Diverter flashing
Missing kickout diverters are installed at the base of sidewalls which protects the wall below.
Roof Repair
Flashing Repair Rutherford, NJ
Most leaks at walls, dormers and roof edges in Rutherford come down to flashing, and a roofer can fix it by replacing the failed metal rather than caulking over it, with the wall sheathing checked for hidden rot. Dial (551) 380-1579 to talk with a local roofer about the flashing.
Wherever a roof meets a wall, a dormer, a skylight, a valley or an edge, it relies on flashing to keep water out. The main types are step flashing at sidewalls, apron flashing at headwalls, counter flashing over the top, kickouts at the bottom of walls, valley metal and drip edge at the edges. Each of those pieces has one job, and when it fails, water finds the gap.
A failed kickout or step flashing tends to rot wall sheathing long before it stains a ceiling. A missing kickout is a classic example: water running down the roof edge pours behind the siding at the bottom of the wall, and the rot shows up later as soft trim, stained siding or a damp window below. Catching it early keeps the repair to the flashing instead of the wall.
A bead of sealant along a joint is a warning sign, not a repair. Roofing cement and caulk shrink, crack and pull away under sun and temperature swings, then let water in again. A real repair replaces the metal, often by removing a few courses of siding and shingles so the new flashing can be lapped correctly.
Many flashing repair calls in Rutherford also turn up a need for chimney flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Need flashing repair in Rutherford? Call (551) 380-1579 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Rutherford.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
Flashing repair is a layering job, done from the bottom up.
Inspect the joint
The flashing is checked along its full length, from the eave up, along with the wall sheathing where it can be seen. Probing the wall below shows whether water has reached the sheathing.
Remove siding
To replace step flashing properly, a few courses of siding and the shingles along the wall are carefully removed. New flashing has to tuck behind the housewrap, which means opening the wall a little.
Replace the pieces
New step flashing is installed one piece per shingle course, each lapping the one below, with a kickout diverter at the bottom. Each piece is nailed through the roof side only, so the wall and roof can move independently.
Seal the wall side
Housewrap is lapped over the vertical legs, then siding goes back on with a gap above the shingles so it does not wick water. Siding pressed tight to the shingles stays wet and rots.
Check drip edge
Damaged drip edge is renewed so water drips clear of the fascia. The lap order differs at eaves and rakes, and getting it right matters.
What is included
Flashing a roofer can repair
Headwall flashing
The flashing across the top of a roof section is redone so water cannot run behind it.
Drip edge
Bent or missing drip edge is replaced at eaves and rakes so water drips clear of the fascia.
Cap flashing
Cap flashing on masonry is reset into the mortar joint so the top edge of the step flashing stays covered.
Step flashing
Loose or rusted step flashing is renewed and woven with new shingles.
Related service
Roof Flashing Repair Rutherford, NJ
Roof flashing repair ranges from resetting a single loose piece to rebuilding a full sidewall. A lifted counter flashing on a masonry wall may only need resetting into the mortar joint, while a leaking sidewall usually means new step flashing, new shingles along the wall and some siding work. 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 Rutherford, NJ
Valleys are the gutters of the roof surface, collecting water from both sides. Valleys are either open, with exposed metal, or closed, with shingles running through them. Both need ice and water shield underneath, centered in the valley.
Valley leaks often come from debris, worn shingles or nails driven too close to the center. Uncut shingle corners can catch water and direct it under the roofing. A valley that leaks is generally rebuilt rather than patched.
Local help
Flashing Repair Near Me
Flashing repairs in Rutherford are common on houses with dormers, additions and second-story walls rising above lower roofs. Across Rutherford and nearby communities including East Rutherford, Wallington, Carlstadt and North Arlington, the age of the house and the number of roof-to-wall joints decide how much flashing work is likely, and each of those joints is a place worth checking.
For flashing repair in Rutherford, NJ or nearby towns like East Rutherford, Wallington, Carlstadt and North Arlington, call (551) 380-1579 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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 Rutherford is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Rutherford know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about flashing repair
What is step flashing and why does it matter?
Step flashing uses individual bent pieces that interleave with each shingle course. The overlap carries water down the wall joint and out onto the shingle surface. A long single strip sends water under the roofing, which is why step pieces are the standard.
What are the signs of bad roof flashing?
Water showing up near a wall joint, skylight or valley points to flashing. Outside, look for rust, gaps, lifted metal, nails through the face and heavy caulk along the joint. Soft or stained siding at the bottom of a sidewall often means a missing kickout. Call (551) 380-1579 to have a roofer check it.
Can flashing be repaired without replacing the roof?
Most flashing problems are fixed without touching the rest of the roof. The work stays local to the joint, with new shingles woven in along it. On an old roof, it may be smarter to plan the flashing with a full replacement.
Why does my roof need kickout flashing?
A kickout is a small diverter at the bottom of a roof-to-wall joint, where the roof edge ends against a wall. It turns water that runs down the step flashing outward into the gutter instead of letting it pour behind the siding. Without one, the wall below that joint often rots quietly for years.
Can I just seal the flashing with caulk?
Caulk can slow a flashing leak but almost never fixes it. Over time, it hardens, splits and lets the joint leak again, often worse than before. Real repairs use new metal lapped in the right order.
More questions? Call (551) 380-1579
Other services that may help
Chimney Flashing Repair
Chimney flashing rebuilt so the roof-to-brick joint sheds water again, instead of another coat of tar.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn moreSkylight Repair
Skylight repair from the flashing on the roof to the glass and the frame, after sorting out whether the water is a leak or condensation.
Learn moreRoof Vent Repair
Vent and pipe boot repairs for leaks, hail damage and worn-out parts, with the attic airflow kept working.
Learn more
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