The Importance of Roof Flashing

Contrary to popular belief, the roof isn’t one large structure. It’s made of different components and parts that all play a key role in protecting your home from the elements as well as keeping it naturally insulated. The roof flashing is just one of these parts, but it’s an under discussed element that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

 

What’s Roof Flashing?

The flashing on the roof is a strip of material that is installed in parts of the roof that’s vulnerable to water intrusion. These include the roof valleys as well as the portions around roof additions, such as chimneys and vents.

Types of Flashing

Roof flashing is often made of metal, such as steel and aluminum, but it’s not uncommon to find strips made of rubber as well as liquid flashing. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. In this post, we’ll only cover the three most common: aluminum, copper and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Aluminum flashings are durable, inexpensive and very easy to form into different shapes. While they do corrode when left in contact with alkaline materials like concrete or fiber cement siding, they are otherwise resilient and a great option for protecting your roof’s most vulnerable parts

Copper flashing, on the other hand, is expensive and harder to form than aluminum, but aesthetically pleasing and works well with contemporary wood preservatives.

Finally, there’s PVC. This composite material is a great alternative to both copper and aluminum for flat and low-slope roofs.

Flashing and Maintenance

While these roof strips are designed to prevent water intrusion from penetrating the roof, they are just as susceptible to deterioration as the other parts.

As such, it’s always a good idea to perform an inspection of your roof’s flashing at least once every year. You can do this yourself when you’re cleaning the gutters.

For a more in-depth inspection, however, we recommend you get in touch with an experienced roofer like us. At WABO Roofing, we’ll help you pick the right flashing for your home. Call us today at (855) 557-66344 to learn more about our services. We are a roof construction company serving homeowners throughout Pearland and Houston, TX.

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