Sidewall flashing
Loose or rusted step flashing is renewed behind the housewrap.
Roof Repair
Flashing Repair South Orange, NJ
A roofer in South Orange can repair or replace the step flashing, counter flashing, kickout flashing, valley metal and drip edge that seal the joints of a roof, with the wall sheathing checked for hidden rot. Dial (973) 858-1859 to talk with a local roofer about the flashing.
Shingles handle the open field of a roof; flashing handles the joints. The main types are step flashing at sidewalls, apron flashing at headwalls, counter flashing over the top, kickouts at the bottom of walls, valley metal and drip edge at the edges. Each of those pieces has one job, and when it fails, water finds the gap.
Flashing leaks are sneaky because the water often runs into the wall instead of the attic. A missing kickout is a classic example: water running down the roof edge pours behind the siding at the bottom of the wall, and the rot shows up later as soft trim, stained siding or a damp window below. That is why flashing deserves a close look on any house with walls rising above a roof.
One of the most common shortcuts on roofs is caulk in place of metal. Sealant can hold for a while, but it fails sooner or later, and the joint leaks once more. A real repair replaces the metal, often by removing a few courses of siding and shingles so the new flashing can be lapped correctly.
Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney flashing repair and roof leak repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in South Orange, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-1859 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
Good flashing work is mostly about the order things overlap.
Inspect the joint
The roofer checks the joint from the roof and the attic, looking for missing pieces, rust, face nails and caulk hiding a gap. Probing the wall below shows whether water has reached the sheathing.
Remove siding
Siding is lifted or removed along the joint so the old flashing and housewrap can be reached. Working the new pieces in correctly depends on access behind the siding.
Replace the pieces
Fresh step flashing goes in course by course with the shingles, starting with a kickout at the eave. Each piece is nailed through the roof side only, so the wall and roof can move independently.
Add counter flashing
On masonry walls, counter flashing is set into a cut joint; on framed walls, the housewrap and siding cover the flashing. That clearance keeps the siding from soaking up water at the roof line.
Check drip edge
At the roof edges, drip edge is reset or replaced to protect the fascia and deck edge. The lap order differs at eaves and rakes, and getting it right matters.
What is included
Common flashing repairs
Drip edge
Drip edge is added where it was left off so water drips clear of the fascia.
Headwall flashing
Headwall metal at the top of a slope is replaced so water cannot run behind it.
Kickout flashing
Missing kickout diverters are installed at the base of sidewalls so runoff stops soaking the siding.
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is secured where the wall and roof meet.
Related service
Roof Flashing Repair South Orange, NJ
Roof flashing repair ranges from resetting a single loose piece to rebuilding a full sidewall. Minor work includes refastening loose metal or adding a missing kickout; bigger jobs mean pulling siding and replacing every step piece along a wall. Knowing the scope up front avoids surprises once siding comes off.
The metal used should suit the house. Copper outlasts most roofs, galvanized steel is durable and aluminum is light and easy to bend, though it corrodes in contact with wet masonry. Mixing copper with aluminum or galvanized metal in contact can cause corrosion, so the roofer matches the metal to what is already there.
Related service
Roof Valley Flashing South Orange, NJ
Roof valleys carry the runoff from two slopes, so they handle more water than any other part of the roof. An open valley uses a strip of metal, often a W-shaped valley pan with a center rib, with the shingles cut back on each side; a closed valley has the shingles woven or cut across it with no metal showing. Both need ice and water shield underneath, centered in the valley.
Common valley problems include rusted metal, debris dams, worn shingles and nails placed too close to the centerline. Shingle corners cut square instead of clipped at the top can also steer water sideways under the valley shingles. Fixing a valley usually involves stripping it, relining it and installing new metal or reshingling.
Local help
Flashing Repair Near Me
Flashing repairs in South Orange are common on houses with dormers, additions and second-story walls rising above lower roofs. Across South Orange and nearby communities including Vauxhall, East Orange, Union and Short Hills, the age of the house and the number of roof-to-wall joints decide how much flashing work is likely, and each of those joints is a place worth checking.
Need flashing repair around South Orange? Call (973) 858-1859 for a South Orange roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in South Orange is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in South Orange know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Flashing Repair FAQ
Can flashing be repaired without replacing the roof?
Flashing repair is a routine job on roofs that are otherwise sound. Only the shingles and siding next to the joint come off while new metal goes in. For a worn-out roof, combining the work with a replacement avoids doing the joint twice.
What is a kickout flashing?
Kickout flashing sits where a roof eave dies into a sidewall. Its job is to keep the water coming down the joint off the siding and out of the wall. Leaving it out is one of the most common causes of rot in the wall under a roof edge.
Why does flashing need to be woven with the shingles?
Step flashing is a series of small L-shaped pieces, one for each course of shingles along a wall. The overlap carries water down the wall joint and out onto the shingle surface. A single long strip of metal along a wall cannot do that and tends to channel water behind the shingles.
How do I know if my flashing is leaking?
Leaks near walls, dormers, skylights or valleys are the strongest sign. Outside, check for metal that has pulled away, rust holes and old sealant patches. Rot at the base of a sidewall suggests water is getting behind the siding. A roofer reached at (973) 858-1859 can look at every joint.
Will caulk fix leaking flashing?
Sealant is a short-term patch for flashing, not a lasting repair. Sun and temperature swings crack it, and water gets behind it again, sometimes trapped where it rots wood faster. The lasting fix is new flashing installed and lapped correctly.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1859
Often needed together
Chimney Flashing Repair
Chimney flashing rebuilt so the roof-to-brick joint sheds water again, instead of another coat of tar.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreSkylight Repair
Repairs for skylight leaks, failed glass seals and worn flashing kits, after sorting out whether the water is a leak or condensation.
Learn moreRoof Vent Repair
Fixing the vents and pipe collars that poke through a roof and often leak first, before a small crack soaks the attic.
Learn more
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Call (973) 858-1859 for a local roofer in South Orange and nearby towns.