ROOF FLASHING 101: IS YOUR ROOFING CONTRACTOR INSTALLING THEM?

To protect your home and family from the severe weather that some areas of New Jersey suffer, you must first have a sturdy roof over your head. The roofing material is generally one of the first things that come to mind when you consider the construction of a house. But a roof also has additional components that contribute to its ability to safeguard your property.

The performance of the roof would be severely jeopardized without these sections, often known as roof components. Today, we'll discuss roof flashing, one such element. You will learn what this component is and how important of a part it is to your roofing system.

Roof flashing

WHAT IS ROOF FLASHING?

There are some regions that are more vulnerable than others when the roof is being constructed. Due to their exposure to various weather conditions, some roof regions are more vulnerable to leaks than others, necessitating additional protection.

These spaces are susceptible to moisture or water seeping in through the roof. Roof flashing was introduced to stop this.

Any roofing method used to waterproof walls and roofs must include flashing. The material that covers these seams between the roofing layers is called roof flashing. It aids in stopping water from damaging the building's structure by getting inside.

TYPES OF ROOF FLASHING

The market offers a wide variety of roof flashing kinds. Each of them is utilized to protect a different portion of your roof.

Continuous Flashing

This sort of flashing is carried out using a single, continuous metal strip, as the name would imply. This significant kind of flashing is frequently employed to protect the walls' foundations. It is also referred to as "apron" flashing.

An apron flashing is a metal strip that runs along a roof's bottom edge and fastens to the building's sides. It aids in preventing rainwater from entering your house through cracks or other gaps in the walls. Galvanized steel can be used to create an apron flashing.

Step Flashing

One of the most typical flashing patterns is this one. Because it is carried out step by step, step flashing gets its name. It is utilized to provide roof-to-wall coverage where your home's roof meets its sidewalls. The roof shingles are put between this kind of flashing.

Roof shingles

Chimney Flashing

In New Jersey, chimneys are constructed in almost all homes. Tall vertical metal or masonry pipes called chimneys are used to vent boilers and furnaces outside of buildings. Roof flashings that cover the chimney portion of your home's roof are called chimney flashings. Chimney flashing is intended to stop water from leaking into your home through gaps in your chimney wall, which could eventually result in problems like mold development or structural failure. However, this kind of flashing guards against ice dams throughout the winter in addition to rain.

Drip-Edge Flashing

A common technique for stopping water from entering your home's roof is drip edge flashing.

Drip edges are available in a wide variety of designs and substances; some are made of metal and others of plastic. Make sure you pick the appropriate one for your house.

Valley Flashing

Valley flashings prevent water from penetrating the roofline. They are frequently referred to as valley gutters because they are built in valleys where two roof planes converge. Depending on the type of material used for your roof, it could be composed of metal or plastic. The most typical kind is a prefabricated metal flashing that is folded over and secured with nails or screws after being bent at an angle to fit into a valley.

Skylight Flashing

Many people install skylights to increase the amount of natural light in their houses. This improves the flow of air and sunlight while also raising the value of your house. Make sure your skylight is correctly flashed if you have one. A piece of metal or plastic called a skylight flashing covers the seam where the roof and the skylight meet.

Metal skylight flashing can be painted to match your roof and is constructed of metal. Skylight flashing made of common steel will do the work if you want to keep things simple. Copper, on the other hand, offers a wide range of high-end personalized alternatives.

Install skylights

FLASHING MAINTENANCE

Now that you've seen them, you know which areas need flashing to safeguard your roof and house. Let's now discuss how to safeguard the roof flashing itself. Flashings might lose their effectiveness due to corroding from exposure to the weather over time. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain your roof flashing to make sure it is functioning properly. Regular inspections can be used to accomplish this.

You must do a check of the roof flashing at least once a year to maintain it. A professional roof inspection can help to assess the durability of all the components and find any faults early on.

DO YOU REQUIRE ROOF FLASHING?

This blog makes it quite obvious that roof flashing cannot be disregarded. Therefore, whether you are rebuilding your roof or building a new roof from start, be sure to apply the proper flashing to ensure that your roof lasts for a longer time without experiencing leaks.

You may get in touch with Northkit Roofing if you're seeking roofing professionals who are qualified to install roof flashings. With more than 25 years of combined experience, we are the greatest roofing contractors. All roof flashing varieties can be installed by us. Call us at (973) 396-7416 today, and one of our staff members would be happy to assist you.