How Does Roof Flashing Work

Metal flashing refers to thin pieces of aluminum stainless steel and other weatherproofed metals which are installed on your roof to keep water from getting beneath shingles.

How does roof flashing work.

Continuous flashing protects the joint between a vertical wall and a sloped roof. Simply put roof flashing is any piece of sheet metal that forms a joint between the roof and objects that protrude from the roof such as dormers chimneys and pipes in such a manner that they prevent water from leaking through the joint. Roof flashing is material that covers joints walls edges and other vulnerable areas to protect against water and wind damage. In this open valley style the shingles over each section of roof do not touch.

Flashing can be made from a variety of materials such as copper roofs aluminum lead or galvanized steel roofing. Virtually every house in america has at least one vent pipe or other penetration on the roof. Roof flashing is the unsung hero when it comes to roofing. Details concrete masonry roofing wrb flashing.

Drip edges prevent water from seeping under roofing along the edges of rakes and eaves. Flashing helps close a joint in walls or roofing applications to keep water from seeping into the materials used in construction. Picture your house and the walls. Everyone thinks it is the shingles or other roofing material that makes the roof but that part couldn t do the job roof flashing does.

Protect the eave from ice dams and sideways rain step one in steep slope roofing is the edge flashing. Roof flashing is commonly made with aluminum galvanized steel or copper but is sometimes formed with roofing felt rubber or plastic. Cap flashing mortared or caulked into the chimney laps over the top edges of the other flashings to prevent water from running behind them. Closer look at flashing.

For pitched roofs regardless of the application or type of flashing used the purpose of flashing is to direct the flow of water that leaks into the intersection down and away from the interior of the structure to the topside of the roofing material. Two ways to flash roof edges. The edge of the roof has thin metal flashing that helps water drip off. The sidewalls are the vertical walls along the outer part of your house referred to as the valleys.

Open valleys have metal flashing to protect this critical area of the roof. It is strategically placed at joints such as where your roof connects with walls or around where your chimney protrudes. One common method is to lay the edge metal under the eaves membrane and over the rake. While some skylight manufacturers include flashing in their products sometimes roofing professionals.

It s rolled out into place and then sealed in order to prevent issues like water damage and mold. Valley flashing is visible from the ground. Some of the different types are as follows.