Top Mistakes Poor Quality Roofers Make With Flashing

Worried your contractor cut some corners with roof flashing? 

Today we’re talking about the importance of replacing your flashing and making sure that it is properly installed.

Many low-quality roofers look to cut corners when it comes to areas like the flashing. This is unfortunate because roof flashing is an important material when it comes to creating an avenue for water to flow off of your roof. Flashing mistakes can end up being the catalyst to a slew of interior water damage to your home. To avoid that, you first need to know how to pick a high-quality roofer, but also know the signs of poorly installed flashing.

Let’s break down what you need to know.

What is Roof Flashing?

Simply put, flashings are a metal material that goes where shingles are not applicable. It helps seal those seams that leave your roof susceptible to leaks. Typically you’ll see flashing installed near chimneys and where the roof meets the siding or other roofing elements like a pipe boot or skylight.

In the video, you’ll see step flashing installed alongside the siding and the corner of the roof that overlap one another as they go up along the side. A low-quality roofer would be fine with not even bothering to replace this flashing during a roof replacement. Why? Because it saves them time and effort and allows them to complete the roof fast and move on to the next one.

While this may be convenient for them, it isn’t for the homeowner. They’ll likely experience leaks and will need to hire someone else to come and do it right, which will cost more money in the long run.

In the video, you’ll also notice that the ice and water shield is also not up to snuff. This is another area where a poor-quality roofer would just ignore and try and get the job done.

However, what we ended up doing was replacing the flashing as well as expanding the ice and water shield so that it covered a wider portion of the roof. That way, leaks are less likely to occur now.

The ability to recognize when a roof needs new materials makes all the difference between a lousy roof and a high-quality one.

Common Gutter Apron and Edge Flashing Mistakes

Edge flashing is incredibly important for directing water and protecting the edge of your roof. A lot of roofers make classic flashing mistakes by trying to reuse the materials in that area of the roof. While this saves them time, these materials are normally in desperate need of replacement by the time a full roof replacement is necessary.

When poor quality roofers leave the old flashing on, this will also prevent proper installation of ice and water shield. For proper installation, the ice and water shield needs to come right up to the edge of the roof. Once the ice and water shield is installed, then you can install flashing and any underlayments.

Another issue with reusing edge flashing is the many sharp edges or points within older materials that can potentially cause holes and areas for water to get through.

In the video, we discuss the edge flashing and the gutter apron of the roof. We recommend watching the clip to get a good visual of that part of the roof.

Chimneys Flashing

While fireplaces are wonderful additions to a home, the chimney creates another opportunity for water to get in through your roof. If you have a chimney, then flashing is essential for ensuring that your home remains leak-free. Flashing will go along the side to ensure no leaks go behind the bricks or siding at that seam.

When it comes to chimneys, we’ll remove the original flashing and replace it with newer, more reliable material. In the case of the chimney in the video, we ended up grinding the chimney down and set in some new metal so that the homeowners won’t have to worry about any leaks for quite some time.

If you’re getting some roof renovation done and you have a chimney, make sure that the roofer you hire is experienced in dealing with replacing the flashing on and around chimneys.

Making the Best Decision for Your Home

Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life. Don’t go with a low-quality roofer.

Instead, go with an experienced professional who knows how to take care of homes and keep them running smoothly. With such extreme winter weather shifts in Minnesota, you can’t afford to cut corners.

If you’re in need of some roof repairs, give us a call at 763-433-2269 or fill out our brief contact sheet on our website for a free estimate. We look forward to hearing from you!