The roof is as important as any part of the building, taking care of its components is vital for a well maintained house. The roof is an external protective barrier, thus should have everything in top notch condition. The usual components of a roof include a ridge, solid decking, barge board shingles, chimney, and the very important, a gutter with flashing!
Gutters on the roof hold immense importance since they protect the house from flooding and moisture due to rainwater. No one wants to stay in a dripping house. Gutter flashing is an important part of waterproofing the roof. Without this system installed, the rainwater will collect and pile up on the roof, leading to stains, rot, and, most dreaded, mold. Mold growth not only adversely affects the look of the house, causes structural damage but also lowers the asset price.
In this blog, we have detailed what gutter flashing is and why are they an important part of the roofing system.
What Is There To Know About Gutter Flashing?
It might seem much of a big deal, but having a proper functional gutter flashing system is important for successful running of a roofing system.
Gutter Flashing
Gutter flashing is a component that that diverts the water away from the roof. It acts as a water proofing for the house. Gutter flashing is a thin long carrier material made of aluminum or plastic, placed between the gutter and roofline. Positioning is important, it should easily deviate water from the source towards a safe place to not cause any damage.
Flashings come in standard size of 2×3 inches of 10 ft in length. After taking measurements, the contractors customize the size according to the level of the house.
Commonly, a flashing material is aluminum, plastic, or steel, which is placed underneath the layer like a roofline to the gutter. Its placement is best over the joints on the roof and wall.
Importance of Roof Flashing
Why is gutter flashing considered important? Well, it is used as seal between the roofline and gutters, securing the leaks and water from dripping behind, which if not controlled would lead to serious damage to the part of the building present right underneath the roof.
Water seeping inside cause structural damage, decreasing curb appeal as well as overall value of the property. Flashing for gutters comes in extremely useful for areas that experience heavy to moderate rainfall throughout the year. Other than functional importance, the addition makes the house look aesthetically pleasing.
Maintaining Roof Gutter Flashing
Regular maintenance ensures overall health and lasting of the roof gutter flashing. They after some time, get rusty, making the nails to loosen up attached shingles. However, it is not possible to save flashings from all the external damaging factors. Heavy storms, windy season and rainfall will leave their impact on it. Therefore, it is a good practice to examine the roof properly after every harsh weather episode.
Common Kinds of Roof Flashing
- Corner Flashing
- Continuous Flashing
- Drip Ridges
It is placed where the walls meet, roof to floor.
A long piece of continuous flashing, installed between the vertical wall and roof slope/
It is set along the roof’s edge, which helps the water flow dripping away without damaging the building.
Outlook
Your house is an asset that you use while living and also expect it to pay off later in life. Prevent damage with flashing, and increase longevity of the house. Head to Kraft Roofing and Constructions in Magnolia TX for installation or repair. To contact us, call 3463454335.