Diverter flashing
A kickout is added where a roof edge ends against a wall so runoff stops soaking the siding.
Roof Repair
Flashing Repair Hillside, NJ
Most leaks at walls, dormers and roof edges in Hillside come down to flashing, and a roofer can fix it by replacing the failed metal rather than caulking over it, so water is shed by the metal itself. Dial (908) 562-6893 to talk with a local roofer about the flashing.
Flashing is the thin metal that seals every place the roof surface is interrupted. Step flashing is a series of small bent pieces woven in with each course of shingles along a sidewall, counter flashing laps over it from the wall side, a kickout at the bottom of the wall throws water into the gutter, and drip edge lines the eaves and rakes. When any piece is missing, loose or rusted through, water gets behind the roof covering.
A failed kickout or step flashing tends to rot wall sheathing long before it stains a ceiling. At the base of a roof-to-wall joint, water with nowhere to go runs behind siding and soaks the wall framing. Catching it early keeps the repair to the flashing instead of the wall.
Caulk is not flashing. Roofing cement and caulk shrink, crack and pull away under sun and temperature swings, then let water in again. Lasting flashing repair means new metal installed in the right order, with sealant only as a backup.
Many flashing repair calls in Hillside also turn up a need for chimney flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Dealing with this in Hillside, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6893 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Hillside.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a flashing repair
Good flashing work is mostly about the order things overlap.
Find the failure
Each joint is examined for missing kickouts, loose step pieces and counter flashing that no longer covers the top. Soft siding or stained trim below the joint suggests the wall needs a look too.
Open the joint
Siding is lifted or removed along the joint so the old flashing and housewrap can be reached. New flashing has to tuck behind the housewrap, which means opening the wall a little.
Weave in the metal
Fresh step flashing goes in course by course with the shingles, starting with a kickout at the eave. Each piece is nailed through the roof side only, so the wall and roof can move independently.
Add counter flashing
The weather barrier laps over the step flashing, and siding is reinstalled with clearance above the roof surface. That clearance keeps the siding from soaking up water at the roof line.
Seal the eaves
Drip edge along eaves and rakes is checked and replaced where it is bent or missing, lapped correctly with the underlayment. The lap order differs at eaves and rakes, and getting it right matters.
What is included
Flashing a roofer can repair
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is secured so the top edge of the step flashing stays covered.
Sidewall flashing
Loose or rusted step flashing is renewed and woven with new shingles.
Headwall flashing
Headwall metal at the top of a slope is replaced with proper laps over the shingles.
Drip edge
Edge metal is renewed along the roof perimeter to protect the deck edge.
Related service
Roof Flashing Repair Hillside, NJ
The scope of a flashing repair depends on the joint and on how much damage the water has done. Minor work includes refastening loose metal or adding a missing kickout; bigger jobs mean pulling siding and replacing every step piece along a wall. Ask the roofer which kind of repair your joint needs.
The metal used should suit the house. Copper, galvanized steel and aluminum all show up on roofs, and each has spots where it works best. Matching metals avoids corrosion where new and old flashing meet.
Related service
Roof Valley Flashing Hillside, NJ
Roof valleys carry the runoff from two slopes, so they handle more water than any other part of the roof. Valleys are either open, with exposed metal, or closed, with shingles running through them. Either way, a self-adhered membrane should line the valley under everything else.
Common valley problems include rusted metal, debris dams, worn shingles and nails placed too close to the centerline. Shingle corners cut square instead of clipped at the top can also steer water sideways under the valley shingles. Valley repair usually means removing the shingles along the valley, replacing the membrane and metal and reshingling with the right cuts.
Local help
Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Hillside, flashing leaks tend to show up wherever a roof runs into a wall, a dormer or a skylight. From Hillside out to neighboring towns such as Union, Elizabeth, Roselle Park and Vauxhall, older homes often have rusted or face-nailed flashing, while newer ones sometimes lack kickouts entirely, and each of those joints is a place worth checking.
Need flashing repair around Hillside? Call (908) 562-6893 for a Hillside roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Hillside is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Hillside know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Flashing Repair FAQ
Is it possible to fix flashing without a new roof?
Flashing is repaired on existing roofs all the time. The work stays local to the joint, with new shingles woven in along it. If the roof is near the end of its life, it can make sense to replace flashing as part of a reroof instead.
Why does my roof need kickout flashing?
Kickout flashing sits where a roof eave dies into a sidewall. It turns water that runs down the step flashing outward into the gutter instead of letting it pour behind the siding. Missing kickouts are a common cause of hidden wall rot.
What are the signs of bad roof flashing?
Leaks near walls, dormers, skylights or valleys are the strongest sign. Outside, check for metal that has pulled away, rust holes and old sealant patches. Stained trim where a roof edge meets a wall is a common clue too. Call (908) 562-6893 to have a roofer check it.
Why does flashing need to be woven with the shingles?
Along a sidewall, each shingle course gets its own small flashing piece that overlaps the one below. The overlap carries water down the wall joint and out onto the shingle surface. One continuous piece along a sloped wall lets water run under the shingles instead.
Will caulk fix leaking flashing?
Caulk can slow a flashing leak but almost never fixes it. It shrinks and pulls away, then lets water in where nobody can see it. A proper repair replaces the metal so it sheds water without depending on sealant.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6893
Related services
Chimney Flashing Repair
Fixing leaks around the chimney with new flashing set into the mortar joints, so the ceiling beside the fireplace stays dry.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreSkylight Repair
Repairs for skylight leaks, failed glass seals and worn flashing kits, without replacing a unit that can still be saved.
Learn moreRoof Vent Repair
Repairing cracked pipe boots, broken box vents, loose ridge vents, seized turbines and exhaust hoods, with the attic airflow kept working.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Hillside roofer about flashing repair
Call (908) 562-6893 to talk to a roofer serving Hillside, NJ.