Flashing
Flashing is thin, water-shedding material installed at joints, openings and edges to direct water away from the structure.
Flashing is thin, water-shedding material installed at joints, openings and edges to direct water away from the structure.
Definition
Flashing is sheet material or a formed membrane placed where water is likely to enter a building: around windows and doors, at roof edges and valleys, and where walls meet roofs. It guides water outward and downward.
A plain example
Over a window, a head flashing sits behind the cladding and over the top of the opening, with its upper edge tucked behind the barrier and its lower edge sticking out so water drops clear. Sill and jamb flashing do the same job at the other edges.
Why it matters
Most leaks start at transitions, not in the middle of a wall. Flashing is the part that deals with them, so installation order matters: it must go on in sequence with the barrier and the window, so that every layer sheds water onto the layer below.
Common confusion
Flashing is different from sealant. Sealant alone ages and fails, while flashing is a physical drainage path. It is also not the same as a water-resistive barrier, though both work together. Metal flashing needs compatible materials to avoid galvanic corrosion.
On a project
On the drawings, trace each opening from the head to the sill and confirm every flashing piece is shown with its laps. Inspect before covering, because repairs after cladding are expensive.
Quick answers
- Where is flashing needed? At windows, doors, roof edges, wall-to-roof joints, penetrations and other transitions.
- Can sealant replace flashing? Sealant is not a substitute for a drainage path. Follow the design and manufacturer details.
- Why does the install order matter? Layers must lap so that water sheds from upper to lower layers.
Related terms
Always check the project drawings and specification, and confirm requirements with the engineer of record and the local authority.
Questions people ask
Where is flashing needed?
At windows, doors, roof edges, wall-to-roof joints, penetrations and other transitions.
Can sealant replace flashing?
Sealant is not a substitute for a drainage path. Follow the design and manufacturer details.
Why does the install order matter?
Layers must lap so that water sheds from upper to lower layers.
Sources and further reading
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