Kickout Flashing: What Is It and What Does It Do:
When a roof meets a sidewall, water needs a safe path away from your home. One small component plays a surprisingly important role in that process: kickout flashing.
Kickout flashing is installed where a roof edge meets the end of an exterior wall. Its job is to direct water away from the siding and into the gutter system. Without it, rainwater can run behind the siding and cause hidden damage.
At The Roof Repair Guys, we see how small roofing details can create major problems for homeowners throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
What Happens Without Kickout Flashing?
Imagine heavy rain running down your roof. Normally, the water travels along the roof edge and into the gutter. At a roof-to-wall transition, however, water can be pushed toward the sidewall.
Kickout flashing redirects that water outward.
Without proper kickout flashing, water may run down the wall instead. Over time, this can contribute to:
- Damaged siding
- Rotting exterior trim
- Moisture behind siding
- Deteriorated wall sheathing
- Mold or mildew
- Interior water damage
- Expensive repairs that could have been prevented
The problem can be especially noticeable during the heavy rain and snow events common across NEPA.
Why This Matters on Older Homes
Many older homes in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Bloomsburg, and surrounding communities have gone through multiple roofing or siding projects over the years.
A roof may have been replaced without properly addressing the original flashing details. Siding may have been installed over an older wall system. Gutters may have been changed as well.
Each project can affect how water moves around the roof.
That is why a roof inspection should look at more than just shingles. Flashing, gutters, roof-to-wall transitions, and drainage details all work together to keep water away from your home.
Can Kickout Flashing Cause a Roof Leak?
Not always directly.
In many cases, the bigger issue is water getting behind the siding or trim. Homeowners may notice staining, peeling paint, soft wood, or other signs of moisture and assume they have a traditional roof leak.
The actual problem may be at the roof-to-wall transition.
This is one reason professional roof leak diagnosis is so important. Simply replacing shingles may not solve the underlying problem.
Have Your Roof-to-Wall Transitions Inspected
Kickout flashing is inexpensive compared with repairing water-damaged walls, siding, and framing.
If you are having your roof repaired, replaced, or inspected, ask whether the roof-to-wall transitions have proper flashing. It is a small detail, but it can make a major difference in how effectively your roofing system handles water.
If you suspect water is getting behind your siding or around a roof-to-wall transition, The Roof Repair Guys can help identify the source.
Serving homeowners throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, we provide professional roof repair and leak diagnosis.
Call The Roof Repair Guys at (570) 332-1223 or visit www.theroofrepairguys.com to schedule an inspection.