What is Roof Flashing?

What is flashing?

Flashing is a construction detail used to seal and protects joints in a building from water penetration. The joints created by the intersection of the roof and roof mounted structures and projections, such as parapets, hatches, skylights, chimneys, vent stacks, or towers, are among the most vulnerable areas of roofing systems. They constantly expand and contract in response to changes in humidity and temperature. Greater the number of such projections, greater the potential for leaks.

Roof flashing represents a very simple and intuitive engineering technique that has been known for hundreds of years. The whole idea depends almost entirely on gravity. If the flashing has been installed correctly, gravity will work with the flashing material to shed the water onto the regular roofing materials, where it is then directed harmlessly to the ground. Roof flashing is commonly used around chimneys, fan vents, plumbing vent stacks, and other items that project out of residential roofs.

What Is Roof Sealant?

Roof sealant is a product which can be applied to roofs to seal them against the weather. This product is commonly used on flat roofs, because standing water on the roof can eventually lead to leaks during the winter. Roof sealants for sloped roofs are also available, along with specialty products which are designed to go with roofing products such as shingles. Using a roof sealant can extend the life of a roof and confer other benefits.

In some cases, it may be necessary to hire a roofing contractor to apply roof sealant. Some products are only available to contractors, and others require special skills which the average property owner may not have. In others, it is possible to apply a roof sealer independently, or with some help from friends, with many products coming in the form of liquids which can be applied with paint rollers.

On a roof which is designed to be used with a sealant product, periodic reapplications of roof sealant will protect the roof. The sealant can prevent leaks in addition to minimizing damage caused by UV exposure. Being in the hot sun can cause a roof to bleach, crack, or develop other problems which may manifest during the rainy months. Roof sealants can also improve efficiency; just applying a white coating to a roof can cut down on heating costs substantially, in addition to making the surrounding environment cool. In urban areas, people are sometimes encouraged to use white or light roofing materials to bring temperatures down.