Many house owners found a problem with their roofs: rainwater slowly sinks into the roof, which causes water dripping from the roof during the rainy season. Builders come up with a unique solution to this problem. That solution includes adding a flashing roof to the wall. Flash roofing is a thin metal layer that installs on the roof. Flash roofing is placed on the roof in the area where the roof meets with the vertical wall, vent, chimneys, and skylights. In this way, the rainwater does not find its way to go into the roof. Instead, it goes directly to the drainage point because of the waterproof property of the metal.
In that way, you can save your building from water damage. This article will teach you about flashing roof with an accurate description.
What kind of materials are used for flashing roof to wall?
The primary purpose of flashing roof is to save your roof and building from the rain or drain water. That water can penetrate your roof where the roof connects with the vertical surface.
For the flashing roofs, different types of thin metal are used. The purpose of different metals is the same, but the flashing roof material depends on the application. A brief introduction of different types of flashing roof-to-wall material is below:
Steel roof
Steel metal is most commonly use for flashing roof. The reason for using this flashing roof material is that this metal looks very good aesthetically. In addition, this metal can quickly be galvanized; after this, corrosion can not easily occur on steel. Steel metal cost is also low as compared to other Flashing roof materials.
Cooper flashing roof
This metal is rarely used in flashing roof. Copper flashing roofs are rarely used because copper is more expensive than aluminum or steel. Copper flashing roofs are typically used in conjunction with chimneys. Compared to other metals, copper flashing roofs have a longer lifespan. Plus, it has natural corrosion resistance properties.
Aluminum flashing roof to the wall
Mostly Aluminum metal is used for flashing roof because it is very easy to bend and rearrange aluminum metal according to the fitting of the roof. So, the installation of an aluminum flashing roof is effortless and easy. This metal has less weight than copper or steel. That is why the handling of aluminum flashing roof is also very easy.
Rubber flashing roof
Rubber or plastic is a very cheap flashing roof material. But the use of these materials for flashing roof is infrequent because rubber is not a durable material. The fire risk is also very high while using this material as a flashing roof near the chimneys. Plastic has waterproof properties, but the central problem of using plastic as a flashing roof is the challenging installation of PVC on asphalt roofing. So, the use of PVC as a flashing roof is not encouraged.
Sealant (Nails or Cement) flashing roof material
Sealants are the most economical and durable option for securing the flashing to the roof. Sealant materials are available in different types. Most used sealants are:
- Nails
- Cement
It is an old method of sealing, which has many disadvantages, such as the fact that nails are a very inflexible material, which does not allow for expansion and contraction of the roof in the summer and winter, respectively. Roofing cement is the top choice of builders to use as flashing roof to walls.
Types of flashing roof
These days different types of flashing roof to the wall are used. The flashing roof depends on the different parts of the roof. In the following section, you will learn about the different types of flashing roof.
Roof base flashing for chimneys
This flashing consists of two parts. One part is installed with the roof’s base, and the second is installed with the chimney’s wall. Where the chimneys are present, the rain can directly hit that area. So, the chances of flashing at this point are very high. That is why the use of base flashing is essential around the chimneys. The base flashing consists of two parts; it can easily move in the winter or summer seasons when the roof shrinks or expand.
Apron flashing
Apron flashing is most of the time denoted as continuous flashing. Because this flashing roof is installed continuously along the roof, which directs the water directly toward the shingles or drainage, the continuous flashing is installed on the roof in pieces so that it can easily move according to changes in the weather.
How is a flat roof flashed to a vertical wall?
It’s easy. Like any other construction, a spray insulation technician sprayed a vertical wall with foam. It is simple to go from a flat area to a vertical wall when the foam is fluid-applied. There is no use of plates, screws, adhesives, or flashing metal.
Where does the area where a roof meets a wall go?
A headwall is a level intersection where a wall and a roof meet. As you can see in this example, the headwall flashing should extend up behind the exterior wall covering and down over the roof covering.
The benefits of flashing roof
In order to prevent water damage to the roof at its horizontal and vertical interfaces, the “flashing roof” is essential. There are multiple benefits present in using flashing roof.
- As a result of flashing roofs, a building’s age can increase since flashing water doesn’t damage its walls or roof. Insulation from water is provided by flashing roofs.
- The second benefit of a “flashing roof” is that you have to pay a lower amount for the repair and maintenance of the building. So, saving money can also be possible with A flashing roofs installation.
Final thoughts
Flashing roof to the wall is a very underappreciated part of the construction of the building. Because, for instance, you can not find any good benefits in it. But the truth is that your flashing roof plays an integral role in slowing down the building damage process. So, always opt for the installation of flashing roof to wall.
FAQs
- Approximately how long does a roof’s flashing last?
Flashing roofs are expected to last 20 to 35 years, with an average of 25 years. Flashing is a transition material between a roof and another surface used to connect roof penetrations or change the roof’s plane. If a roof leaks, it is likely at the flashings.
- How much do flashing roofs cost?
Fixing flashing generally costs $15 to $25 per square foot, which includes the flashings themselves and the caulking used to seal them in place (which can be up to $10 on its own). The cost of replacing the entire flashing may range from $300 to $600.
- Does flashing cover shingles or go underneath them?
The flashing usually overlaps the material covering the roof. Still, on asphalt shingle roofs, for aesthetic purposes, the portion of the flashing that extends down over asphalt shingles is often covered with shingle tabs.
