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Step flashing

Step flashing is a series of small flashing pieces that weave with shingles where a roof meets a wall.

Why it matters

Roof-to-wall joints are leak factories. Step flashing is how you manage water at that joint.

Where people get this wrong

Caulk is not a substitute for step flashing. One long piece is not the same as proper step flashing in many cases.

Real-world example

You see water staining on a ceiling near a chimney or a dormer wall. The leak often lives at the roof-to-wall flashing detail.

Where this hits your build

This term shows up during construction and affects decisions that are hard to reverse once the work moves forward. Understanding it now saves time, money, and frustration later.

Most people do not just struggle with terms. They struggle with the decisions tied to them.

See how HouseChalk helps with the decisions behind terms like this