[RE-wrenches] to flash or not to flash

[Ray Walters]

That was exactly the failure I anticipated when using flashings. Tearing=20
up the shingle to shingle adhesive and pulling those nails out is more=20
disruptive than the actual attachment itself.  I'm going to flash on an=20
upcoming job for legal/ insurance reasons, but not because its better.
I too have projects pushing 20 years, and we have never had a leak.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 8/26/2015 10:20 AM, Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind wrote:
> Hi All,
> In the early days with PV and SWH we didn=E2=80=99t use flashings for mos=
t=20
> roofs (except tile). We used L-feet directly to the roofing with butyl=20
> (comp) or EPDM (metal) and pre-filled our holes and covered the=20
> attachments with good goop. We've never had a leak reported from this=20
> practice. And, here in western Washington State, it does get tested.
> We changed methods about 10 years ago deciding it would be good=20
> practice - both legally and professionally - to follow roofing=20
> industry guidelines that prescribe (if you consider attachments=20
> =E2=80=9Cpenetrations=E2=80=9D) the use of flashings.
>
> This spring we had our first leak, from a 2-year old system, on a 4:12=20
> comp roof, with flashed L-feet. The leak occurred through a roofing=20
> nail hole that our installers had pulled but didn=E2=80=99t quite get cov=
ered=20
> up by the flashing or sealant. Even though the hole was still=20
> =E2=80=9Cshingled=E2=80=9D by 2 layers of overlapping comp, the concentra=
ted storm=20
> runoff from the module edges overwhelmed the ability of the shingles=20
> to shed the water. We fixed the problem, reroofing the section and=20
> fixing the damage to the ceiling, but not to our reputation and pride.
> Even though this issue was caused by a combination of procedural error=20
> and specific geometry, it=E2=80=99s easy to imagine this could happen aga=
in.=20
> Installers moving fast on roofs and not being able to see exactly=20
> where those nails they are pulling are coming from. And, when it=E2=80=99=
s=20
> cold out older comp shingles can crack when trying to get the nails out.
>
> If =E2=80=9Cbest practices=E2=80=9D for our industry could be established=
/recognized=20
> that prescribed our former methodology with L-feet, I would be happy=20
> to return to it (customers would also get lower costs). As of now,=20
> however, =E2=80=9Cbest practices=E2=80=9D for us mean following the roofi=
ng industry=20
> standards.
>
> -Kelly
> Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
> Principal
> Whidbey Sun & Wind
> Renewable Energy Systems
> NABCEP PV Installation Professional
> WA Electrical Administrator
> kelly at whidbeysunwind.com <mailto:kelly at whidbeysunwind.com>
> PH & FAX: 360.678.7131
>
>
>
> On Aug 26, 2015, at 7:44, jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com=20
> <mailto:jay.peltz at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>> Didn=E2=80=99t know there was a pole.
>> I=E2=80=9Dm on the flash side.
>>
>> Question for those who don=E2=80=99t.
>> How would  your insurance claim work if you didn=E2=80=99t flash?
>>
>> jay
>>
>> peltz power
>>
>>
>>> On Aug 25, 2015, at 9:59 PM, Jason Andrade=20
>>> <jason at westcoastsustainables.com=20
>>> <mailto:jason at westcoastsustainables.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I wouldn't install a comp roof system without the flashings myself,=20
>>> I am in
>>> Northern California and the extreme weather both heat and cold are=20
>>> murder on
>>> roofing.
>>>
>>> Jason
>>>
>>> West Coast Sustainables
>>> Jason Andrade
>>> C-46# 974647
>>> (530) 410-4745 Cell
>>> (530) 241-7498 Office
>>> (530) 348-5301 Fax
>>> Jason at westcoastsustainables.com <mailto:Jason at westcoastsustainables.com>
>>
>
>
>
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