Roof Flashing Guide: From Drip Edge to Valley Flashing

Drip edge metal, valley flashing, dormer, chimney, and kickout flashing are types of roof flashing that shed water away from the connections between roofs, walls, chimneys, and other building assemblies
Dec. 25, 2018
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Drip edge metal, valley flashing, dormer, chimney, and kick-out flashing shed water away from the connections between roofs, walls, chimneys, and other building assemblies

This collection of 18 articles, animations, and videos identifies the critical roof flashing areas, illustrates durable roof flashing details, and shows how to flash roofs right in the real world.

SIZE UP THE JOB: Roof flashing animations

Roof valleys are like gutters with a steep pitch, but the stakes are higher for valleys than they are for gutters
March 12, 2020
Flashing must extend all the way from the wall to the outside. Oh yeah, and it has to be watertight and eight people have to work on it...
Sept. 1, 2022
Contact between dissimilar metals – like copper fittings threaded into steel pipe or copper flashing fastened with steel nails – sets up an electro-chemical reaction that causes...
Oct. 28, 2019
Roofs peel off from the edges, so it is critical to hold them tight
May 22, 2018
Flashing a wood-framed chimney is like flashing a dormer, except there’s no roof behind it. Without protection, water can leak into the joint and rot your walls to direct uphill...
Aug. 22, 2024
Ground zero for roof rot is often where roofs meet walls.
Sept. 20, 2016
Protect the eave from ice dams and sideways rain.
Aug. 27, 2026
A silent movie about flashing metal roofing into a brick chimney from UnionCorrugating.
Sept. 19, 2017
Concentrate on the corners and think like water when overlapping the layers
Oct. 29, 2016

JOBSITE KNOWHOW: Roof flashing videos

A three-foot stick can hold a section of step flashing out of the way while you work the membrane into place.
March 9, 2023
A look at types of drip edge flashing, how to cut it, and how to retrofit it to an existing roof​
March 2, 2023
Protect the edges from sideways rain, and overlap like you've done it before!
Feb. 24, 2023
Flashing is the key to a skylight that won't leak water into the roof
Nov. 5, 2018
A drip edge overlapping strategy that won't catch the eye
July 9, 2018
Drive a nail in the valley and patch it
Jan. 22, 2019
How to bend a lock-hem drip edge on a sheet metal brake
Jan. 17, 2018
Tape layers should overlap shingle-style up the roof
June 19, 2018
Open metal valley flashing plus ice & water membrane - your whole roof will perform better
Nov. 17, 2016
Flashing a humpy old roof valley requires a little give and take, and a backup plan
Nov. 27, 2015
Dealing with dips and making clean overlaps
Nov. 20, 2015

BACKGROUND RESEARCH: Roof flashing articles and podcasts

Use membranes, drain to an open edge, slope everything, and read the *darned* manual(s)
April 30, 2026
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Old Building Details That Work
Aug. 8, 2017
The top reason to study engineering in college: Wall of Wind. Yay Science!
Jan. 6, 2018
The mission of water is to turn houses to mush. Some drip edge flashings may actually help water accomplish this mission.
Dec. 23, 2016
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
Drip edge is another water-shedding tool
Jan. 2, 2018
Sweat the details or you'll drown in them
March 11, 2016

About the Author

Dan Morrison

Dan Morrison is a founding editor of ProTradeCraft.com, where he is also the editor-in-chief. Fun fact: Dan is also a founding editor of Green Building Advisor and executive editor of Fine Homebuilding.

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