At a glance: Completed 2026-08-12: kick-out flashing repair on Danube Drive, Millstadt, IL 62260. Office: St. Louis, 314-429-6000.
A small piece of metal with a big job
Wherever a roof edge ends against a wall, water running down the step flashing reaches the bottom and has to go somewhere. Without a kick-out flashing, it pours straight down the wall, behind the gutter end and into the siding, sheathing and framing. A kick-out is a bent piece of flashing at the bottom of the step flashing that turns that water outward, into the gutter, instead of down the wall.
It is one of the most commonly missed details on homes built in the last few decades, and it causes a lot of hidden rot.
Two problem spots on Danube Drive
This home had two places where a roof edge ended against a wall with no kick-out. One was where the garage roof eave meets the side of the house. The other was at a small roof on the back over the furnace area. Both were sending water down the wall every time it rained.
Opening the area
At each spot, the crew removed the shingles at the bottom of the roof-to-wall joint to expose the lowest pieces of step flashing. That is where the kick-out has to be integrated, under the bottom shingle and tucked behind the siding or wall covering above it.
Installing the kick-out and step flashing
New mill-finish step flashing was installed along the bottom courses and a kick-out was set at the end, angled to send water into the gutter. Each piece of step flashing laps over the one below and under the wall covering, so water stays on the outside the whole way down. Mill finish is bare aluminum that will dull over time and sit unobtrusively against the wall.
Sedona Canyon shingles to match
The roof is Owens Corning Duration in Sedona Canyon, a warm blend of browns and reds. The crew reinstalled matching shingles over the new flashing so the repair blends in.
What happens without a kick-out
Water that runs behind siding at a roof-wall corner soaks the sheathing. Over months and years that leads to rot, mold inside the wall, stained drywall and sometimes rotted sill plates. The damage is often found only when siding comes off. A kick-out costs very little and prevents all of that.
Signs you need kick-out flashing
Look at every spot on your house where a roof edge stops against a wall, usually at a garage, porch roof or bump-out. Dark streaks or staining on the siding below that corner, peeling paint, soft wood trim, or interior stains on that wall all suggest water is running behind the siding. If there is no small angled piece of metal at the bottom of the roof line, a kick-out is missing.
Roofer near me in Millstadt, 62260
If you are searching roofer near me in Millstadt, our crews serve 62260 and the surrounding Metro East, including Belleville, Columbia, Smithton and Freeburg. Call our St. Louis office at 314-429-6000 or 1-800-564-6232 at any hour.
Lifetime workmanship warranty
The flashing on Danube Drive is covered by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
Why kick-outs get missed
Kick-out flashing often gets left off because siding, gutters and roofing are installed by different trades at different times. The roofer finishes before the siding goes on, the sider does not think of it as their part, and the gutter installer hangs the gutter around whatever is there. The result is a gap no one owns. Because John Beal Roofing does roofing, siding and gutters, we look at the whole corner, not just our piece of it.
How water damage hides behind siding
Vinyl siding sheds most rain, but it is not waterproof. Water that gets behind it runs down the house wrap and sheathing. If a kick-out is missing, a full gutter-load of water gets dumped into that space at one corner during every storm. Because the siding still looks fine, the damage can go on for years. The first sign is often a stain on interior drywall or a soft spot in the floor near that wall, which means the sheathing and framing have been wet for a long time.
Checking the wall after the repair
After the kick-outs were installed, the crew looked over the siding and trim below both corners for soft spots or signs of rot. Catching any wall damage while the area is open is the right time to deal with it, and the homeowner gets a clear picture of the condition of the wall.
Metro East building codes
Most current building codes, including the ones used around St. Clair County, require kick-out flashing anywhere a roof eave meets a sidewall. Adding them now brings this home in line with current practice and avoids a question if the house is ever inspected for a sale.
Other quick flashing fixes
While on a roof for a kick-out, it often makes sense to look at pipe boots, chimney flashing and step flashing along other walls. These are usually small, fast repairs, and doing them together saves a second trip. We point out anything we see and let you decide.
When is the best time to add kick-outs
Any time the weather allows shingles to seal, kick-outs can be added. August on Danube Drive was ideal: warm, dry and well ahead of the fall rains. If you notice streaks or stains below a roof corner, do not wait for winter, when freeze-thaw makes wet wall damage worse.
A small fix for a common problem
Kick-out flashing is one of the least expensive repairs we do, and it heads off some of the most costly hidden damage a house can have. If you are not sure whether your home has kick-outs, send us a photo of the corner where your roof meets the wall.
What the crew did, step by step
- Removed shingles at the bottom of the roof-to-wall joint at the garage eave.
- Installed new mill step flashing and a kick-out flashing aimed into the gutter.
- Repeated the same process at the rear furnace-area roof.
- Reinstalled Owens Corning Duration Sedona Canyon shingles over the flashing.
- Checked that water would run into the gutters at both spots.
- Cleaned up and hauled away all debris.
Questions homeowners in Millstadt ask about this repair
What is kick-out flashing?
A bent piece of flashing at the bottom of a roof-to-wall joint that turns water into the gutter instead of down the wall.
Do I need kick-out flashing?
If a roof edge stops against a wall on your house, yes. It is required by most building codes.
Can kick-out flashing be added later?
Yes. We added it to two spots on this existing roof.
Can you match Owens Corning Sedona Canyon?
Yes. Sedona Canyon is a current Duration color.
Do you do roof repair in Millstadt, IL?
Yes. Call our St. Louis office at 314-429-6000.
What is mill-finish flashing?
Bare, unpainted aluminum flashing.