Flashing: What Is That Stuff, Anyway?
Although flashing isn’t flashy or fun, it’s vital to protecting your roof and siding from unwanted moisture and water seepage.

Flashing, made commonly of aluminum, steel, or plastic, is an added material installed beneath a layer of something else; like the roof line to the inside of a gutter. It’s used most commonly over joints on the roof and wall construction. The goal of flashing is to prevent water from flowing behind gutters or shingles causing leaking, molding, or damage to your siding, roof, or foundation.
Flashing is often used around the base of overhang windows, roof valleys (where two sections of roofing meet), chimneys, skylights, and the edges of your roof line. Shingles last longer when flashing is installed. Gutters, too, have a longer shelf life as the flashing adds an extra layer of protection against the elements.
In Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters 20 years of experience on the job, we’ve found that water may stain and deteriorate the condition of your paint and/or wood siding when flashing isn’t installed. When you install new gutters, flashing should be taken into consideration. Our crew recommends you install some form of counter flashing on top of existing D-metal style flashing to extend the edge of the roofline so that the water will travel a path that leads it to the center of the gutter rather than down behind the gutter.
Flashing, aluminum or plastic, don’t last forever. When the flashing is too damaged to patch with roofing cement and a comparable material patch, it’s time to call Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters. Damaged flashing will affect shingles, roof planes, skylights, chimneys, and gutters. If damage occurs, it’s likely the metal itself is deteriorating, or else there are loose nails, holes, or dry, cracked caulking that needs repair. If there are more flashing issues other than the roof line where gutters are to be installed, we may refer you to a roofing or siding specialist.
If you have questions about flashing or seamless rain gutters, the team at Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters can help. Founded in 1992 as a local family owned and operated business, Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters protect you and your investment with a strong business that backs up our 20-year workmanship warranty on the gutter and 10 years on the corners. As lifelong residents of Spokane, we are active in the community through business, civic and charitable involvement and support. Contact our team if you would like more information on any of the services we offer!









