How To Better Understand Your Roof: What Should You Know About Flashing?

How To Better Understand Your Roof: What Should You Know About Flashing?

Your roof system contains different parts, each significant in its own right in helping to protect your home. However, homeowners often overlook roof flashing, while some roofers will install it poorly or improperly during installation, repair, or replacement.

In reality, flashing is a vital element of your roofing system because it keeps other vulnerable parts airtight and waterproof. In addition, it seals the outer envelope to protect your home’s interior from weather elements.

What is Roof Flashing?

Roof flashing is the thin material, usually galvanized steel, roofers use to secure joints on the roof. It also directs water away from particular critical areas such as walls, dormers, and wherever the roof plane meets vertical surfaces. Roofers install flashing around features like chimneys, skylights, and vents.

Flashing directs water down its side to the shingles or gutters, preventing it from entering the roof deck. A lack of flashing leaves your roof vulnerable to water leakage and seepage through crevices, causing further water damage to your home’s interior.

There are several types of flashing because the roof system contains many parts which need protection. The most vulnerable points in your roof are its joints (think dormers and valleys) and penetration (anything requiring a hole such as vents, skylights, and chimneys).

The common types of flashing include:

  • Continuous flashing
  • Base flashing
  • Counter-flashing
  • Step flashing
  • Skylight flashing
  • Drip edges
  • Valley flashing
  • Kickout flashing

How to Maintain Your Flashing

Make it a habit to have a professional roofer inspect your flashing annually or every time they are up on the roof for other routine maintenance. Noticing problems with your flashing early on prevents further damage later.

Apart from inspection, your roof’s flashing requires the following maintenance work:

  • Lock loose flashing and replace missing parts to prevent water seepage into your roof and home
  • Fill holes on your flashing to make it waterproof
  • Re-caulk your chimney flashing to form a waterproof barrier
  • Fix leaking seams by securing them properly and applying roofing cement to form a watertight seal

As you can see, minute issues such as holes on your flashing require professional roof inspection services to identify and remedy well before you notice water damage in your ceiling. By then, you may need to replace more than your ceiling and flashing.Are you looking for professional roofing services in Jacksonville, FL? Contact StormForce today for professional diagnostic, restoration, and installation services. StormForce is Jacksonville’s number one roofer and a GAF MasterElite contractor with HAAG Certification.