What is Roof Flashing?

If you have ever done any repair work on your roof, talked with a roofer, or simply walked around a home improvement store, then chances are you have heard the term roof flashing before. If you haven't then the term probably means next to nothing to you. But what is roof flashing? The answer to this, and other questions, is listed below.

• What is roof flashing? Simply put, roof flashing is a material that is commonly used to provide a seal over joints in roof and wall construction to help protect the roof from water. Basically, this type of seal is used wherever you can see two or more areas of the roof coming to join in a point. For example, you should find flashing around things like your chimneys, in the valleys of the roof, around skylights, windows, and so on.
• What is roof flashing made of? Roof flashing is typically made from aluminum or galvanized steel. That being said, it can really be made from anything that will help create a solid seal against water. The reason that aluminum and galvanized steel is often used is that they are fairly durable, and light weight materials that you can easily install.
• When should you fix it? While you can easily go for a little while with shingles that are looking a little worse for the wear, flashing is something that you should fix as soon as you see a problem. There are several different ways that roof flashing can show that it needs to be replaced, the most common of which is that it is loose, bent, weathered, or even oxidized (rusted).
• What can damaged flashing do? Considering that the whole point of flashing is to help create a water proof seam, it only stands to reason that water damage will result. In addition to water damage in the roof, you could potentially see water damage in the walls, and insulation. If the damage is severe enough, or goes untreated long enough, you could even potentially see health problems due to mold growth.

Now that you know a little bit more about roof flashing, and just what it does, you can easily see how important it is. Keep this in mind the next time you go on your roof to take a look and you notice a problem with the metal pieces, or if a roofer says that you need to repair it. Simply put, be willing to spend a few dollars to fix this minor piece of roofing equipment, or be ready to spend thousands of dollars repairing the entire roof.