Installing step flashing: What are the best practice how’s and why’s
Unlike what I have yet to find in FHB, The Journal of Light Construction and their sister publication(s) have stated in at least an excerpt from the JLC Field Guide that step flashing should be nailed to the roof deck rather than any adjacent vertical to allow for trouble free replacement on any future reroofing. The reason cited is that if nailed to the vertical plane the step flashing will be impossible to remove in the future without damaging the siding etc. Youtube video(s) where roofers actually demonstrate, if replacing / installing step flashing at all, as often as not, nail to the roof deck after fitting under any existing siding.
What is actual best practice, then?
I have both a formal College and European manufacture’s automotive service technician school education, rather than a building trades one. We were always taught to remove and install according to factory approved best practice and to assemble systems and sub-assemblies with the idea that one day you may actually have to remove them again and not the “other guy”. In short, for example, don’t fit a hose clamp so that it is impossible, once everything is back in the car, to remove it without taking the engine or some other major system out to access it again.That does not seem to be the case in construction.
Thank You.
Replies
The main thing is to not nail BOTH the vertical and horizontal legs. If the flashing is nailed ONLY to the sidewall a competent roofer should be able to remove & replace the roofing without needing to remove the flashing.
If the flashing is nailed to the roof only there is SOME chance that roofers can remove and replace the flashing without needing to remove the siding. But this depends a lot on the nature of the siding.
step flashing nailed to roof
I always nail the step flashing to the roof, because a future roof replacement may have shingles with a different exposure than the ones I am installing. I never nail flashing to the sidewall. Each nail is sealed. All my work keeps in mind that some day someone else may need to access or alter my work. If only we all worked thoughtfully, unlike Donald, we might actually "make America great again." :)
Mel,
I can't tell you how much it means to your good advice to throw some asshat political remark into it. You have now signaled to the 50% or more of Trump supporters on here that they can ignore your posts from now on.
Ah, but Trump supporters won't listen to good advice anyway.
Sure we do, we were advised not to vote for the biggest criminal in American political history and we didn't. Worked out great.
Oh man flo.......
you crack me up.