Ineffective Flashing Sealant Application
Ineffective Flashing Sealant Application is a moderate-severity roofing defect SURE inspectors have documented across 5 inspection reports.
Causes
- Inadequate underlying detailing and/or flashing installation
- Attempt to prevent leakage with temporary solutions
- Use of flashing tape as the sole weatherproofing barrier instead of a supplementary seal
- Incorrect application of flashing tape
- Non-compliance with AS 2050 and NCC 2022 Volume Two
Symptoms to look for
- Potential for premature failure of sealant/membrane due to movement, UV exposure, and general weathering
- Visible excessive sealant and waterproofing membrane
- Visible self-adhesive flashing tape serving as the primary weatherproofing barrier
- Potential for water ingress
- Visible gaps at roof-wall junction
Remedies
- Ensure correct flashing and drainage provisions are in accordance with NCC requirements and relevant manufacturer installation specifications
- Properly identify the source of the leakage and rectify it through compliant weatherproofing detailing
- Rectify affected areas to ensure a compliant roof weatherproofing detail is provided in accordance with NCC requirements and the relevant roof cladding/flashing manufacturer installation specifications
- Install appropriate profiled foam infill (or equivalent) and re-dress the flashing to achieve a watertight seal
- Ensure compliance with AS 2050 and NCC 2022
Worth asking our inspector about this specifically.
This is common across Perth stock and usually fixable without drama, but the scope of the fix varies. Every SURE inspection includes 12 months of free advice. Call out the defect by name and we check for it directly.
Curated entries in Roofing
- Curated 1–4/5Cracked Roof Mortar
Mortar bedding and pointing on tiled roofs cracks over time due to thermal movement and weathering. Cracked mortar at ridge caps, hip ends, and verge flashings allows water to track into the roof cavity, leading to ceiling staining, battens and top-plate decay, and eventual leak damage if left unattended.
- Curated 1–3/5Eave Lining Stains
Staining on eave linings is a visible indicator of past or ongoing water overflow - most commonly from blocked gutters allowing water to back up behind the fascia. We see this in 15.5% of Perth inspection reports, typically as a cosmetic flag that leads back to a maintenance root cause.
- Curated 2–4/5Leaking Gutters
Gutters that leak at joints, end caps, or through rust holes deposit water against fascias, eave linings, and wall cladding rather than routing it to downpipes and stormwater. Persistent wetting creates conducive conditions for fungal decay, borer activity, and termite attack at the roof perimeter - some of the most expensive structural repairs on a Perth home.
- Curated 2–4/5Cracked or Broken Concrete Roof Tiles
Cracked, chipped, or broken concrete roof tiles allowing water ingress to the roof space. Common defect in Perth and Sydney homes with concrete tile roofs, accelerated by thermal cycling and foot traffic during maintenance.
- Curated 2–4/5Deteriorated Ridge Capping Mortar
Crumbling or cracked mortar bedding on ridge capping tiles allowing water entry along the roof ridge line. Extremely common in Perth homes due to intense sun exposure and thermal cycling.
More from Roofing
- Cracked Roof Mortar1–4/5
- Eave Lining Stains1–3/5
- Leaking Gutters2–4/5
- Surface Rust on Guttering1–4/5
- Moss Build-up on Roof Tiles1–3/5
- Antenna Mounted in Roof Valley1–4/5