Roof flashing is a piece of sheet metal that is placed over roofing joints to direct water away from the house and prevent any water from seeping inside and causing damage. This could happen when there is a water leak where any two roofing surfaces meet or where any heavy water run-off happens. That primary purpose for roof flashing is so important because it keeps water from entering your property through roof gaps and seams.
Roof flashings can also unfortunately deteriorate or loosen over time. This makes it imperative that you hire a roofing expert to inspect your flat roof or patio roof and find what has cause your leak or determine if the roof flashing was installed incorrectly.
Roof flashing will redirect the flow of water away from the joints in the roof, or any points which have the potential to allow water to sit and then leak into the roof itself. Any area with joints in the roof will generally require flashings to ensure that the roofing system is watertight. Examples of this include areas with chimneys, skylights and roof vents.
In addition to their major purpose, flashings can simply cover parts of your roof in order to improve the overall aesthetic look of your home. Flashing is now available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes so there is usually a roof flashing material, color and shape to suit your specific needs. Regardless of what type of home you have, you’ll be able to get flashings in a range of colors to match your style.
There are also several different material options to choose from when it comes to flashings; including zinc, aluminum and pre-painted steel.