Flashing is usually aluminum or galvanized steel. It is used over joints in roofs and wall construction to prevent water from going inside the home. Without any flashing, your roof will leak.
Other common places flashing is used:
- Around the chimney
- Pipes
- Vents
- Dormer
- Skylights
- Valleys
Please note that when the roof meets a wall, counter flashing is needed. Counter flashing can be done in a number of ways.
When the roof meets a brick wall, the flashing is bent into the mortar. Many contractors don’t do this and seal it with cement instead, this is incorrect because over time the flashing separates from the brick and that is how a leak can occur.
When a roof meets a wall with siding, siding in this case will act as the counter-flashing.
It is important to remember that every home is unique and there is no one solution that fits all.