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Plumbing Pipe Flashings

By Square Roofing

The pipes of a plumbing fixture need a pressure relief point in order for water to drain without creating a suction. This is achieved with a simple open-ended pipe, usually directly above the fixture. The open end of the pipe is extended to protrude through the roofing surface. The reason for that is because the pipe will occasionally burb noxious gases, especially over toilets. It would be unpleasant to have these gases trapped in the attic space. This brings us to our present issue of how best to ‘flash’ these pipes to the roof system.

The four main options for flashing a plumbing pipe

The first and cheapest option is a black plastic flashing, sometimes referred to as an Auto-Caulk. One costs about eight bucks. Unfortunately they have a tendency to warp and dry-rot when exposed to the Texas elements. They usually last about ten years. When they fail, water can run directly into the structure. You can see the seal failure in the first two pictures. In the third pic you’ll see the wood rot which is caused by a failure.

The next type of pipe flashing is sometimes referred to as a “3 in 1”. It’s a slight step up from an Auto-caulk, and costs about $15. The higher quality feature is the solid metal base. The part that seals to the pipe is a rubber gasket. The rubber will resist dry-rot for 10 to 20 years. When it fails, it’s made to be easily replaced. We don’t use these because Square Roofing doesn’t believe in using material that’s built to fail.

Next we have lead pipe flashings (or lead boots). The first two pics show lead boots which were poorly installed. The third pic shows how Square installs a lead boot. The cost of a lead is around $22, depending on the size. Traditionally lead boots have been the highest quality option. However, some contractors argue that the beauty factor of a “3 in 1” (if painted) is greater than a lead boot. The longevity is certainly more dependable with lead than with rubber. Based on the first two pics, it’s easy to see why folks might argue against the lead. If Square Roofing installs a lead boot, it always gets a ‘Steel Squirrel Sleeve’ added. This feature is a Square Roofing specialty. You can see an example of these in the third picture. One adds about $7 to the cost. However, it ensures long lasting beauty and worry-free protection.

Finally, we have the GAF Pivot Pipe. It’s a bit more expensive at around $55 each. We feel that this is money well spent. The pvc plumbing pipe is completely encased in the all-metal design. Even with the price jump, our bid using the ‘Flagship’ GAF system (including the Pivot Pipes) is often lower than what’s expected. Also, if we install the Armor Shield, then we definitely want to use the Pivot Pipes. They’ll last the roof life and stay looking sharp the whole time!

Introduction

By Square Roofing

Square Roofing is proud and grateful to be a part of the roofing and building industry. Our long history here has afforded us the chance to work on many different types of roofs. We are continuously finding issues that we think should be addressed. This blog is a place for us to document and categorize these issues. We think this will be helpful for several different reasons. First, we want our customers to be well informed. Some owners may not know what to expect from a contractor. The information here will help anyone to be better prepared. Second, we want a place where we can build a case for certain topics. Attic ventilation is one of the most common issues found on aging roof systems. Our blogs will address the issue from all angles. Third, our blogs will help display our pursuit of excellence. We look forward to showing the dramatic changes that can be achieved when we’re on the job.

Here’s a short intro to what you’ll find in our future posts

If your roof is starting to look like this, then you might find our discussions on attic ventilation to be of interest. There you’ll see how granule loss is the biggest indicator of poor attic ventilation. If we catch this issue before it’s as bad as the picture shown, we can save the roof. One solution could be attic fans which are controlled by a thermostat. Even when addressing the exhaust, we would still also want to address the intake if possible. When we improve a situation like this, the benefits are numerous!

Some other topics that we’ll be addressing are; different types of standing seam, plumbing pipe flashings, removing all old felt, hail damage and how it ages, and much much more.

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