If your roof leaks, the chances are pretty good that deteriorating metal roof flashing is the culprit. Flashing protects the intersections between roof planes; the joints where roofing meets dormers, skylights, and chimneys; and a roofs’ edges.

Given enough time, these formed sheet metal (or sometimes plastic) angles and troughs can rust, deteriorate, or simply work loose from the surfaces they protect, opening up places for water to penetrate. Because flashing tends to be used where there is heavy water flow, leaking flashing can funnel streams of water into your house.

Check the flashing as well as the condition of your roof shingles. Look carefully for loose nails and holes as well as the seals at the edges of the flashing. Roofing cement and caulking can become dry, cracked, and crumble away, exposing joints to the elements. It is a simple matter to reseal the flashing and much less trouble than patching and painting water-stained walls and ceilings.

New flashing can look conspicuously shiny, so you may want to paint it and touch up existing flashing to blend with the roof. Even galvanized metal flashing corrodes after extended exposure to rain and sun.

Use a stiff brush and solvent to remove flaking paint, corrosion, and dirt, but keep the solvent away from asphalt shingles because it will dissolve them. Use a zinc-based primer and then spray on two or more light coats of rust-inhibiting metal paint.

For flashing around dormers, scrape out the old caulking compound, if any, and brush the flashing with a wire brush. Apply urethane roofing cement between the siding or shingles and the flashing. Be sure to seal any obvious seams.

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