Every part of a roofing system is important, and you should maintain it to keep your roof and home’s integrity. A critical part of that system is the flashing: it’s your home’s first line of defense against water damage and wood rot. If you’re in need of flashing repair, don’t wait to take action.
Why Your Roof Needs Flashing
To have proper ventilation, air ducts and vents need to be present in your home. These ducts allow stale air to exit through openings in your roof. For this to be possible, openings are cut into your roof.
While these holes get cut to size, any opening in your roof can allow water into your home. That’s why flashing is so important. Flashing is the material that seals the cracks between the venting and your roof so that water, pests, and other animals cannot enter your home.
Flashing is also installed around skylights, chimneys, and other openings. It’s an important aspect of your roof and home’s maintenance. Proper flashing and flashing repair can help prevent problems and damage from occurring in your home and roofing system.
Damage Improper Flashing Can Cause
Pests and small animals can enter your home through any small crack available to them, especially one caused by improper flashing. They’ll enter your roofing system and build a home for themselves while chewing at your wood and damaging your home’s structure. They will also go undetected for quite some time, especially if they’re in an attic.
The worst damage improper flashing can cause is water damage. When water infiltrates your roof, it can cause expensive and long-term problems like mold, wood rot, and property damage. It can take months to fix, and it can drain your savings account.
Water damage is not only expensive, but it can be hazardous to your health. If mold is ignored or goes unnoticed in your home, it will spread and eventually cause you and your family serious health problems.
Signs You Need Your Roof Flashing Repaired
Flashing, like anything else on your house, will deteriorate over time. It can also rust or be knocked loose, especially during hurricane season. Before and after a large storm, go up to your attic in the daytime with a flashlight. Try and look for any light coming through your roof, paying special attention to the area around your vents. If you find any light peeping through, you have a hole or crack that you need to have repaired.
Next inspect the interior of your home – look for wet spots on the floor as well as the ceiling. Even the smallest ones can have a significant impact. If there is any visible moisture or a mildew smell, call a professional right away. Water damage is not something that you can ignore without repercussions.
You may also be able to see the damage to the flashing just by looking at your roof. By using a pair of binoculars and periodically checking your flashing, you could catch an issue even sooner. All cracked, damaged, or pulled-up flashing should be repaired as quickly as possible. That is the only way to prevent extreme damage to your roofing system.
Flashing Repair In South Florida
In a rainy and humid area like South Florida, your flashing is more important than anywhere else. If there is a problem, repairing your flashing sooner rather than later can save you a lot of money. Your best chance at keeping your home healthy is to maintain and repair your flashing whenever it’s needed.
AABCO Roofing is here to help. We have experts ready and waiting to start your home’s flashing repair. Contact us today at 954-426-8500 to begin. We can answer any questions you may have.