Flashing · Valleys · Custom metal
Sheet metal work and roof flashing
Flashing, valleys, drip edge, coping and the custom metal pieces that keep water out where a roof meets walls, chimneys and other roofs.
Most leaks start at the metal
Roofing sheds water well across an open slope. Leaks tend to start where something interrupts that slope: a chimney, a dormer wall, a skylight, a valley where two roofs meet, or the edge where roof turns into gutter. Every one of those joints relies on sheet metal flashing, and when the metal corrodes, pulls loose or was never installed right, water finds its way in.
Common sheet metal jobs
- Step and counter flashing at chimneys and side walls
- Valley metal on slate, tile and other pitched roofs
- Drip edge and gutter aprons at the eaves
- Coping and cap flashing on parapet walls
- Custom pieces formed to fit unusual details
Choosing the metal
Copper is long-lived and the traditional partner for slate. Galvanized steel and aluminum cost less and suit many roofs. The rule that matters most is not to mix metals that react with each other: copper touching, or draining onto, galvanized steel or aluminum speeds up corrosion. A good repair uses metal that suits the roof it is going on.
Caulk is not flashing
Sealant has its place, but a bead of caulk smeared over a failed flashing is a short-term patch. If the metal underneath has rusted through or lost its lap, the lasting fix is new metal, layered so water runs over each piece and never behind it.
Chimneys are among the most common flashing jobs; see chimney caps and chimney flashing. Gutters tie into the same metalwork at the eaves; see gutters and downspouts.
FAQ
Sheet metal and flashing: common questions
What is roof flashing?
Thin metal pieces installed wherever the roof meets something else: walls, chimneys, skylights, valleys and edges. Flashing is layered so water is steered over the joint instead of into it.
Why does my roof leak only in heavy rain or wind?
That pattern often points to flashing. Wind-driven rain gets pushed sideways under loose or short flashing, and heavy downpours overwhelm valleys and wall joints that cope with light rain.
Can old flashing be resealed instead of replaced?
Sometimes, as a stopgap. If the metal is sound and only a seal has failed, resealing can work for a while. If the metal is rusted, cracked or missing its overlap, replacement is the lasting fix.
Talk to us about sheet metal and flashing.
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