What is Chimney Flashing & Why Do I Need It?

While many homeowners are well aware of how important their roof is to the health of their home, your roof is made up of far more than just your shingle system. One of the most important, but often overlooked portions of your home’s roofing system is your chimney flashing. Your chimney is often a problem area, where water is able to permeate into your roof deck and through your roofing system, which is why any well-versed roofer is well aware of the importance of chimney flashing to your home’s health. If you’re interested in learning more about what chimney flashing is and why you need it for your home, keep reading below for more information!

What Is Chimney Flashing

First of all, let’s discuss what chimney flashing actually is. When you install a new roof on your home, if you have any openings in your roof, such as vents, you will need to install caps around the openings to prevent water from seeping around the vents and into your roof deck. Your chimney is no different, it’s just on a larger scale, meaning you cannot simply fit a vent cap around the chimney to prevent water damage. For your chimney, you need to install metal flashing in layers around the chimney to help prevent water from leaking into your system. Flashing is comprised of thin sheet metal which is layered over itself to completely seal off the chimney. Now that we’ve established what it is, let’s discuss the importance of it and the maintenance needed to keep your flashing in working condition.

Why Do I Need Flashing?

The main purpose of chimney flashing is to prevent water from leaking around your chimney and into your roof deck and shingle system where it can quickly cause extensive damage. Without flashing installed on your chimney, water, as well as wind-driven debris, can make its way into your roof and cause deterioration.

If you find that your flashing is rusting, breaking, or otherwise unreliable, you’ll need to have it replaced in order to keep your home protected. Ensure that if you find that your flashing is breaking away from your home, you have it quickly replaced in order to keep your home’s roof well-protected.

Contact Us Today

If you need to replace your home’s flashing this spring, our team at Oceanside Exteriors is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (207) 310-7659 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your flashing installation needs!