Flashing is the metal detail work where the roof meets a chimney, a wall, a skylight, or any other penetration. It is where most Austin roofs leak first. Benny hand-builds the crickets, welds the copper and lead transitions, and forms the one-off pieces that keep water moving off the roof instead of into the deck. Most Central Texas crews subcontract this work out. Austin Area Roofers does not.
Hand-cut step flashing on a brick chimney · side view. One of Benny's specialty details, pulled directly from CompanyCam.
Custom & Specialty Flashing in Austin: what we actually do
Flashing is the metal that bridges the roof plane to every interruption on it. Chimneys, walls, skylights, dead valleys, plumbing stacks, HVAC curbs, dormers, parapets. Off-the-shelf flashing is stamped at a factory for a generic roof. Custom flashing is cut, folded, and welded on the job site for the exact angle, pitch, and material on your home. On Hill Country geometry and historic Austin builds, off-the-shelf does not fit. Water finds the gap.
Benny is one of two or three people in the Austin metro who builds these details to manufacturer-warranty standard. He hand-folds, hand-snaps, and hand-welds. He cuts copper and lead on site. He builds the chimney crickets behind every penetration so water sheds around the obstacle instead of pooling behind it. This is the work that decides whether your roof leaks in year twelve or holds for forty.
[TBC for client review · confirm full materials list with Dennis and Benny]. Standard list includes 24-gauge and 26-gauge galvanized steel, copper sheet for historic work, lead sheet for chimney pans and boot collars, aluminum for color-matched residential, and 22-gauge G90 galvalume for metal-roof transitions.
Hand-built chimney crickets
A cricket is the small ridged structure behind a chimney that splits water around it. Most Austin crews skip it or buy a generic one. Benny builds yours from scratch to the exact pitch of your roof and the exact width of your chimney.
Welded copper and lead flashing
For historic builds in Tarrytown, Pemberton Heights, and Old Enfield. Copper-leaded chimney work and hand-set lead boots that outlast the shingle on the home. [TBC for client review · pricing range].
Custom skylight curbs and penetration details
Velux, Sun-Tek, and one-off skylight curbs hand-flashed to the deck. HVAC curbs, plumbing stack boots, and electrical mast flashings sized to your penetration, not a generic stamp.
Standing seam metal transitions
Ridge, hip, and valley transitions on snap-lock and concealed-fastener systems. Hand-folded and hand-welded on site. Most Austin metal jobs subcontract these transitions. Ours do not.
Wall-to-roof step flashing
Step flashing where a roof slope meets a wall, a dormer, or a second story. Properly woven into each shingle course, not face-nailed on top. The detail most Austin re-roofs get wrong.
Step flashing terminated into the shingle field · stone chimney detail. Woven into each shingle course, not face-nailed on top.
How the custom & specialty flashing process works
Step 01
Free assessment
Benny or one of his trained crew walks the roof, identifies every penetration that needs custom work, and prices each detail before committing. No franchise crews, no day labor, no subcontracted strangers.
Step 02
Material selection
We size and select the right gauge and the right metal for the job. Copper for historic, galvalume for metal roof transitions, lead for chimney pans. [TBC for client review · confirm material spec process with Dennis].
Step 03
On-site fabrication
Cut, folded, and welded on your driveway or on the roof itself. Every piece sized to the exact pitch and the exact angle. No factory waste, no field gaps.
Step 04
Install to manufacturer spec
Woven into the underlayment and shingle courses correctly, not face-nailed over the top. Sealed with the right sealant for the right material. Documented for warranty.
Step 05
Warranty
[TBC for client review · confirm specialty flashing warranty terms with Dennis]. Standard workmanship warranty applies. Transferable once to the next owner.
[TBC for client review · confirm pricing range with Dennis]. Cost depends on the material, the number of penetrations, and the geometry of the roof. Copper and lead work runs higher than galvanized. Custom crickets and welded transitions are priced per detail on the written quote.
Do you replace existing flashing during a re-roof?
Yes. Every Austin Area Roofers re-roof includes new flashing at every penetration. We do not reuse old flashing. The flashing is where most roofs leak first, and reusing a worn piece is the fastest way to a callback in year three.
Can you match the copper or lead on a historic Austin home?
Yes. We do copper-leaded chimney work and hand-set lead boots on historic builds in Tarrytown, Pemberton Heights, Old Enfield, and Bryker Woods. We can color-match patina on copper restorations. [TBC for client review · confirm any historic-district photo examples].
Is custom flashing covered by warranty?
[TBC for client review · confirm specialty flashing warranty terms with Dennis]. Standard workmanship warranty applies. Transferable once to the next owner. Manufacturer warranties on the underlying roof system also cover the flashing detail when installed to spec.
Ready when you are
One conversation with our in-house trained professionals (each trained by Benny himself) and you'll KNOW.
Free instant quote online, or call the office and ask for Dennis or one of the highly trained sales specialists. They run the quotes and give you the best options. They will even give you a personal cell number. That is confidence in our work product.
