How Long Should Roof Flashing Last
When installed properly, roof flashing can last up to 30 years. If you are looking for the best commercial roofing contractor in California, look no further than Applied Roofing Services. To get comprehensive commercial roofing solutions, contact us today at 714-632-8418 or request a quote online.
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How Often Should I Get Flashing Inspected
You should get your flashing inspected twice a year along with the rest of your roofing structure. Scheduling inspections in spring and fall tends to work best for homeowners due to the milder weather.
Besides getting regular inspections, you should also schedule an inspection after a severe weather event. Many homeowners in the Huntington area take this preventative measure following a severe winter or summer storm.
Problem Area Number : Double Layers Of Wrb
This issue was introduced when the 2000 IBC required the installation of two layers of WRB behind stucco. Adhered stone veneer products also require a double layer of moisture protection. The problem is that it has not been widely recognized that directing water between the two layers of WRB, as described by the code and prominent WRB manufacturers, can overwhelm the wall and cause significant damage, even when technically meeting the code.
The concept of the two-layer system is that the outer layer , which is in contact with portland cement stucco or mortar used with adhered stone, is a sacrificial layer that serves as a bond breaker. The water absorbed by the outer layer will cause the felt to swell and expand, resulting in a gap to facilitate drainage. This concept works well when the water intrusion is incidental in volume. However, when water is directed between the two layers of WRB, the wall assembly is overwhelmed and significant damage can result.13
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Finishing Your Roof Design
The decorative element of flashing gives your roof a professional, finished look, smoothing openings or uneven lines between two components of your roof. For example, a chimney placed next to asphalt shingles doesnt create a flush line. Flashing can hide an unprofessional finish by providing a decorative, clean roofline.
Sizes For Roof Flashing
You need to be careful about the size of your roof flashing if you want to repair or install it. Your plumbing vent flashing should be large enough that it can surround the vent. It should not be wider than the vents diameter.
Your step flashing pieces must be at least 10 inches long , and at most 2 inches wider than your exposure to the shingle. 3-tab shingles have an exposure of 5 5/8 inches . Flashing is usually 10-by-8-inch in size. These 8 inches will cover most shingles. You can also use the same size to cover longer exposures on Nordic Nordic, shingles.
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How Do I Check If The Roof Flashings Are Still Ok
The best way to check if your roof flashings are still in good condition is to inspect them periodically for any signs of damage or wear. You can also look for water stains around the edges of your roof, which could be a sign that water is getting in where it shouldnt.
If you do find any problems with your flashing, have them fixed as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your roof and home.
Our Free Roof Inspection
How do you know when its time for a new roof? The only way to be sure of your residential roofs current condition is to have a licensed professional personally inspect it. Werner Roofing is proud to offer free roof inspections for every client, so you can be sure of your roofs condition. Every Werner Roofing inspection comes complete with our promise: We wont recommend or sell a roof replacement unless its necessary.
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Do You Need To Replace Roof Flashing
You might not be sure if you need to replace your roof flashing. The most important thing is to look at the condition of your flashing. If its cracked or damaged in any other way, its a good idea to go ahead and replace it.
If your flashing looks dirty, this isnt a good enough reason to replace it. You can clean it to give it a new lease on life. If its very old, however, then its probably a good move to replace it. A smart time when to do so is if youre replacing other roof components, because then replacing old flashing at the same time can be advantageous.
What To Know About Roof Flashing
Jul 26, 2021 | Roofing
If youre looking into replacing or repairing your roof, we expect youre being bombarded with plenty of new or unfamiliar words. Roof flashing is probably going to be one of those words, as it is a crucial roofing component that every roof requires. However, very few homeowners are actually aware of what it is or what function it fulfills. In this post, our team of Shreveport-Bossier roofing contractors at Quality Exteriors will inform you of what to know about roof flashing and why it is so important in the proper protection of your home.
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How To Repair Roof Flashing
Before getting into the specifics of various flashing repairs, it should be mentioned that it is wisest for the homeowner to have all previous flashing taken off before having new roof flashing installed. If only parts of the old or damaged flashing are replaced, it will likely fail before the new flashing lifespan is over.
However, it is possible for professional roofers to salvage flashing that is still intact when removing the old or damaged pieces. The roofer will have to first inspect the flashing to assure it will continue doing its job efficiently then, if finding that some flashing pieces are still useful, the roofer will attempt to remove the damaged flashing without damaging the rest.
Not all types of flashing are easily removable without causing damage to each of the flashing pieces. In most cases, it makes more sense to remove the entire row or line of flashing and install fresh flashing.
The following is designed to help you understand what goes into flashing repair. For the homeowner considering installing or repairing the flashing him/herself, see the subsection below.
Flashing can be repaired in a few steps:
What Is Counter Flashing In Roofing
If you are not an experienced roofer you probably do not know why roofing counter flashing is important or what it is. In this article, we will discuss what counter flashing is and why it is important.
Counter flashing is a piece of metal or other material that is installed on top of roofing material, such as shingles, to prevent water from seeping into the roof decking. It is typically installed around chimneys, vents, and other roof penetrations. Counter flashing helps to prevent water infiltration by creating a waterproof seal between the roofing material and the penetration.
If you do not have counter flashing installed around your chimney or other roof penetrations, you could be facing expensive repairs down the road. Water can cause serious damage to your roof decking and home structure, so it is important to make sure that your counter flashing is in good condition
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When It Comes To Preventing Roof Leaks Installing The Correct Roof Flashing For Your Home Is The Key Flashing Comes In Different Materials And Serves A Variety Of Purposes On Your Roof Discover The Best Type Of Flashing For Your Next Project Or Repair
What is Roof Flashing?
Roof flashing is a thin metal sheeting that redirects water, so it doesnt penetrate the roof and cause damage. The metal creates a seal at each exposed joint to lock out moisture. Flashing metal is typically made of aluminum, steel, or copper.
Aluminum: This type of flashing is lightweight and easy to install. However, it needs to be coated if its used with concrete or masonry, otherwise it will corrode over time.
Steel: Aesthetically pleasing and resistant to corrosion, steel is a common choice for roof flashing.
Copper: Copper flashing is easily soldered, durable, and has a long lifespan. It does discolor over time, which some homeowners like and others dont.
Flashing can be found at seams and joints, such as where the roof meets the wall, where two roof slopes meet, near skylights and eaves, or any other angle. When water runs down the side of flashing, it redirects to the shingles instead of the roof deck where it could potentially enter the home.
Damaged or poorly installed flashing is a common cause of roof leaks, which can lead to expensive roof repairs and a decrease home value. Dark water stains in your attic, especially along the edges or near the chimney, may be a sign of bad flashing. Check out our guide on the warning signs of flashing damage to learn more.
Types of Roof Flashing
Each feature on your roof needs the appropriate flashing to protect your home from the elements. Here are some of the most common types:
Valley Flashing
Signs Of Roof Flashing Failure
The clearest indication that flashing is underperforming is by water leaking into the house. Of course, it is desirable for any homeowner to catch the issue before leaking occurs in this case, here are some specific outside signs for the homeowner to look for that may imply flashing that is not protecting your home:
- The shingles are curling, broken, damaged, have lost granulation, or are missing .
- The asphalt or wood shingles are moldy, decaying, or splitting.
- Patches, cracks, or tears in the roof.
- The flashing itself tears or buckles around the roof features. When this happens, chimneys, specifically, will have missing, damaged, or stained brick.
- The sealant, if present, is crumbling or missing. Or nails, if used in place of sealant, are missing. Both circumstances will make the flashing loose.
- The fascia is decaying or stained.
- The gutters are rusting, sagging, bending, or have leaky seams. Gutters may even become clogged.
The homeowner can inspect the inside of the house as well.
- In the case that the roof has patches, cracks, or tears, the homeowner may also find water spots, mold, damaged rafters, or leaks in the attic.
- Moisture marks and/or brown, yellow, or gray stains are present along the walls or ceiling.
- An increase in energy cost may denote the roof ventilation is compromised.
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What Does Flashing Do
Shingles are not enough to protect the vertical or uneven areas of a roof. These junctures create a thinner surface on the roof that makes it more vulnerable to pooling water. Flashing is what seals those thinner areas and waterproofs them.
Flashing works by directing water away from the roof deck to travel down the siding and toward the gutters. Flashings flat shape helps water slide away from vertical structures. This function is why flashing is so essential for waterproofing a roof and preventing leaks.
What Is The Best Flashing To Use
Stainless steel is an extremely resilient flashing material and is suitable for the harshest of environments. The price of it is comparable to copper flashing, placing it in the premium category of materials for this use. Typically, it is installed for base flashing, counter flashing and valley flashing.
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Things To Remember About Flashing:
- There are several different types of roof flashing products available, each with its own installation process
- The type of flashing you choose should be based on the material your roof is made from as well as your personal preferences
- In general, roofs with asphalt shingles have either a roll roofing or self-adhered membrane flashing, while metal roofs use standing-seam metal flashing
- Roofing felt or asphalt coated fiberglass is used to roll roofing, self adhered membranes are made of rubber and the most common type for metal roofs is sheet galvanized steel that has been corrugated into tubes. If youre not sure what kind of material your roof is made from or what flashing type is best for it, check with your roofing contractor.
- Different types of flashings are installed in different ways, so make sure you use the correct installation process when working on yours. For example: if your roof has asphalt shingles then roll roofing should be adhered to the sheathing at the eaves with roofing nails before the shingles are applied.
- It is possible to repair roof flashings yourself, but only if you are confident in your abilities and the flashing has not been severely damaged. In any case, always follow the manufacturers instructions for installation.
Tips For Maintaining Your Roof Flashing
To ensure your flashing has a longer lifespan, you should keep it in good condition. Here are some maintenance tips to follow.
- Regularly check the flashing for any crumbling or cracks. Repairing small damage will be much easier in this way.
- If your flashing is new, it can be very shiny so you want to paint it to make it blend in with the roof. This can also prevent corrosion from the flashing being exposed to sun and rain.
- Remove any debris, flaking paint, and rust with a stiff brush. Just make sure that if youre using a solvent to clean the flashing you dont let it come into contact with your asphalt shingles otherwise it can damage them.
- A good idea for keeping your flashing in good condition is to apply a zinc-based primer before spraying on two light coats of metal paint. This inhibits rust from forming.
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I Batten Seam Roof At Wall
The flashing of the head of a batten seam roof at a wall is shown in this detail. The top of the roof pan is formed into a “bread pan” whose upper edge is just above the finished batten. Copper flashing is locked into this edge, and extends at least 8″ up the wall. A copper receiver holds the counterflashing at its top edge.
Commercial Roof Flashing Types
- Continuous Flashing/Apron Flashing A long, single metal piece that directs water down to the roof shingles.
- Step Flashing A rectangular flashing with a 90-degree bend in the middle is used to direct water away from the wall.
- Base Flashing Used as one of the flashings on chimneys, which require two flashings to ensure the rainwater always flows down to the gutter.
- Counter Flashing Installed against or above the base flashing to direct water away from the chimney.
- Drip Edges A thin metal flashing is installed on the roofs edge to drip off the water, preventing leaks and damage to the home.
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Continuous Or Apron Flashing
A continuous flashing is used where vertical walls intersect the roof. If you have a room above your garage or porch roof, chances are youll need this type of flashing for your roof.
Its also referred to as apron flashing since it pretty much works the same way as an apron. Its a long piece of metal that directs water down to your roof system.
C New Flashing In Existing Brick Wall
This detail shows how new copper flashing is installed in an existing brick wall. The mortar joint between brick courses is raked at least 2″ deep. This forms a reglet similar to Detail 9.2A. The copper counterflashing is inserted into the reglet and held by lead wedges. The reglet is then filled with sealant.
For Additional Information see: Flashings and Copings – Coping Covers, for similar conditions at parapets and copings.
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Roof Flashing Facts You Need To Know
The last step in installing a new roof is to install the metal flashing that protects the edges of your roof against water getting into your house. The flashing is installed over the areas where two pieces of roof materials come together, such as at chimneys, vents and dormer walls.
There are several different kinds of roof-flashing products available roll roofing, self-adhered membranes and standing-seam metal each with its own installation process. The type of flashing you choose should be based on the material your roof is made from as well as your personal preferences. In general, roofs with asphalt shingles have either a roll roofing or a self-adhered membrane flashing, while metal roofs use standing-seam metal flashing.
Roll roofing is the traditional way to flash a roof because it can accommodate some movement in your roof. This type of flashing is made of roofing felt or asphalt-coated fiberglass and is installed in a single layer.
The first step is to roll out the flashing material so that it covers the entire area where the roofing materials meet. Then, use a sharp knife to cut the flashing along the lines of the roofing shingles.
Finally, fold the top edge of the flashing down over each shingle, beginning at the top of the wall and working your way down. Overlap each folded flap by at least 2 inches, then secure it to the roof sheathing with roofing nails or screws so that water will never be able to sneak in behind it.
Siding And Shingle Manufacturer Instructions
Figure 2 Siding manufacturer detail.
Typical siding manufacturer installation instructions require the siding to be installed as much as 1 to 2 in. above the roof covering .4 Typical shingle manufacturer installation instructions require the vertical leg of the step and/or base flashing to be only 2 to 4 in. tall .5
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