Roof flashing details: installation best practices for asphalt roofs

• Do you like this article?
• Tweet

Keep water and moisture from damaging your roof with flashing. These thin and flexible strips work on the roof joints, forming a seal that keeps water out. Roof flashing details include simple tips and tricks you can use during installation, and you can easily pass those tips along to your contractor.

If you decide to look at how to install roof flashing, you might not know that flashing is a metal material often made from galvanized steel. Flashing has a unique design that pushes water away from your roof and the shingles.

Connect with area contractors today! Request that roof flashing be included in the estimate!

When working with flashing, you'll need tin snips to cut through the metal and one-inch roofing nails. Your contractor will have access to other roof flashing details that makes installing these pieces even easier. 

You'll need to install flashing anywhere on the roof where two materials or different pieces meet. If you have a gable roof, you'll need flashing right down the center of the roof. You'll also install flashing around chimneys and other accents on the roof.

Anytime you have a small gap between two surfaces, you'll leave the roof exposed to water and wind. High winds can push water off the roof and between the shingles, which often leads to leaking and other problems. Flashing goes directly on top of the asphalt roof and right over the shingles.

Ask your contractor about roof flashing details to determine if you'll need continuous or step flashing. Continuous flashing is common on buildings where a wall meets the roof such as a house with dormers. Large pieces of flashing form a continuous design that helps water flow down off the roof and away from the shingles.

Step flashing, which you can use with asphalt roofing, uses a stair-step design that's better at pulling away water. The different pieces of flashing form channels that let water drip down each piece until it can flow off the roof. The flashing keeps rain from dripping onto the shingles.

Proper installation of flashing on residential roofing will also help when it comes to snow and ice. As the frozen materials melt, the flashing materials help push the melted ice and snow off.

When you get a roofing cost estimate, ask about the cost of flashing, which isn't always included. Even if you notice your roofing cost rises because of the flashing, you'll find that it's covered under your roofing warranty. 

Roof flashing is something that almost every roof needs. Find out how it can benefit your own house and locate roofing contractors servicing your city at Reply! A good contractor can explain all the steps that will be taken when repairing your roof, installing new shingles, or replacing your roof. Your contractor will even explain roof flashing details to you, so you'll know where your money is going and how the flashing will protect your home.

Photo credit: ateamconstructioninc.com