Flashing Kit Buying Guide

So.. you’ve gone through our helpful and extensive buying guide for roof windows, but now the next question is ‘which flashing kit do you need?’. This in and of itself, can be a daunting and quite confusing decision at times. After all, the flashing kit is an integral component of any roof window installation, so you need to make sure you are choosing the right one.

Which Brand?

The first question you will already know the answer to is ‘which brand do I need?’. Because of how the flashing kits have been designed and manufactured, they will only be compatible with a roof window from the same brand. For example, a VELUX flashing kit can only be used with a VELUX roof window.

If you opted for a RoofLITE+ flashing with a VELUX roof window, not only could you negatively impact the performance of both roof window and flashing kit, but completing installation of this manner will also void any guarantee that would normally come with these items. To benefit from the guarantee, you need to achieve proper installation with the roof window and flashing kit from the same brand.

Roof Pitch

You will need to determine the pitch of your roof before going any further. Most of our standard flashing kits will work on most roofs as they are compatible for roof pitches between 15 and 90 degrees, except for the VELUX EDP Plain Tile Flashing, which is compatible with roof pitches between 25 and 90 degrees. If a flashing kit is installed on a roof pitch lower than 15 degrees or, more rarely, above 90 degrees, it would be known as an improper installation, which will void the guarantee of both roof window and flashing kit.

Tile or Slate

One of the next aspects to consider is whether you have a tile or slate roof as this will ultimately lead you down the road to finding the correct flashing kit for your new roof window.

The good news is, if you have a slate roof, you’re likely to be covered with the standard slate flashing kits from RoofLITE+ or VELUX UNLESS the profile thickness of your slate is higher than 8mm. In these instances, you will need to contact our sales team to discuss your options.

But I Have A Tile Roof

Fear not. It may seem a little scary looking at the vast range of tile flashing kits on offer, but when you realise that there are so many different roof tiles out there, not only does the huge range of tile flashing kits become understandable, but it becomes very easy to decipher which flashing kit you need.

To determine the type of tile flashing kit you need; all you need to do is measure the profile thickness of your tile. You may now be asking ‘what do you mean by profile thickness?’ and it’s as simple as this… if you have a completely flat tile, simply measure the thickness of it. If your tile has a profile (or otherwise known as wavey style), you simply measure from the lowest point of the tile to the highest point of the tile.

If you have gone down the route of purchasing a RoofLITE+ roof window, there are 2 different types of tile flashing kits to choose from. If the profile thickness of your tile is between 16-50 mm, then you can opt for the TFX Tile Flashing. However, if your tile has a profile thickness between 16-120 mm, then you would need the UFX Universal Flashing. If your tile profile thickness is less than 16mm, contact our sales team who can help you.

If you have opted for a VELUX roof window, you will find that there are also 2 different types of flashing kits to choose from. The EDW Tile Flashing will be suitable for every roof tile with a profile thickness of 120 mm and under. However, you may prefer to opt for the EDP Plain Tile Flashing if your profile thickness is 14 mm or lower to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

But What If I Can’t Get My Profile Thickness?

After scouring through the above information on profile thicknesses, you may feel a little defeated if you aren’t able to obtain your profile thickness, but you’ve no reason to be. Even if you cannot obtain your profile thickness, we are able to inform you which flashing would work with your roof if you were able to identify the make and model of the roof tile.

Sizing Up

Probably, the second easiest aspect of choosing a flashing kit is determining the size. As we mentioned in our blinds buying guide, some people would measure the glass of their roof window and then choose the next size up to cut it down, which as we covered is incorrect.

Choosing the size of your flashing kit is the same as choosing a roof window blind. Once you have determined the roof window size you require, you choose the exact same size in the flashing kit. The dimensions listed on the flashing kit isn’t the actual size of it, but rather the size of the roof window that it is compatible with.

Specialist Flashings

Sometimes a flashing kit offers more than just providing a watertight seal around your roof window. They can be used to recess your roof window into the roof or even combine them to create a row of windows or have one above another. In these instances, we would recommend contacting our sales team to discuss in greater detail as there may be more specific and unique factors in play for your project.

We hope that at this point, you may now know the flashing kit you require or at the very least, have an idea of the route you wish to pursue. We understand that our buying guides cannot cover every question there is about flashing kits, so if you do wish to discuss any of them in greater detail, please contact us via telephone, e-mail or live chat.