Why Does Roof Flashing Leak in Fargo Homes?

Roof flashing leaks in Fargo homes mostly because freeze and thaw cycles, ice dams and dried out sealant break the seal where the roof meets a wall, chimney or vent. Dodd Roofing and Exteriors traces a large share of the leaks we chase in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Horace back to failed flashing rather than bad shingles, and the repair is usually much smaller than homeowners expect if it is caught before the decking rots.

What Is Roof Flashing?

Flashing is thin metal, normally aluminum or galvanized steel, installed anywhere the roof surface changes direction or runs into something. That means valleys, chimney bases, sidewalls, dormers, plumbing vents and skylight curbs. Shingles shed water down the slope. Flashing handles every place water has to turn a corner, which is exactly where leaks start.

Why Does Flashing Fail Faster in a Fargo Winter?

Our temperature swings work against it. Metal expands and contracts through every freeze and thaw, and fasteners slowly back out. Sealant at the counterflashing dries and cracks after several seasons. Worst of all, water backed up behind ice dams sits against the vertical leg of the flashing for weeks instead of running past it in seconds. Older homes add another problem, since chimney flashing was often surface sealed instead of cut into the mortar joint.

Where Do Flashing Leaks Show Up Inside?

Look for a stain on the ceiling next to a chimney chase, a water track running down the interior wall below a dormer, damp insulation in one corner of the attic, or a musty smell near a sidewall. Water travels along rafters before it drops, so the wet spot on your ceiling is often several feet from the actual failure. That is why we inspect the attic and the roof together.

Can Flashing Be Repaired Without Replacing the Roof?

Usually. Counterflashing can be recut into the mortar and resealed, and step flashing along a wall can be replaced by lifting the shingles in that run. The exception is a roof already near the end of its life or one carrying hail damage, in which case flashing work is folded into a full roof replacement so everything is tied together under one warranty.

When Should You Get It Checked?

Before the ground freezes. Late summer and fall are the window when sealant cures properly and crews can work safely on a dry roof. A small flashing repair now costs a fraction of what rotted decking and ruined drywall cost in March. Homeowners in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Horace can call (701) 831-0710 to schedule a free roof inspection.

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