What Are Flashings

Over the years I have seen excessive interior and exterior problems due to improperly installed and/or missing flashings. When a roofing system is properly installed, no roof water will drain onto any siding materials. Due to ongoing issues associated with buried, missing, and/or improperly installed flashings, I have dedicated a page for education on flashings. Flashings are building materials that are installed around doors, windows, siding penetrations/connections, roof penetrations, roof intersections, and roof-to-siding connections. Flashings are generally made of metal but plastic, adhesive/peel and stick, and paper/fiber woven flashings are common at doors and windows. Flashings are designed to prevent water from penetrating inner building components. Improperly installed and/or missing flashings are the most common causes of leakage, damage, and/or deterioration. The building codes require these flashings but are very vague on how these flashings should be installed.