Aluminium, copper and steel are the most common materials used in roof flashing. Previously lead or lead coated materials were used as flashings. Now the roofing professionals prefer other materials mentioned above.
Aluminium: Aluminium roof flashing is lightweight and easy for the roofing professionals to use or form. Aluminium must be coated in that way the concrete and masonry does not react or degrades when touched by the alkaline surfaces.
Copper: Copper roof flashing is highly durable and the most suggested one to be used. Copper flashings are used mostly around the chimneys, they do not fade or turn the color into a patina which some of the homeowners never liked.
Steel: It is a preferred material for roof flashing as they are flexible and have aesthetic touch and value which most of the homeowners look for and they are also corrosion resistant.
In some areas there are building codes and specifications about the type of material you should opt. They may also specify the flashing material thickness but mostly they require 26-gauge galvanized steel as a minimum. Therefore always check for the building codes before starting working.
Roof Flashing Techniques
Basically, there are three types of roof flashing techniques, each of them are appropriate for the different parts of the roof flashing. There are some flashing types that correspond to a specific technique in roof flashing.
Step flashing technique: These are usually preferred and are called best to install where the roof face meets the wall. It is quite possible that the water flows down the wall from the dorm and past down the water flow past by the shingles present below the building. Step flashing makes the water flow away from walls and make sure that it goes straight into the gutter. As cleared from the name, they are installed in steps having a shingles layer between so that it maintains the water flow and throws it away down the roof.
Counter-flashing technique: Counter-flashing is mostly used for the chimney flashing. As they are involved in two pieces of flashing. This technique of placing the roof flashing makes the water flow away from getting behind the base flashing. Most of the roofing professionals use this type of flashing (counter flashing) for different purposes.
Plumbing vent boot flashing technique: In plumbing vent boot flashing technique, the flashing that is cylindrical in shape piece which fits around the vent and the shingles are installed by the roofing professionals over the boot. This whole process makes sure that the water flows around the vent due to the boot height.
Conclusion
Roof flashing is one of the most important requirements in order to make your roof safe from the water overflow or getting the water inside the roof which in results damages the house material if you don’t install the roof flashing. If you find any damage in roof flashing then we suggest you to call a roofing professional to fix the problem.