Roof flashings: the detail almost no one checks
Flashing is a piece of bent metal that seals the joint between the roof and anything that crosses or borders it: a chimney, a dormer, a wall, a vent pipe. It’s a spot on the roof with no slope of its own, where two different surfaces meet — exactly where water looks for a way in if the flashing is poorly installed or worn.
Why this detail matters as much as the roof itself
Shingles wear predictably and gradually. Flashing, on the other hand, often fails all at once: a nail backing out, a sealed joint separating, a strip lifting after a freeze-thaw cycle. The joint between the roof and a gutter belongs to the same family of vulnerable points.
What causes flashing to fail in Quebec
Repeated freeze-thaw cycles through a Quebec winter work on the metal and sealed joints. Snow accumulating against poorly shaped flashing holds moisture longer than elsewhere on the roof. Correctly installed flashing overlaps materials in the right direction — top to bottom — so water slides over rather than infiltrating underneath.
A sign to check before it becomes a water problem
A moisture stain on a ceiling near a chimney or dormer, indoors, almost always points to flashing rather than the shingle field itself.
Gouttières et Revêtements Synergy works on the elements that connect to the roof and walls — gutters, soffits, fascias, caulking. A quote lets you assess the real condition of your roof and its joints.
