Whether you are hiring a quality professional roofing company or a DIYer for roof inspection, repair or installation, you need to understand the parts of your roof.
Main Roofing Parts
As described from Angieslist.com, here are the main components of a roof and common problems associated with each:
Flashing
The metal or rubber material around roofing vents, pipes and chimneys is a prime spot for water leaks.
Fascia
Moisture can easily ruin wooden fascia boards that runs along the roof line.
Soffit
This wood or vinyl portion beneath the roof overhang attracts small animals and insects. Look for cracks, holes and rotting.
Gutter
Moves water off the roof and away from the home foundation. It’s important your gutters hang at the proper angle and don’t have cracks or leaks as they’re susceptible to water buildup and ice damming.
Shingles
Watch for discolored, curling or missing shingles. It can mean you need a new roof.
What is flashing?
Flashing refers to thin pieces of impervious material installed to prevent the passage of water into a structure from a joint or as part of a weather resistant barrier (WRB) system.
This Old House explains that “flashing is just material — usually aluminum or galvanized steel — that’s used over joints in roof and wall construction to prevent water seeping in and causing damage. Depending on the style of your house’s roof, you probably have it in the valleys, around the chimney and pipes, and around any dormer windows or skylights. Most damage shows up either in flashing that’s deteriorating due to weathering and oxidizing, or in flashing that has come loose”.
Flashing Materials
Deciding which type of flashing material to use will depend on:
- where it is being installed,
- how visible that location is,
- how much the budget is, and
- whether any aesthetic or historical appropriateness needs to be considered.
The most common choices include:
- Aluminum
- Lead
- Galvanized steel
- Copper and Lead-Coated Copper
- Galvalume Steel
- Roofing Roll
- Stainless Steel
Installation
Proper installation is key in order for flashing to protect your roof and your home from seepage and water damage. Improper installation can give the appearance of a protected home while devastating damage can occur underneath the flashing which isn’t seen. If proper installation does not take place, major damage can result in expensive additional repairs.
If you notice damage to your roof flashing, No. 1 Home Roofing is ready to evaluate and fix any problems.
No. 1 Home Roofing is a family owned and operated roofing company conveniently located on US Highway 19 in Palm Harbor, Florida. We are dedicated to providing top quality workmanship and materials to ensure that your new roof is done right. We specialize in shingle, tile, and flat roof installation, repairs, and maintenance. Contact us for an appointment and/or estimate at 727-781-7663.