Month: November 2022

If you’re a homeowner, then you know that there can be a lot of things to worry about when it comes to your house. One of the most important parts of your house is its roof. A good roof will protect your home from the elements and keep you and your family safe and dry. One key part of any roofing system is flashing. In this article, we’ll explain what roof flashing is, where it goes on your roof, and what it’s made out of. Let’s get started!

What is flashing?

Roof flashing is a thin sheet of metal that’s used to waterproof key points in a roofing system. It helps to direct water away from areas of the roof that could be damaged by water exposure. These places are areas where the shingles or other roofing materials do not cover.

Where does flashing go on a roof?

Flashing is typically placed around areas where the roofing material meets up with a different material like a wall, chimney, or vent. This is because these are typically places where water can enter the roof system and cause damage. Some common places that you’ll find flashing on a roof are around skylights, chimneys, vents, valleys, and edges.

Skylights

A skylight is basically a window on your roof. With that in mind, the frame of the skylight creates an opportunity for water to seep into the roof. Skylights are often built with raised wood curves to leave room for flashing. Some skylights even come with flashing built-in. Whether the flashing is pre-attached or not, it’s vital that skylights have flashing around them to protect your home.

Chimneys

The places where the shingles meet the chimney are notorious for causing leaks in roofs. If you have a chimney on your roof, it’s important to install flashing around it to keep water from entering the chimney and damaging the brick or mortar.

Vents

If your roof has vents, it’s important to install flashing around them to keep water from entering through or around the vents and causing damage. Regardless of whether they’re hood or pipe vents, flashing is needed to protect your roof from water damage.

Valleys

A valley is a place where two roofing surfaces meet at a downward angle. This is another part of a roof that’s notorious for being leaky. It’s important to install flashing in valleys to prevent water from seeping between the adjacent surfaces and causing damage.

Roof edges

Drip edge flashing is a type of roof flashing that helps to keep water from running down the edges of a roof and under the shingles. The installation of drip edge flashing is one way to tell if your roofer did a good job or not.

What is flashing made out of?

Flashing can be made out of a variety of materials. The most common materials used for flashing are aluminum, copper, and steel. Each of these materials has its own benefits and drawbacks. You can work with your roofing contractor to figure out which flashing material is best for your specific roof.

Aluminum

Aluminum flashing is a popular choice for roofing because it is lightweight and easy to install. Aluminum runs the risk of corrosion, so roofing contractors often coat the flashing with masonry and concrete to prevent this.

Copper

Copper flashing offers a long lifespan because it is highly durable. This metal is also easy to solder. One drawback of copper flashing is that it fades into a patina as it ages. This might not give your roof the appearance that you want.

Steel

When it comes to flashing, steel is the primary choice. Steel offers a sleek finish that is aesthetically pleasing. On top of that, it’s highly malleable so it’s easy to work with when installing flashing on the tricky parts of a roof. The steel used for flashing is galvanized to prevent corrosion.

Kirby Contracting | Your professional roofers

The folks at Kirby Contracting are your local roofing experts in southeastern Kentucky. With years of experience, we know all about flashing and every other part of a roofing system. We put this knowledge and experience to work on every project as we strive to give you the roof of your dreams. Call us today for a free quote on your roofing project!

Replacing the roof on your home is a huge investment. In fact, roof repair and replacement are some of the most expensive aspects of home maintenance. This is because your roof is your house’s first line of defense against the elements. Since it’s one of the most important parts of your home, it’s important that your roofing job is done right. Whether you’re trying to decide on a roofing contractor or you’re evaluating a finished job, this blog post will help you understand how to tell if your roofer did a good job.

The signs of a good roofing job

• The roof looks even and uniform
• The contractor removed old layers
• The contractor used a quality underlayment
• The contractor used proper flashing techniques
• The shingles are installed properly
• The contractor communicated well throughout the project
• The contractors left the job area as they found it

We’ll go into each of these signs a bit more in-depth to help you understand what a quality roofing job should be like.

The roof looks even and uniform

Once a roofing job is complete, homeowners should do a visual inspection of the roof themselves. As you’re looking at the roof, you want to see a uniform appearance across the roof.

There shouldn’t be any areas that are discolored or that stand out from other parts of the roof. There certainly shouldn’t be any parts of the roof that are drooping or sagging.

You want a new roof to be uniform and consistent from the get-go to ensure that different areas of the roof wear consistently over time and no problem areas pop up. On top of that, your roof is a huge part of your house and affects its curb appeal. A clean, consistent roofing job. greatly improves the appearance of your home.

The contractor removed old layers

Another sign that your roofer did a quality job is if they removed all of the old layers of shingles before installing the new roof. You can see how many layers are on your new roof just by visually inspecting it. If there are more layers on your roof than the amount that the contractor quoted for the job, you’ll be able to tell that they didn’t remove the old layers.

Removing the old layers of shingles will help your roof have the desired clean and uniform look that we’ve already talked about. On top of that, it will help protect the roof from the unnecessary strain that the weight of extra layers would put on it.

The contractor uses a quality underlayment

The underlayment of your roof is one of the most important parts of the roofing project. The underlayment is a water-resistant or waterproof material that’s installed between the roof deck and the shingles. It’s there to protect your home in case any water should happen to get past the shingles.

If your roofing contractor didn’t remove old layers of shingle and just slapped new ones on top, the type of underlayment they used wouldn’t even matter because they aren’t worried about the underlayment.

There are different types of underlayment available on the market, but not all of them are created equal. Nowadays, the best underlayments are made of high-strength synthetics. This type of underlayment doesn’t break down as quickly as felt underlayments that used to be more common.

The contractor used proper flashing techniques

Water leaks are one of the most common problems that homeowners face with their roofs. Proper flashing on a roof helps prevent leaks and prolong the roof’s life. A good roofing job will include proper flashing installation in all the areas that are prone to leaks.

A good roofing contractor will make sure that new flashing is installed around pipes and chimneys as these areas are prone to leaks. Some contractors may substitute metal flashing for roof cement or caulk. But this isn’t a long-term solution and won’t hold up to the weather that we have in Kentucky.

The contractor installed drip-edge flashing

A specific type of flashing that will be installed during any good roofing job is drip edge flashing.

Drip edge flashing is a metal strip that’s installed along the edges of the roof. It has a small lip that extends beyond the edge of your roof. Its purpose is to direct water away from the edges of the roof and into the gutters. This helps to prevent water damage to your home’s exterior and prevents leaks in your attic or ceiling.

If your contractor didn’t install drip edge flashing or they installed it improperly, water could seep in behind the shingles and cause all sorts of problems like leaks, mold, and rot. Not only does this damage your home, but it also voids most roofing warranties. Make sure that your contractor installed drip edge flashing and that it’s in good condition.

The shingles are installed properly

The shingles on your roof should be aligned and have sufficient overlap between each column. They should also be centered over the sheathing or plywood below them. Proper shingle installation plays a huge part in the final appearance of the roof.

The proper nailing technique is a vital part of shingle installation. Proper nailing technique for roof shingles includes the right type, size, grade, and quality of nails. The nails should go deep enough into the shingle to hide them, but not so deep that they damage the shingle and cause pieces to break off. On top of that, four to six nails should be used per shingle depending on how windy the area is. The nails should be evenly spaced

If the shingles aren’t properly installed, they can come loose and blow off in high winds. This leaves your home vulnerable to water damage.

Your contractor communicated well throughout the project

Another way to tell if a roofer did a good job comes down to how you felt during the project. The roofing contractor should have kept an open, consistent line of communication with you throughout the roofing project. You shouldn’t have felt like you were left in the dark or like you didn’t know what was going on with your home.

A good roofing contractor will keep you updated on their progress, answer any questions you have, and make sure that you’re happy with the final product.

The contractors left the job area as they found it

A sign of a good roofing job is that the area around your home is just as clean (if not cleaner) when the roofers leave as it was when they arrived. This means that they took the time to tidy up after themselves and remove any debris from your property.

You shouldn’t have to worry about nails, shingles, or anything else in your yard after the roofers leave. If the roofers left a mess behind, that’s a sign that they didn’t take pride in their work.

The importance of roofing credentials

If you haven’t selected a roofing contractor for your project yet, there are some important credentials to check for. You want to make sure that the roofer you choose for the job is licensed and insured. This gives you peace of mind knowing that you have professionals working on your home and that you won’t be liable for any accidents that happen on your property.

Kirby Contracting | Quality roofing projects in Kentucky

At Kirby Contracting, we have years of experience in both roofing and general contracting. We are licensed and insured so you never have to worry. We make it our goal to provide the best customer experience possible from start to finish.

If you’re looking for an experienced roofer in London, KY, or the surrounding area, give us a call today! We would love to give you a free estimate and see how we can meet your needs.