A Beginner’s Introduction to the Roof Flashing

One of the most common terms you will hear from a roofer is the term “flashing”, especially when talking about roof leaks or routine inspections. What is the roof’s flashing, and why is it so important? Here’s a beginner’s guide to this particular roof component.

What’s Flashing?

Flashing refers to the part of the roof that runs along the edge of the roof’s planes. Made of waterproof material such as metal or plastic, the flashing can also be found in valleys and ridges of a roofing system. For flat roofs, you’ll find the flashing around vent pipes or the chimney stack.

Why Install Flashing?

Any roof repair expert will tell you that a roofing system isn’t complete without the flashing. Without the flashing, your roof won’t be able to provide complete protection against rain. This is because the flashing goes over the parts of the roof where shingles or panels can’t fully intersect. You can think of flashing as the part of the roof that “fills in the gaps”, so to speak.

Does Flashing Need Maintenance?

Like other parts of the roof constantly exposed to the harsh elements, the flashing can also suffer from constant wear and tear. The sealant running along the flashing can crack or peel off, creating small gaps where water can seep through. Extreme temperature changes can also cause roof flashing to get warped over time.

Taking Good Care of the Flashing

Taking good care of the flashing is easy, especially because it comes with taking care of the shingles. A roofing contractor will always check for signs of damage because leaks tend to show up along damaged flashing strips. Depending on the extent of the problem, maintenance could be something as simple as reapplying sealants or completely replacing the damaged flashing strip.

Make sure your roof’s flashing remains leak-free with help from our team. Adams Roofing Professionals, Inc is the most trusted roofing contractor in the area. You can call us at (847) 364-7663 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.

I wanted to let you know about an experience I had with one of your employees. I live at 1200 Knottingham Court in Kingsport Estates and apparently, your company is servicing our condo association. My building has had a leak in the entryway for several months and Eddie was dispatched out to have me show him the source of the leak inside. I met him on Friday, September 21st and just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with his friendliness and professionalism. He immediately found the source of the leak and even went up on the roof to show me. He assured me that someone would take care of it as soon as possible and told me he would give the report priority to avoid any further damage. As someone who used to be in Customer Service, I always value a company that hires people that are not only skilled at their trade, but also skilled at interacting with people. Eddie is a great example of that and I wanted you to know so you could tell him what a great job he does! I am so glad that Alma Management chose Adams Roofing to be our roofing contractor!... [more]

Jeremy Q, CMCA, AMS

Adams Roofing has a great team to work perfectly with condo and townhome Associations. We are currently in the middle of a 6 year, 49 building tear-off project. Adams works hand in hand with the engineers, delivers according to the specifications, and provides great customer service to the homeowners and management team.... [more]

Sue T.

Good Afternoon, I am writing to you on behalf of the Mission Hills M-8 Association. I would like to tell you how happy we are with the work that you completed for our Association. Your supervisor Eddie was great. We liked his professionalism and his work ethic. He kept us informed, and delivered on all his promises. Please make sure that any other jobs you do for us include him. Best regards, Joey Mission Hills Management... [more]

Brett K.

Charlie, Thanks very much for replacing the gutter! No one has been out to do it, at least before I left for work this morning. But I will definitely let you know whether it’s done correctly. I am very satisfied with your roofing job. It looks great, and more importantly, there were no leaks when it rained (even though we haven’t gotten really hard rains yet). So, I have been very pleased with my experience with Adams, especially with the professionalism and responsiveness of you and Dan. Thanks.... [more]

Keith M.

I wanted to take a moment to comment on your technician, Eddie. Eddie was assigned to inspect a roof leak I am having in my home in Cobblestone Circle. He was prompt, professional, courteous and informative; everything a customer could ask for when inviting a contractor into their home. Eddie represents Adams Roofing Well; and clearly he is an asset to your company. Kudos to him! Thank you.... [more]

Rick H.