Wall flashing is a broad term covering the various flashing types used wherever a roof surface intersects with a vertical wall, encompassing step flashing along sidewalls, headwall or apron flashing where a roof meets a wall from below, and the sealed transitions each of these conditions requires.
Because a roof-to-wall intersection can occur in several different configurations, wall flashing isn’t a single specific product but rather a category describing the flashing solutions appropriate to each particular condition.
Proper wall flashing installation requires coordination between the roofing material and the wall covering above it, since each needs to properly overlap and integrate with the flashing for the assembly to remain watertight.
What Does Wall Flashing Include?
- Step flashing along sidewall conditions
- Headwall or apron flashing at wall-to-roof junctions from below
- Kickout flashing at gutter terminations
- Sealant and integration with the wall covering above
Why Is Wall Flashing Important?
Roof-to-wall intersections represent some of the most leak-prone locations on any home, given the combination of two different building systems, roofing and wall covering, meeting at a junction that needs to remain watertight despite differing materials and installation sequences. This complexity is precisely why coordination between roofing and siding contractors matters so much, since a disconnect between these trades is a common source of wall flashing failures.
Homeowners undertaking a siding replacement project should specifically confirm that wall flashing at roof intersections is properly maintained or reinstalled during the work, since siding contractors unfamiliar with proper roofing integration sometimes inadvertently compromise this critical detail. This coordination between trades is a small step that prevents significant potential water damage later.
Wall Flashing vs. Step Flashing
Wall flashing is the broad category encompassing all roof-to-wall flashing conditions. Step flashing is one specific type within that category, addressing the particular condition of a sloped roof running alongside a vertical wall.