Roofing is meant to be long-lasting and durable beyond commonplace building standards. Why is this? It’s obvious once you consider that a roof protects a house from the ravages of the elements and is exposed nonstop to the harsh rays of the sun, fierce rain, buffeting winds, and the sudden spikes and drops in temperature. Roofs are designed to be hardy for all-weather conditions, but even the most durable of materials can succumb to unforgiving nature.
In the ancient world, the best possible varieties of roofing typically used tooled stone such as granite and limestone, or other hard, impervious materials like fired clay and ceramic tiles to create shingles for roofs. It was believed that these materials would be able to withstand and adapt to various weather conditions with relative ease, they did. Unfortunately, even hard stone and unyielding ceramic succumb to weathering, eventually.
Many, many years later, flashing – a termed used to describe thin, impervious material, generally made of some type of metal which is installed in-between the joins and seams of shingles, where it meets areas prone to leakage or damage – became quite popular and was employed as a standard solution to weathering and leakage. Still, even flashing isn’t altogether impervious to the might of nature.
In cases where flashing has worn itself through after decades of unfaltering service, roof re-flashing may be required. Most people nowadays are unfamiliar with traditional flashing, although every now and then one still encounters the old-fashioned flashings employed during the latter 1890’s up until the early 1960’s.
If you’re wondering how roof re-flashing works, here’s a quick look:
A Quick Guide to Roof Re-Flashing
Most people don’t hear the word ‘flashing’ within the context of roofing these days, unless they’re into architecture, engineering and home repair or masonry. It’s no wonder why people don’t have a clue about what to do with damaged flashings. When damaged, flashings repair typically varies depending on the flashings installed on the roof.
Old fashioned zinc, tin, lead and pewter flashings often require complete replacement, with slightly damaged areas cleaned and covered up with molten metal of the same type. This not only guarantees a completely thorough seal, it also ensures that the repair lasts. Modern methods of roof flashing repairs typically involve the use of some kind of putty or epoxy, which is applied onto the damaged area and is allowed to dry. Some buffing or sanding follows summarily.
Employed for both modern and old-fashioned flashing, epoxy-type flashing repair may be affordable, but it is sometimes deemed inferior to the old-fashioned method of repair. If you’re looking for skilled individuals who can help repair, maintain, or install flashings in your roof, a professional roofing company can help.
