How to Maintain and Check Roof Flashing?

It's difficult to determine what's the most important aspect of your home than your roof. It helps keep you protected and safe from the elements, but more importantly, it keeps the various components used in the construction of your home dry.

So, you won't need to worry about things becoming rotten or worn out. Best of all, you'll not be required to repair it. One method to ensure the roof you have is durable as it can be is to keep it in good condition; what is one of the more essential components of your roof? The flashing. It's better to take your time and get an experienced roofing professional in your area to assist you in this job.

What is flashing?

Flashing is the metal tie-in material that is used in homes and other construction projects in order to keep water damage from happening. It's available in a variety of different types: it's possible to find copper, aluminum, PVC, lead, and galvanized steel flashing, to name a few of the options. It's a very thin product that's available on a roll. It's also one of the essential elements to ensure a long-lasting project that doesn't wear out as quickly as it could.

What is the reason for it?

Flashing is used to connect two parts of a construction project and to prevent water from entering the process. For instance, if you build a deck for the property, it's crucial to install flashing between the band --the wood side of the deck, which is attached to the home's structure, and the deck. Flashing stops water from damaging the wood framing that is underneath the deck. Each time it rains, water seeps through the back wall of your deck. Without flashing, it will dampen the wood inside your house and cause it to become rotten and worn.

Locating Leaks

The majority of times, when you spot a leak around the chimney or around the edges of your roof, the cause is due to issues in the installation of your flashing. This is usually a need for expert intervention, but if you're willing and patient to take on a DIY project, you may be able to fix the issue on your own and save some cash while doing it. Have a look through your home and then climb up into the attic and see whether you are able to identify the exact area where there's an issue with a leak.

Maintaining Your Flashing

It's a good idea to inspect your flashing every time you're on the roof -- or at least once per year to see if it's loosened or has gaps or leaks. It's easy to spot any problems that need to be fixed or repaired, and it's often possible to detect the issue early enough before damage can be done.

Lock it down

It's normal for flashing to loosen and be removed from your home with time. It could be that the screws that secure it in place loosen and fall out, or the metal is worn away around the edges of the hole where the flashing was first fixed. In either case, it leaves the flashing in a loose state and is unable to do its job properly. To fix this issue, you can simply buy screws made from the same metal as your flashing and then screw them to the framing underneath to secure the flashing into the frame. Secure each screw head with a roofing cement to prevent water from entering your home.