Step flashing at walls
Small pieces of metal woven between the shingles along a wall. They are the most common flashing to fail on a house, because the wall takes the movement of the house and the wind.
Serving Kenosha County
Flashing Repair in Kenosha, WI
Reseating and replacing the metal flashing at walls, valleys and vents on Kenosha roofs that freeze-thaw and wind have worked loose.
- Repairs, leaks and full tear-offs
- Ice dams, lake-effect snow and wind damage
- Kenosha, Racine and northern Lake County, IL
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Flashing
Flashing Repair: what it covers
Quick answer
Flashing repair reseats or replaces the metal that directs water over the joints where a roof meets a wall, a valley, a vent or a chimney. Freeze-thaw cycles and wind work that metal loose in Kenosha winters. Kenosha Roofing connects homeowners with a local technician who rebuilds the joint so water runs off it rather than into the house.
Flashing is metal bent to carry water away from the places where a roof meets something else. It sits at walls, valleys, vents and chimneys, and it does most of the work of keeping water out of those joints. When it moves, the joint opens and the water finds its way in.
In Kenosha the metal moves more than it does in milder places. Freeze-thaw cycles expand and contract the flashing and the surface around it, and wind lifts the edges. Over a few winters a piece that was tight at installation can start to pull away from the wall it protects.
A flashing repair is a careful, small job. The technician checks how the metal is lapped, reseats it, and replaces it where it has bent or split. Calls to Kenosha Roofing are answered around the clock, and the price is confirmed on site.
- Service area
- Kenosha & Kenosha County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, storm nights included
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Why does flashing come loose in Kenosha winters?
Flashing loosens when the freeze-thaw cycle moves the metal and the surface it is fixed to, and when wind lifts the edges. Over several winters the fasteners and the sealant fail, and a piece that was tight at installation can pull away from the wall.
Metal expands in warm weather and contracts in the cold, and the surface it sits against moves in a different way. That movement works the fasteners loose and opens the joint.
Wind adds a second load. Gusts lift the edges of the metal and push water under them, especially on the windward side of the house.
Ice that forms at a joint can also lift the flashing, and the next thaw lets water run into the gap that opened.
Can flashing be fixed with sealant alone?
Not reliably. Sealant can help at the edge of a joint, but it cannot replace a lap that has shifted or a piece of metal that has bent. A repair that relies on caulk over a loose flashing usually fails again, often where the caulk meets the metal.
The metal has to do the work of directing water. Sealant is there to close small gaps at the edges, and it ages in the sun and the cold.
A technician reseats or replaces the metal first, then seals where sealant belongs. The joint is judged by how the water runs over it, not by how well the caulk looks.
How long should a flashing repair last?
A properly lapped and fastened flashing repair can last for years, but the outcome depends on the joint and the metal. A technician reports what was done and what should be watched, so the next check is planned from the start.
The repair's life depends on the metal's condition, the lap and the fasteners. Rusted or thin metal is a shorter-lived repair than new metal properly fitted.
A check after the next heavy storm or the first hard freeze shows whether the repair has held. That check is worth scheduling, because the first winter after a repair is the real test.
Warning signs
Signs you need flashing repair
Do not work on flashing on a steep or icy roof, and do not stand on a slope to reach a joint. Metal flashing has sharp edges, so wear gloves and eye protection when bending or cutting it. If water has reached a wall outlet or light, switch off that circuit at the panel and call (833) 751-2102 before the joint is opened.
- Metal that has lifted or pulled away from a wall, leaving a visible gap
- A bent or creased flashing edge where the metal has been pushed by wind or ice
- Staining on the wall or ceiling near a joint where the roof meets the house
- Caulk that has cracked, split or peeled away from the flashing edge
- Rust or pitting on the metal at a joint, especially along the lower edge
- A joint that leaks only in wind-driven rain from one direction
Our process
How our flashing repair visit works
Trace the water to the joint
The attic and the wall are checked for the stain line, then the roof above it is checked for the flashing that should be carrying water away. The joint that shows the damage is not always the one that lets the water in.
Check the lap and the fasteners
Each piece of metal should overlap the one below it so water runs over the joint. The lap and the fasteners are checked, because a lap that has shifted is a common reason flashing leaks.
Reseat or replace the metal
Flashing that is still sound is lifted, cleaned and reseated with the right fasteners. Metal that is bent, split or rusted through is replaced, with the new piece lapped correctly over the courses below.
Seal only where sealant belongs
Sealant is used at the edges where it is meant to be, not as the main barrier. A joint that relies on caulk over a badly lapped piece of metal will fail again within a season.
Options
Types and options for flashing repair
Valley flashing
A valley carries water from two slopes into one line, so the metal has to be wide and well lapped. A valley that has lifted or split can let a large volume of water in during one storm.
Vent and pipe flashing
Collars and boots around vents and pipes seal the penetrations. The rubber or metal collar is replaced when it cracks or splits, because those joints are small and easy to miss on a visual check.
One call and it gets handled.
Most flashing repair calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Kenosha County
Why flashing repair is different in Southeastern Wisconsin and northern Lake County, IL
Flashing on Kenosha houses takes the weather from two directions. The lake brings wind-driven rain and gusts, and the winters bring freeze-thaw cycles, so a joint that is sound in one season can open in the next.
Older houses in the city have many wall and roof joints, because the rooflines are broken up by dormers and additions. Each joint is a place flashing can work loose, and a repair checks the neighboring joints for the same wear.
Related
Related services
Chimney Flashing Repair
Repairing the flashing, counterflashing and mortar joints where older masonry chimneys meet the roof on Kenosha houses.
Roof Leak Repair
Finding and fixing the entry point of a roof leak on Kenosha houses, including the eaves, valleys, chimneys and wall joints where Lake Michigan weather gets in.
Roof Inspection
A written roof inspection for Kenosha homes after wind, hail or heavy snow, and before an insurance claim is filed.
Roof Repair
Targeted repairs to shingles, vents and flashing on Kenosha roofs where a full replacement is not yet due.
Where we work
Flashing Repair across Kenosha County
- Flashing in Kenosha
- Flashing in Pleasant Prairie
- Flashing in Carol Beach
- Flashing in Somers
- Flashing in Winthrop Harbor
- Flashing in Sturtevant
- Flashing in Mount Pleasant
- Flashing in Zion
- Flashing in Racine
- Flashing in Bristol
- Flashing in Union Grove
- Flashing in Paddock Lake
- Flashing in Waukegan
- Flashing in Salem Lakes
- Flashing in Gurnee
- Flashing in Lake Villa
- Flashing in Camp Lake
- Flashing in Trevor
- Flashing in Caledonia
- Flashing in Antioch
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Guides
Read before you book
How Much Does a New Roof Cost in Kenosha, WI?
A new roof quote in Kenosha depends on the roof's size and pitch, how many layers come off, the condition of the decking, access and flashing, and whether a city permit applies.
FAQ
Flashing Repair FAQs
Why is my flashing leaking when the shingles look fine?
Flashing sits at the joint, and water can enter there even when the shingles beside it are sound. The metal's lap and fasteners are checked, because a shifted piece lets water through without any visible damage on the field.
Can flashing be replaced without replacing the roof?
Yes. Flashing is a joint repair, and it is often done without touching the rest of the roof, provided the surrounding shingles are still flexible and sound.
Is a flashing leak covered by insurance?
That depends on the policy and the cause, and this page cannot say what a policy covers. A technician's written findings and photographs help any claim.
How often should flashing be checked?
After every heavy storm and once after the first hard winter, since that is when the movement shows. A roof inspection covers the flashing as part of the wider check.