How Can You Tell if Your Roof Flashing is Bad?
The most obvious sign of failed roof flashing is a leak in your home. Bad flashing is responsible for up to 90% of roof leaks, due to its role as a joint where two surfaces meet. Aside from leaks, you could also spot bad flashing with a visual inspection from your yard or the roadside.
Here’s what you should look for before you call a Long Island roofing contractor for a detailed roof inspection.
What is Roof Flashing?
Roof flashing is a thin material used primarily to direct water away from areas of the roof where the horizontal surface meets a vertical protrusion, like a chimney. On Long Island, flashing can be galvanized steel, but high-quality installations use copper or aluminum to protect your roof against our corrosive salt-rich air.
Long Island Roof Flashing is a Weak Point That Requires Special Attention
Even the best flashing is technically a weak point because even a small failure in the seal can cause significant water intrusion. While the rest of the roof is consistent and easy to seal, flashing needs to seal two surfaces, so there’s double the opportunity for something to go wrong.
- Flashing is layered in steps because shingles and roofing tiles aren’t completely flat. This makes it mechanically complex.
- Flashing on chimneys often has a secondary seal with “counter-flashing” embedded in the masonry joints. This adds another potential failure point.
- Valley flashing connects V or W-shaped channels in complex roof designs. This type of flashing is more prone to decay and failure as water naturally channels to it.
- Thermal expansion from Long Island’s extreme seasonal temperature swings causes separation in flashing materials. Metal expands at a different rate than the shingles and the wooden roof deck. This, along with corrosion over time, is a common cause of failure.
Steps to Check if Your Flashing is Bad
Understanding that flashing is a weak point is a great incentive to inspect it. You should regularly check for bad flashing, preferably in the spring and fall.
- Visually inspect your roof from the yard or roadside. Look at the chimney for metal strips that look warped or rusted. Look in the valleys for any metal peeking through. Scan the drip edge (the very edge of the roof above the gutters) for any sagging metal. If you notice any of these problems, water could already be rotting your roof deck or fascia boards.
- Inspect inside your attic around noon. Look for daylight penetrating. This is the easiest way to spot potential leaks and failed flashing. Check for rust trails or rusted nails on the rafters, indicating that a roof leak has already occurred.
- Inspect drywall and ceilings (upstairs if you have a two-story home). Look for bubbles or water stains along the corners of the drywall and ceiling near roof penetrations like chimneys, or where your roof has a valley. These are common signs of leaks. If you have a fireplace, any dampness, paint bubbles, or peeling wallpaper around it are signs of flashing failure.
If you can safely use a ladder to inspect your roof, that’s even better. You shouldn’t climb onto the surface without training and the right equipment, but you can inspect flashing from the edge of the fascia to get a closer look at its condition.
Book a Complete Roof Inspection with the best Roofing Contractor Near You
If you’re uncomfortable with any of these steps, or if you think you see damage, book a professional inspection immediately. A Long Island roofing contractor can safely inspect flashing on the rooftop and identify any damage, decay, or failed repairs.
From Hempstead to the East End and North Fork, Renew Roofing Solutions offers the most comprehensive roof inspections. Covering all of Suffolk and Nassau Counties gives us in-depth experience of construction methods, materials, and the best roofing practices for Long Island’s various climate zones.
Book a roof inspection at a time that’s convenient for you. Call our Long Island roofers at 516-212-0307 or 914-415-7702.