Maintaining the integrity of your house or building mostly depends on keeping your roof free from water damage. This depends much on roof flashing, which directs water away from leak-prone places such roof joints, valleys, chimneys, and vents. But not all flashing materials are created equal. With advancements in building products, traditional roof flashing is being increasingly replaced by modern, innovative solutions.
Evo Build Products is at the forefront of this transformation, offering cutting-edge, lead-free flashing products like Wakaflex, Smartform, Dakaflash, and Fastfix Wet Shield. This guide compares traditional roof flashing with Evo Build’s modern flashing solutions to help you determine the best protection for your roof.
Key Takeaways: Why Modern Roof Flashing Solutions Are a Game Changer
- Environmentally Friendly Materials: Discover lead-free, eco-conscious flashing options that protect both your roof and the environment.
- Easy Installation for DIYers: Learn how self-adhesive, flexible flashing products make installation quick and simple, even for non-professionals.
- Superior Protection: Understand how modern flashing solutions create more secure, watertight seals compared to traditional metals like lead and aluminum.
- Long-Term Cost Savings: See how innovative flashing products reduce the need for costly repairs and replacements with their durable, long-lasting performance.
- Enhanced Roof Aesthetics: Find out how modern flashing products seamlessly blend with your roof design and can be painted to match.
- Safe Water Harvesting: Explore how specialized flashing products help collect safe, contaminant-free water from your roof.
- Flexible Solutions for Complex Roofs: Learn how modern flashing adapts to challenging roof shapes and penetrations, offering unmatched versatility.
- Sustainable Roof Protection: Discover the benefits of modern flashing for long-term, low-maintenance roof protection.
What is Roof Flashing?
Roof flashing is a critical component of roofing systems designed to prevent water infiltration at points where the roof meets other surfaces, such as walls, chimneys, and skylights. Installed at roof joints, flashing acts as a barrier to direct water away from seams and vulnerable areas.
Types of Roof Flashing
Understanding the types of roof flashing is essential for identifying what your roof might need. Apron flashing is used at the base of vertical surfaces, such as chimneys or walls, providing a seal against water entry. Step flashing is installed in a stair-step pattern where the roof intersects with walls, ensuring water is channeled away from these junctions effectively.
Counter flashing is fixed onto a wall surface and overlaps other flashings for added protection against water intrusion. Furthermore positioned where two roof slopes converge to effectively direct water into the gutter system is valley flashing, therefore preventing possible water damage. Maintaining the integrity and lifetime of your roofing system depends critically on all kinds of flashing.
Traditional Materials Used in Roof Flashing
Roof flashing has long been created from elements like aluminium and lead. Lead is well-known for its environmental and health hazards even if it is rather flexible and durable. Though it is less bendable than lead, aluminium is lightweight and corrosion-resistant.
Common materials for roof flashing additionally are copper and steel. Though it costs a lot, copper is aesthetically appealing and robust. Though it is strong, unless it is galvanised steel is prone to rust.
Limitations of Traditional Roof Flashing
Lead and other conventional flashing materials have proven rather popular as they are flexible and durable. Still, they have major disadvantages. Lead is poisonous and raises severe ecological questions, hence one of the main problems is related health and environmental hazards. Furthermore, the installation of conventional flashing sometimes calls for professional knowledge, which raises general property owner expenses.
Moreover, although strong, metals such as copper and aluminium might not be flexible enough for intricate roof forms, which would complicate their use. These materials might degrade or corrode with time, which would result in expensive repairs and maintenance. Property owners are thus looking for other options that provide both efficiency and safety free from the related negative consequences.
Evo Build’s Innovative Roof Flashing Solutions
Evo Building Products revolutionised the roof flashing industry with the introduction of Wakaflex in 2004, Australia’s first lead-free flashing for tiled roofs. Since then, EvoBuild has expanded its range to Ainclude Smartform, Dakaflash, and Fastfix Wet Shield, each offering unique benefits tailored to modern roofing needs.
1. Wakaflex Lead-Free Flashing
Key Features:
- Chemically bonds on overlaps to create a continuous waterproof seal.
- Integrated butyl adhesive strips for easy application.
- Reinforced with internal aluminium mesh for rigidity.
- Can be painted to match any roofing design.
- Complies with standards like AS/NZS 2904:1995 and AS/NZS 4020:2005.
Applications:
Ideal for flashing abutments, chimneys, walls, and other rising structures, this material provides durable protection against water ingress. Its flexibility ensures it conforms to various shapes and surfaces, making it a reliable choice for both residential and commercial applications.
Why Choose Wakaflex:
Wakaflex is the ultimate lead-free flashing solution, offering unmatched protection against water infiltration. It is made from a durable polymer rubber (PIB) that stretches to conform to various roof surfaces, providing a seamless finish. Its ability to bond to itself ensures long-lasting waterproofing, making it the professional choice for complex flashing requirements.
2. Smartform Lead-Free Flashing
Key Features:
- Fully self-adhesive butyl backing for a watertight seal.
- Highly flexible, stretching up to 60% for difficult roof profiles and penetrations.
- Creped aluminium surface for additional stretch and strength.
- Paintable to blend with any building aesthetic.
Applications:
Ideal for flashing complex roof profiles, such as steep slopes and intricate designs, as well as roof penetrations like chimneys and vents. This solution is also perfect for skylights, providing secure and weather-resistant sealing, and for box gutters that are susceptible to rusting, ensuring longevity and durability.
Why Choose Smartform:
Smartform combines flexibility with ease of application, making it perfect for DIY enthusiasts and professionals tackling challenging roof shapes. With its self-adhesive backing and high stretchability, Smartform ensures superior performance in areas where traditional materials struggle.
3. Dakaflash Lead-Free Flashing
Key Features:
- A composite of reinforcing aluminium mesh and creped aluminium top sheet.
- Fully self-adhesive butyl backing for a smooth, secure finish.
- Stretchable up to 30%, combining rigidity and flexibility.
- Paintable for aesthetic versatility.
Applications:
This product is meticulously designed for general flashing applications, which demand both flexibility and structural support. It ensures reliability and durability, making it ideal for various construction projects where adaptability and strength are crucial. Whether used for sealing, waterproofing, or protecting building elements, it meets the needs of diverse environments and conditions.
Why Choose Dakaflash:
Dakaflash offers the best of both worlds—strength and adaptability. Its combination of materials provides a robust solution for areas needing additional rigidity, while still allowing for a smooth, contoured finish on complex roof profiles.
4. Flashtites
Key Features:
- Lead-free, prefabricated penetration flashings for all tiled roof applications.
- Made from Wakaflex, with EPMD boots available from 50mm to 150mm.
- Ensures water collected for harvesting is contaminant-free and safe for potable use.
- Equipped with adhesive strips for easy installation by hand in just minutes.
Applications:
Perfect for use with ventilation pipes, solar cabling, pergolas & verandas, antennas, satellite dishes, CCTV, and lighting. Available in 4 sizes to fit any need.
Why Choose Flashtites:
Flashtites combined with Wakaflex or Smartform provide a reliable solution for safe water harvesting. Their quick and easy installation makes them an ideal choice for any roof flashing needs.
Modern vs Traditional Roof Flashing Solutions
1. Material Composition
Traditional flashing relies on metals like lead and aluminium, which can be environmentally unfriendly or challenging to install. Evo Build’s roof flashing products, by contrast, are lead-free, flexible, and durable, offering a safer and more versatile alternative.
2. Installation
Traditional flashing typically requires skilled professionals for installation due to its rigid nature. Evo Build’s roof flashing products, such as Smartform and Dakaflash, feature self-adhesive backings and flexible designs, making them easier and quicker to install—even for DIYers.
3. Performance
Evo Build’s flashing tape products outperform traditional materials by creating secure, watertight seals that adapt to complex surfaces. Products like Wakaflex, with its ability to chemically bond to itself, provide superior protection compared to rigid traditional flashing.
4. Cost
While traditional flashing materials may appear more affordable initially, their durability and maintenance needs can add up over time. Evo Build’s lead-free products offer long-lasting performance, reducing the frequency and cost of repairs.
5. Environmental Impact
Lead flashing poses significant health and environmental risks. Evo Build’s eco-friendly, lead-free flashing solutions not only protect your roof but also contribute to a safer environment.
When to Use Evo Build vs Traditional Flashing
Evo Build flashing products are best suited for:
- DIY roof repairs and quick fixes.
- Emergency waterproofing, especially with Fastfix Wet Shield.
- Flashing complex roof shapes and penetrations.
- Long-term applications with minimal maintenance needs.
Traditional flashing may still be considered for:
- Large-scale installations with professional roofers.
- Projects requiring aesthetic consistency with historical or traditional roofing styles.
How to Maintain Evo Build Flashing Products
Proper maintenance ensures that Evo Build products like Wakaflex, Smartform, and Dakaflash continue performing at their best:
- Regularly inspect for wear and tear, especially around joints.
- Clean the surfaces occasionally to avoid debris buildup.
- Ensure proper application in the first instance to minimise the need for adjustments.
Elevate Your Roof Protection with Evo Build
Evo Building Products has revolutionised roof flashing with innovative, lead-free solutions like Wakaflex, Smartform, Dakaflash, and Flashtites. These products, including cutting-edge flashing tape, provide superior long-term performance, ease of installation, and environmental benefits, giving them a clear edge over traditional flashing materials.
Whether you need flexibility, strength, or emergency protection, Evo Build’s range has you covered. Discover the next generation of roof protection by exploring Evo Build’s flashing tape products today—because every great roof deserves the best defence. Visit Evo Building Products to Learn More!