How Does Roof Flashing Work

Open valleys have metal flashing to protect this critical area of the roof.

How does roof flashing work. It s rolled out into place and then sealed in order to prevent issues like water damage and mold. 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. Drip edges prevent water from seeping under roofing along the edges of rakes and eaves. Picture your house and the walls.

Continuous flashing protects the joint between a vertical wall and a sloped roof. Some of the different types are as follows. Valley flashing is visible from the ground. Details concrete masonry roofing wrb flashing.

The edge of the roof has thin metal flashing that helps water drip off. Flashing helps close a joint in walls or roofing applications to keep water from seeping into the materials used in construction. Roof flashing is the unsung hero when it comes to roofing. The sidewalls are the vertical walls along the outer part of your house referred to as the valleys.

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. 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. 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. They are installed to overlap and form a gap that exposes the valley flashing. Two ways to flash roof edges. This allows water to run off the edges of each roof into the valley flashing and down to the gutters.

What does it do. 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. 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. Roof flashing is commonly made with aluminum galvanized steel or copper but is sometimes formed with roofing felt rubber or plastic.

While some skylight manufacturers include flashing in their products sometimes roofing professionals. 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.