Roof Flashing & Why They’re Important

Roof flashing is a protective metal strip that directs water away from the joints and seams of your roofing system. It is installed at the leak-prone areas of a roof such as chimneys and vents to prevent water intrusion.

Roof flashing is essential to prevent moisture from entering beneath the shingles. It works in conjunction with the underlayment of your roof to provide foolproof protection against water damage. High-quality flashing is crucial for certain areas of a roof such as valleys, protrusions like skylights and vents, and edges of your roof.

Types of Roof Flashing

Flashing is usually made of metal such as copper, aluminum, or stainless steel. It can be installed around doors, windows, gutters, or chimneys. In short, it can be used over any joint where water can enter your home.

1. Step Flashing and Base Flashing

These flashings are installed where the roof deck meets any vertical wall of your home i.e. front or sidewall.

Base flashing is used for front walls. The flashing is bent according to the pitch of your roof. It is placed under your shingles and siding but kept over the underlayment.

Step flashing, on the other hand, is used for the vertical wall. It consists of several pieces of flashing that are bent to match the roof pitch and installed along the sidewall where it meets the deck.

2. Valley Flashing

Valleys are the areas on a roof where two decks are inclined towards each other at a certain angle and create a low line. These areas tend to collect water after heavy rain and are highly susceptible to water intrusion.

A valley flashing, made of durable metal, is an effective solution to prevent water issues at the roof valleys. It guides water to flow from the edges of the roof to the valley flashing and eventually to the gutters.

3. Drip Edge Flashing

A Drip edge is used to direct water at the edges of a roof and to prevent it from getting under the shingles or rotting the wood. A drip edge is critical at the rake edges of a roof, but installing it at the eave edges is also a good way to prevent water infiltration at the edges.

4. Chimney Flashing

Roof Penetrations such as vents, chimneys, dormers, and skylights are among the most complex features in a roofing system, at least as far as flashing installation is concerned. Each of these protrusions requires a different flashing with specific installation techniques for water-tight protection. While the type of flashing required at each penetration may be different, providing a water-tight seal at these areas is of utmost importance.

Get in Touch with the Leading Roofing Experts

There you have it – some of the major flashing types you can install on your roof to effectively prevent water intrusion in your home.To learn more about how flashing can protect your roof and home from water damage, get in touch with Kreunen Construction today at 901-763-8506. Kreunen serves Olive Branch, Southaven, Horn Lake, and all of greater Memphis Tennessee.