What Is Flashing & Roof Coping?
Flashing is sheet metal used to secure and seal areas on the roof. Flashing can be layered and installed in strategic ways to keep moisture out and protect otherwise vulnerable areas — like joints in the roof and the area where the roof meets a perimeter wall.
Coping is capping that covers the wall where it meets the roof. While coping is most often made of metal, it can be made of other materials, like stone, brick, or tile. The purpose of it is to cover this area and protect it against moisture and damage.
Signs Of Flashing Or Coping Failure
When flashing or coping is improperly installed or failing, you may notice water damage and leaks, gaps between the flashing or coping and the exterior wall or chimney, and loose seams between sections. You may also notice that it’s easy to pull the flashing or coping away from the wall.
Is all flashing destined to fail?
No. While it’s true that severe storms, tornados, and straight line winds can cause flashing or coping to fail, improper installation and poor workmanship are commonly to blame. That’s why it’s so important that installation and maintenance be done by experienced, highly-trained professionals.
What Happens When Flashing/Coping Fails?
For low-slope and flat commercial roofs, proper roof protection is key to ensuring a long service life. That’s why these roofs have cover systems, which are secured at the edge of the roof (where it meets the exterior wall) under flashing and coping.
The edge flashing and coping are designed to keep the roof cover in place at the perimeter, even in high wind situations. But when flashing and coping come loose, wind and rainwater can get beneath the roof cover system, tearing off or peeling up the cover system and causing moisture problems.
Flashing is also used to secure and seal other areas of the roof, like joints, and places where you may have skylights or chimneys. When flashing in these areas fails, you may notice water damage, staining, and leaks inside of the home or business near these penetration points.
We Repair & Replace Flashing & Coping For A Better-Protected, Longer Lasting Roof
It’s imperative that repairs to the flashing and coping be made ASAP to keep damaging leaks and other concerns at bay. Is it time to have your flashing and coping inspected and possibly repaired or replaced? Top Hat Chimney & Roofing’s team of roof specialists can make repairs promptly and professionally, so you can rest easy.
If you need to have new flashing or coping installed, with Top Hat, you won’t have to worry about whether or not the job’s done right — you’ll know it is. Our team has the experience, knowledge, and skill to deliver excellent, long-lasting results, and we use the highest quality, most durable and attractive materials for the job.
Make sure your business property or home is protected against water damage and other unwanted and costly damage by scheduling regular inspections of your flashing and coping, and keeping up with repairs as needed. Call Top Hat Chimney & Roofing at 479-751-0432 or request an appointment online today.
Another way to extend the life of your roof is with roofing coating, so find out if this roof leak detection and remediation solution is right for you.