While you may have seen flashing around your roof and the rest of your home, you may not know what it is and what it does. Well, this part of your home’s exterior is important in ensuring that the envelope of your home is sealed and protected from the forces of Mother Nature, even around your home’s weakest points. So, what exactly is flashing? And how does it help to protect a home? We have the answers to those questions and more.

What Is Flashing?

Flashing is a term applied to any material that is installed on edges, around corners, and near protrusions, windows, and doors throughout your home. While flashing can be made of a variety of materials, it always serves the same purpose: It forms a protective barrier that keeps water from penetrating the outer surface of your home. While you may think that siding, your roofing, and your windows and doors already keep your home waterproof, you should note that flashing works in conjunction with these components to provide complete protection from precipitation. As we mentioned, flashing covers the weakest points of the exterior of your home, including the edges of your roof, protrusions that jut out from your home, and even near windows and doors around the outermost walls of your abode. We’ve outlined how flashing helps to protect your home below.

Protect Exposed Corners and Edges

Think about edges and corners of your roof. At these junctures, it’s likely that there will be a small gap where water could easily leak into your home. Flashing is designed to cover these gaps and it can be used on corners and edges across the surface of your home, including where segments of decking meet on the surface of your roof, where walls meet at a 90-degree angle at the corner of your home, and where your decking terminates at the edge of your roofline. Due to their location on the surface of your home, these spaces are often more exposed to the elements than other surfaces, and they’re the weakest points for the construction of your home — this makes flashing doubly important to protect your house.

Seal Protrusions

There are numerous protrusions that will jut out from the interior of your home. Just take a look at your roof, and you may notice a series of protrusions, including vents, skylights, a chimney, etc. All of these protrusions pierce through the exterior layer of your home, which means that they will have tiny cracks which may allow water to seep in. Even with an excellent installation, a protruding component will prove to be a weak point for the exterior of your abode, and it may cause leaks. Fortunately, flashing can be used to seal off these cracks to prevent water infiltration. You can often see flashing around the protrusions of your home. The chimney that rises out of your roof may be the best example — see if you can see metal flashing that spans from the brick of the chimney to the roofing material. This flashing seals the corners between your roof and your chimney, providing essential protection.

The Many Types of Flashing

Flashing is available in a variety of materials and it covers a variety of areas across the surface of your home. Flashing is available in metal sheets, fabric, or plastic, depending on the application. Exposed flashing: Exposed flashing, such as the flashing around your roof, is usually made of metal since it requires some structural integrity. You may notice copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or other sheet metals that serve to protect your roof and any protrusions that it may have. Window flashing: Your windows are another weak point around the exterior of your home. Often, plastic or fabric flashing is applied to the walls that meet the windows of your home, providing a protective layer at these joints. Door flashing: Similarly, wall flashing can be utilized around your home’s exterior where walls meet doors. Again, wall flashing will be applied near the door, extending to its edges. Base flashing: Base flashing is applied at the foundation of a home, or where walls meet the home’s foundation. This flashing is necessary to ensure that water falls away from the home, instead of seeping into the interior.

Outstanding Protection From Red Dog’s Roofing

From roofing installations and repairs, to flashing installations, to chimney work, we do it all. You can rest assured that your home is protected from the forces of Mother Nature with a roof from Red Dog’s. We use superior roofing materials (like Owens Corning® shingles) to ensure that your roof is impervious to moisture. Plus, we have years of experience under our belt, so you can trust that your roof will be installed correctly the first time. For peace of mind that the roof over your head is strong and protective, count on the crew here at Red Dog’s Roofing. Reach out to us today to get started — again, we provide roofing services for our neighbors throughout Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and the surrounding area.