Do You Need Flashing in Hawaii? If You Want a Dry Building, Yes, You Do

If you are tackling a big project like re-siding or re-roofing, it can be tempting to look for areas where you can save money. One area that you definitely do not want to skimp on is flashing. Hawaii has a wet and humid climate where a lack of flashing can spell doom for a building.

Flashing are those pieces of material that are installed at the joints of a building or roof to prevent water from entering the underlying structure where the roof or siding materials end. Today, flashing is usually made of metal, plastic, rubber, or impregnated paper to help create a weather-resistant barrier between the framing of the structure and the exterior finish.

Where to Find Flashing on Hawaii Structures

Flashing is typically found around hips, ridges, chimneys, vent pipes, windows, and at the edges of the roof in addition to any joints in the roof or siding. Anywhere that two pieces of siding or roofing meet another piece or another material or structure should have flashing. It can be visible or invisible to the eye, depending on how and where it is installed.

Exposed flashing is usually a strip of metal that you will notice along hip and ridgelines, joints and walls or chimneys. Concealed flashing may be metal or a more flexible material and is found around wall joints and penetrations.

Without this flashing, water could very easily seep under roofs or behind siding to rot the underlying wood or cause mold to build up.

Is Flashing The Same As Trim?

Flashing is not the same thing as trim. Trim is the finishing touch, so to speak, on a building. While it is true that trim does provide a barrier against the elements, it is not intended as a waterproofing measure. In fact, trim and flashing are usually used together to help drain water away from windows and doors. The flashing helps protect the structure around the window frame and the trim helps disguise that flashing so it does not detract from the visual appeal of the building.

Kloeckner Metals Is Your Source for Steel Flashing In Hawaii

If you are interested in metal roofing, hot dip galvanizing, or a steel service center in Hawaii, call (678) 259-8800. Kloeckner Metals Hawaii is Hawaii’s most trusted metal roofing manufacturer. We have more than 50 years of experience in delivering high-quality products and top-notch customer support.