Category: Roofing Materials

Commercial Roof Flashing 101: The Basics

At the point when a roofing firm is constructing a new business structure, flashing is one important aspect to take into consideration. The phrase “flashing” entails materials used to hide corners, edges, and roof penetrations in order to keep water from entering the wrong areas. In order to help you safeguard your investment, we will give you some vital information regarding commercial roof flashing in this piece.

The many abbreviations and terms used in the roofing sector can be hard to figure out by anyone who isn’t used to the subject. In this context, “flashing” refers to a group of building materials used for sealing roof penetrations, such as vent pipes, skylights, and appliances mounted on the roof.

Types of Commercial Roof Flashing

Flashing, when used in relation to roofing, is a thin sheet of metal or other material that is intended to cover a hole and keep water out of the right places. Aluminum sheets, lead sheets, rubber membranes, and synthetic materials can all be used to create flashing.

When discussing your project with a commercial roofing contractor, you may hear about the following flashing types:

• Cap Flashing
• Corner Flashing
• Drip Cill Flashing
• Eaves Flashing
• Exhaust/ Vent Pipe Flashing
• Inverted Corner Flashing
• Metal Drip Edge
• Vertical Expansion Joint

Materials for commercial roof flashing

Rubber, aluminium, and lead, all of which are used to plug any holes in the rooftop, are the most widely used types of commercial roof flashing materials.

Sheet metal gets cut on the roofing location and then shaped before being put. Rubber membranes can be applied by pouring or spraying.

Although lead sheets are among the most flexible roofing materials, handling them is challenging because they are quite heavy.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that certain materials may decay faster than expected if they are placed together with other dissimilar metals and materials. A knowledgeable roofing contractor will take this into account when designing or repairing your roof to avoid any issues.

Aluminium – Aluminum is a great flashing option for treating wood or adding a new aspect to concrete roofing. It is affordable, easy to create, and long-lasting. When placed close to, or alongside alkaline substances like treated wood or concrete, aluminium flashing will corrode.

Copper and its lead-coated counterpart – While aluminium can be bent and moulded rather easily, it is harder to bend copper and mould it into shape. It is, nevertheless, a great deal more resilient than aluminium. During installation, copper flashing is frequently used to connect sensor connections, wiring, and pipes for solar panels.

Galvanized Steel – Although it is relatively affordable, galvanized steel is not as durable or strong as other options.

Lead – Because of its exceptional flexibility and durability, lead is a preferred material for roofing, and you find many masons using it to create their chimney flashing. Using lead flashing is often a safe option provided it is used properly. However, there can be health risks when it isn’t properly handled and managed.

Plastic and rubber – Although they are more frequently employed as caulking, these materials are perfect for repelling water when used as flashing.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)- PVC and TPO roofing systems are both well-liked, and both offer incredibly strong and long-spanning protection.

Roofing felt is a less long-lasting substitute for other materials that are made of roofing felt that has been wet with asphalt.

Use and Purpose of Commercial Roof Flashing

Roofing experts install flashing by cutting it to a given size and then caulking or sealing the seams to stop water from leaking into places it shouldn’t. The top roofing firms will utilize the right product for each application and ensure that flashing components are always a part of their installation processes.

How does roof flashing affect my company as a whole?

• Water is kept away by flashing.
• Your building is shielded from leaks that cause internal damage thanks to flashing.
• Your building is protected by properly fitted flashing.

Will your commercial roof flashing need to be replaced or maintained?

You probably won’t need to undertake much maintenance on your more recent business roof’s flashings. However, as time passes, you should have the flashings inspected every year to check for any damage or deterioration. Your commercial roofing contractor will be able to identify problems early and address them before they require more extensive repairs thanks to these routine inspections.

The primary quality of commercial roof flashing is long-lasting nature because it is built to survive, and when put properly, it hardly undergoes harm from usage or weather conditions.

Prior to caulking or applying a sealant to seams, your commercial roofing contractor will make sure that the rooftop of your structure is constructed with the proper material.

Final Thoughts on Commercial Roof Flashing

All commercial rooftops must have flashing because it guards against expensive water damage to your building’s contents. If commercial roofing is needed for your building project, make sure to get in touch with a dependable builder that is knowledgeable about the entire project.

You may plan your roofing project with the assistance of experts in commercial roofing who can also help you maintain your roof.

To ensure that your commercial roof lasts as long as possible, we’ll make sure that your flashing installation is done and maintained properly.