Roof Flashing Guide: From Drip Edge to Valley Flashing

December 25, 2018

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Drip edge metal, valley flashing, dormer, chimney, and kick-out flashing shed water away from the connections between roofs, walls, chimneys, and other building assemblies

This collection of 18 articles, animations, and videos identifies the critical roof flashing areas, illustrates durable roof flashing details, and shows how to flash roofs right in the real world.

SIZE UP THE JOB: Roof flashing animations

May 22, 2018

Updated: June 15, 2023

Storm Proof Roof (2): Edge Flashing and Starter Strip

Roofs peel off from the edges, so it is critical to hold them tight

June 27, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

Two Ways to Flash Roof Edges

Protect the eave from ice dams and sideways rain

September 1, 2022

Updated: July 21, 2023

Step Flashing 2 Brick: Its Complicated

Flashing must extend all the way from the wall to the outside. Oh yeah, and it has to be watertight and eight people have to work on it...

Concrete & Masonry

March 12, 2020

Updated: August 28, 2024

How to Flash an Open Valley with W-Type Valley Metal

Roof valleys are like gutters with a steep pitch, but the stakes are higher for valleys than they are for gutters

October 29, 2016

Updated: August 28, 2024

Dormer Flashing Details in 4D

Concentrate on the corners and think like water when overlapping the layers

September 20, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

Kickout Flashing That Won't Leak

Ground zero for roof rot is often where roofs meet walls.

Siding & Exterior Trim

August 22, 2024

Flashing a Wood-Framed Chimney w/a Copper Cricket Cap

Flashing a wood-framed chimney is like flashing a dormer, except there’s no roof behind it. Without protection, water can leak into the joint and rot your walls to direct uphill water away

September 19, 2017

Updated: June 15, 2023

How to Flash a Masonry Chimney Into a Metal Roof

A silent movie about flashing metal roofing into a brick chimney from UnionCorrugating.

October 28, 2019

Updated: June 15, 2023

Galvanic Corrosion Explained

Contact between dissimilar metals – like copper fittings threaded into steel pipe or copper flashing fastened with steel nails – sets up an electro-chemical reaction that causes corrosion and leads to failure of the “less noble” metal

Siding & Exterior Trim

Plumbing, Electrical

JOBSITE KNOWHOW: Roof flashing videos

June 19, 2018

Updated: June 15, 2023

Decking A StormProof Roof (4 of 4): Sealing the Seams

Tape layers should overlap shingle-style up the roof

July 9, 2018

Updated: August 24, 2023

Overlap Drip Edge Metal Like A Boss

A drip edge overlapping strategy that won't catch the eye

March 9, 2023

Updated: July 14, 2023

Slipping (Sticky) Roof Membrane Under Existing Step Flashing

A three-foot stick can hold a section of step flashing out of the way while you work the membrane into place.

January 17, 2018

Updated: May 21, 2024

Sheet Metal Secrets: Drip Edge Flashing (jobsite origami)

How to bend a lock-hem drip edge on a sheet metal brake

November 17, 2016

Updated: March 8, 2024

Open Metal Valley Details for Asphalt Roofs

Open metal valley flashing plus ice & water membrane - your whole roof will perform better

Sponsor Content

November 27, 2015

Updated: June 15, 2023

Flashing A Humpy Old Roof Valley

Flashing a humpy old roof valley requires a little give and take, and a backup plan

November 20, 2015

Updated: June 15, 2023

Installing Drip Edge on a Humpy Old Roof

Dealing with dips and making clean overlaps

November 20, 2015

Updated: June 15, 2023

Installing Drip Edge on a Humpy Old Roof

Dealing with dips and making clean overlaps

March 2, 2023

Updated: July 17, 2023

Drip Edge Installation on an Existing Roof

A look at types of drip edge flashing, how to cut it, and how to retrofit it to an existing roof

November 5, 2018

Updated: June 15, 2023

How to Reflash a Leaky Skylight

Flashing is the key to a skylight that won't leak water into the roof

February 24, 2023

Updated: September 9, 2024

Weatherization Nation 6: Roof Dry-In, Flashing, and Underlayment

Protect the edges from sideways rain, and overlap like you've done it before!

January 22, 2019

Updated: June 15, 2023

Peel and Stick in a Valley—Wait, Nail It?

Drive a nail in the valley and patch it

BACKGROUND RESEARCH: Roof flashing articles and podcasts

December 23, 2016

Updated: May 1, 2024

When Drip Edge Becomes A Double Agent

The mission of water is to turn houses to mush. Some drip edge flashings may actually help water accomplish this mission.

Construction Phase

Historical Content Type Reference

January 6, 2018

Updated: June 15, 2023

Homebuilding Smackdown: Science vs. Hurricane

The top reason to study engineering in college: Wall of Wind. Yay Science!

January 2, 2018

Updated: September 9, 2024

Drip Edge Flashing: 7 Minutes of BS

Drip edge is another water-shedding tool

Siding & Exterior Trim

October 7, 2021

Updated: October 26, 2023

Low Slope Roofing: Troubleshooting in Advance

Use membranes, drain to an open edge, slope everything, and read the *darned* manual(s)

Construction Phase

Jobsite Handbooks

March 11, 2016

Updated: June 15, 2023

Best Practices for Steep-Slope Roofing

Sweat the details or you'll drown in them

August 8, 2017

Updated: September 9, 2024

Architectural Projections: 7 Minutes of BS

Old Building Details That Work

Concrete & Masonry

Siding & Exterior Trim

Jobsite Handbooks