Flashing refers to thin material generally, metal that is installed at points on your roof to channel water away from areas of the roof like its joints and seams, around chimneys, vents, and solar panel mounts. Its job is to create a water tight membrane that keeps the water out of your house. Rainwater can penetrate these points of weakness if there’s no flashing, and cause leaks and mold, as well as structural damage, not to mention a potentially shorter lifespan for your roof and solar system.Flashing is even more important for solar installations. Solar panels installed using brackets and racking systems, these are installed by penetrating the roof material. If these areas aren’t properly sealed with high quality flashing, it paves the way for water damage over the long term. That makes knowing about flashing what it is, when to use it, how to keep it maintained an important part of solar panel ownership.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at roof flashing: what it is, how it works, why it’s so crucial for solar installations, signs your flashing may be failing, and why proper flashing is a must-have for your solar install. This guide can help you protect your roof and investment, whether you’re thinking about solar or already have panels on your roof.
What Is Flashing on a Roof?
Roof flashing is a lightweight, durable material most often galvanized steel, aluminum, or copper that is designed to channel water away from critical areas of your roof. These are along joints, chimneys, vents, skylights, and around solar panel mounts. Flashing is placed in locations where the roof has angles, vertical surfaces or structural penetration creates a depression that holds runoff water from the roof and, ideally, drains it away instead of letting it into the house. A small gap around a vent or mounting bracket, if left without proper flashing, can create a big hole for water intrusion. In the simplest of terms, roof flashing explained is about protecting your home waterproofed by preventing rain, snow, and moisture from finding their way in at the weak spots. If you’ve ever wondered what’s flashing on a roof, consider it as a first line of defense from water invasion and that includes when you’re installing things like solar panels, which require drilling into the roof.
Why Flashing Is Important for Solar Installations
When you install solar panels, you need to go through your roof to install the mounting hardware. Those penetrations can cut holes for water to get through if not sealed well. That’s where flashing comes in.Appropriate flashing at the penetration points in the solar system will keep your home leak free. This is of particular importance around the racking systems and mounting rails, which would otherwise compromise your roof’s waterproofing. If you don’t flash, you are playing Shazam with mold, water stains, rot and potentially compromising the structural integrity of your home.Learn more about the right solar panel roof mounts and how they protect your Residential Solar Panel Installation Service In Nassau.
Where Flashing Is Installed on a Solar Roof
Installing solar panels, the mounting hardware to secure when into place, is going through your roof in various sections. All of these penetrations, for racking systems, rails, electrical casing, etc., can be an opportunity for water penetration. And that’s why flashing is so important for your roof’s long-term health. Appropriate flashing is then placed around all brackets and fasteners, edge seams, roof valleys, and vent pipes to create a barrier against water. These are the most exposed spots for moisture to seep into. Lacking flashing, or with improperly installed flashing, it’s a sign for rainstorms, melted snow or morning dew to infiltrate, causing moisture stains, leaky interiors, mud growth and wood rot. This can destroy the structural integrity of your roof deck and the insulation in your attic over time.On solar systems we take extra care to check for roof leaks at the base of the panel mounts where the brackets come in contact with the decking. That is why Roof Inspection Service is very important . Soft lead-like material, which is essentially the most disposable roofing material most people can buy, easily forms over your penetrations and sends water to your roof’s drainage system rather than allowing it to collect and seep in.
Signs of Flashing Failure on Solar Roofs
Over time, flashing can deteriorate or get damaged—especially if your solar panels weren’t installed by experienced professionals. Watch for these signs of roof flashing failure:
- Rust stains or corrosion on the roof
- Water stains in your attic or on ceilings
- Sagging ceiling drywall from moisture
- Visible gaps or warped flashing around mounts
- Sudden drop in solar output, possibly from water-damaged components
Types of Flashing Used for Solar Panels
When doing a solar panel installation, several types of roof flashing are there you can install– all of them designed to have access to an area of your top and block the rainwater from infiltrating through susceptible spots.
Step flashing is normally installed at vertical areas where a roof meets a sidewall, and is used at dormer or skylight, and chimney flashing details. It consists of overlapping metal pieces that guide water down to the roof edge without it dripping in between.
Counter flashing goes over the step flashing to create a stronger barrier and enhanced water seal.
Pipe Flashing is engineered to seal in tight places around vent stacks, crazy flues, roof jacks, and so on, since these are transition areas requiring great care to keep them leak proof.
Deck mounted flashing is placed under the shingle or roofing at the feet of the solar panel mounts to form a waterproof seal around brackets and racking systems. Combined, these styles of flashing serve to protect your entire solar panel roof system by keeping water from vital connections and ensuring the roof on which they go is protected.
How Professionals Install Flashing During Solar Mounting
A professional solar contractor, when it comes to flashing, has a system. How would the bracket be attached to the rafters action assembly) would lifting or cutting the roofing material mount assemble to the roof? Flashing is then inserted in between the shingles and slid down to attach, using flashing tape, water-resistant underlayment, and roofing sealant as necessary to secure in place.Expert Roof Installation installers use mounting systems that have flashing already installed which minimizes risk and makes it easy to ensure long-term water-tightness. When you bring in someone who is experienced to install expert flashing, every step will be done safely and well.
Conclusion
Your roof’s first line of defense against a water leak especially when solar panels are involved is flashing. When done properly, it serves to prevent damage to your home, maintain the efficiency of your solar system and save you costly repairs. If you find yourself on solar installs or roof inspecting work with licensed professionals such as Solar Roofing Services In Long Island | Solar Roofing Contractors.Already have a solar system on your roof? If you would like to upgrade the solar on your building or if you have any concerns regarding leaks in your solar installation give us a call, we will be happy to come out and do a full roof examination or provide a flashing report for you.
