How do you work with aluminum flashing??

Phil Dunkerly
by Phil Dunkerly

I added a cover over my front stairs. It's finished but I'm told it would look way more finished if I added flashing around the edge. DO you buy it in a roll or straight? I'm handy enough to at least try the DIY way.

  3 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Sep 15, 2018

    You usually have to have an aluminium brake (a large manuel machine) to form it.


  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Sep 15, 2018

    Phil, you can buy different types of flashing. There is an adhesive product that is easy to work with. I know one is Fast Flash and the other is Grace Ice and water shield. These can be used instead of flashing. The metal flashing that comes in rolls can be formed with a couple of straight edges. It is fairly soft. There is also thicker gauge flashing that requires a little more force, such as a sheet metal brake, to form it. I recommend using either the adhesive product or the thin guage metal.

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Sep 15, 2018

    VERY IMPORTANT! USE GLOVES! Metal flashing is like a sharp chef's knife

    • Phil Dunkerly Phil Dunkerly on Sep 16, 2018

      Thx, Laura. I'm going to try it...with gloves. I'll check into using adhesive as well.