The benefit of keeping water from getting underneath the shingles contributes to the increasing popularity of roof flashing in Australia. It is a thin layer of metal sheeting used to direct water away from seams and joints where moisture could penetrate the roof and cause water damage. It is critical to certain areas of the roof – namely, the places where the roof surface meets a wall, the low points where two roof slopes meet, roof protrusions and the edges.
Most roof flashing products are made from metals such as aluminium, copper or stainless or galvanized steel. It can be used around windows, doors, chimneys, gutters – basically, any exterior joint where water needs to run off. Base and step flashing are used where a vertical wall of the house intersects the surface of the roof deck. Roof flashing acts sort of like a gutter for the roof deck.
Base flashing is the solution for front walls. Base flashing is one length of flashing that is bent along the length to match the pitch of the roof. It is installed over an underlayment but under siding and shingles. Step flashing should always be used where the roof deck meets a sidewall. Pieces of step flashing are bent at an angle relative to the roof pitch and installed along the full length of the sidewall where it joins the roof deck.
Valleys are a prime target for water penetration. Valleys are the places where two roof decks slope toward one another, creating a low line that looks like a valley between two mountains. Water flows into the valleys on the roof the same rivers wind through mountain valleys.
Some shingles can be woven to provide extra layers of protection to the roof valleys. The flashing should be partially exposed along the wall. Since step flashing is visible, some homeowners choose a more expensive flashing material such as copper to achieve a certain aesthetic appeal.
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