from strong materials, so they last longer. Flashings are mostly ignored, but they are just as important as shingles.

Purpose of Flashing

Flashings are made of a thin sheet of metal and keep the water away from joins and seams. If water stays in these places for a long, the moisture will penetrate the roof and cause further damage. In some areas of the map, such as joins, low points, protrusions, edges, etc., flashings are crucial.

For more information, you can reach Watkins Construction and Roofing at 601-488-3179. We service areas in Jackson, Flowood, Clinton, and Ridgeland, MS.

Types of Flashing

Flashings are made up of metals such as copper, stainless steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum. They cover all the exterior joints around doors, gutters, chimneys, and windows. Below are some common types of flashings, along with detailed information.

Base Flashing & Step Flashing

If a wall meets with the structure of the roof, base flashing and step flashing are used. These walls include side walls and front walls. Walls also take a lot of water damage, especially when heavy winds blow along with the rain. This water can easily get to the structure from the joint if proper flashing isn't used. With flashings, the water won't get there and will be sent to gutters instead to ensure its proper disposal.

Valley Flashing

If roof decks are sloping and create a low line, just like a valley between two mountains, it is called a valley in the roof. Valley flashings are used in such places to avoid water penetration. Some types of shingles can replace valley flashing, but they aren't as good as the flashing itself. It is also made up of metal and is installed below the shingles' edges and just above the underlayment. They overlap each other, so the water runs down to the gutters.

Chimney Flashing

Chimneys, dormers, and vents are complicated penetrations that require flashing, or the water will damage the roof. Roofers need different materials and installation methods to create water-tight seals with chimney flashing making it a difficult installation.

Drip Edge Flashing

Water damages wood at the edge of the roof or under the shingles, especially near the edge, so drop edge flashing is installed. You can install it at both rakes as well as eave edges, but it is mostly installed on rake edges only. Shingles at the ends get torn off in extreme winds, but edge flashing overlaps them to hold them in place. All the other flashing is required in some cases only, but edge flashing is required for all types of roofs.

Skylight Flashing

These flashings protect against moisture and leak from skylight installations on the roof. They don't use any sealants at all and prevent most of the moisture from getting down there.

Continuous Flashing

Continuous flashing is used at the joint between the roof and the sidewall. This is the least used type of flashing because it doesn't provide much protection against leakage at all. It is made up of a single metal sheet. Step flashing is a better alternative to continuous flashing.

Kickout Flashing

Kickout flashing is also known as diverter flashing, as it diverts water and moisture towards the gutter system from the cladding. The installation process is complicated, but if it is installed up to the standard, the protection it offers is very good.

Do you need to replace the flashing?

To ensure that the roof doesn't get damaged due to rainwater, replacing the flashing is the first step. This becomes even more important if your roof was installed quite some time ago as various new flashings have been available in the market since then.