The specialized flashing piece installed where a roof slope meets a vertical wall at the lower end — one of the most commonly absent components on older Colorado homes and one of the most consequential when missing.
What Kick-Out Flashing Is
Kick-out flashing — also called diverter flashing — is a bent metal piece installed at the lower termination of a step flashing run, where a sloped roof meets a vertical wall and ends above a gutter or open wall below. Its function is specific and critical: to divert water that has been running down the wall-to-roof intersection away from the wall cladding and into the gutter, rather than allowing it to run directly behind the siding and into the wall assembly.
Without kick-out flashing, water running down the roof slope toward the wall hits the step flashing termination — and instead of being directed into the gutter, it follows the path of least resistance behind the siding. That water enters the wall cavity at a point where there is typically no waterproofing barrier, saturates the sheathing and framing, and causes progressive moisture damage that can go undetected for years before manifesting as visible rot, mold, or structural failure.
Kick-out flashing is one of the simplest and least expensive components in a roof system — a single bent piece of metal that costs a few dollars. The water damage it prevents can cost tens of thousands of dollars to remediate. Its absence on older Colorado homes is common, its omission from insurance estimates is consistent, and the consequences of missing it are severe enough to make it one of the most important code upgrade items to identify and include in any storm-related roof replacement.
Where Kick-Out Flashing Is Required
Kick-out flashing is required wherever a sloped roof meets a vertical wall and the step flashing system terminates above a gutter, open siding, or wall cladding. The most common locations on Colorado residential properties include:
Dormer Sidewall Terminations
Each dormer has two sidewalls where the dormer roof meets the main roof slope. The lower termination of the step flashing on each dormer sidewall requires kick-out flashing to direct water away from the dormer wall into the gutter or surrounding roofing below. Dormer kick-out flashing is among the most frequently missing and most consequential absent locations on Colorado homes with dormers.
Addition and Bump-Out Terminations
Where a lower addition or bump-out roof meets the main home’s wall above it, the step flashing system along that wall terminates at the lower edge. Kick-out flashing at this termination prevents water from running behind the main home’s siding at the addition joint — a location where moisture intrusion is particularly destructive because it is difficult to detect until significant damage has occurred.
Roof-to-Wall Transitions Above Gutters
Any location where a sloped roof terminates at a vertical wall above a gutter requires kick-out flashing to direct roof runoff into the gutter rather than behind the adjacent siding. This includes the lower ends of any shed dormer, the termination of a porch or carport roof at the main wall, and similar configurations.
How Kick-Out Flashing Works
The geometry of kick-out flashing is straightforward. It is installed as the final piece in the step flashing run — at the lowest point where the step flashing system meets the eave or gutter line. The kick-out piece is bent at an angle that directs water away from the wall face and into the gutter channel rather than allowing it to continue behind the siding.
Properly installed kick-out flashing:
- Overlaps the last piece of step flashing above it, continuing the waterproof seal
- Extends far enough beyond the wall face to direct water into the gutter rather than onto the wall
- Is secured to prevent wind uplift without creating a penetration that allows water entry
- Is sized appropriately for the roof’s water volume — larger roofs with higher runoff require larger kick-out flashing
Why Kick-Out Flashing Is Absent on So Many Colorado Homes
Kick-out flashing was not consistently required by older building codes and was not always installed even when it was best practice. Several factors contribute to its absence on Colorado homes:
- Pre-code construction — homes built before kick-out flashing requirements were incorporated into the applicable IRC edition simply did not have it installed as a matter of code enforcement
- Installation shortcuts — roofing contractors sometimes terminate step flashing at the eave without adding a kick-out piece, relying on caulk or sealant as a substitute that degrades over time
- Siding contractor omission — in some installations, the siding contractor is responsible for kick-out flashing coordination with the roofing system, and this coordination breaks down between trades
- Concealment — kick-out flashing is sometimes installed incorrectly and then concealed with sealant or caulk, masking the deficiency during surface inspections
Kick-Out Flashing as a Code Upgrade Item
Under the 2021 IRC as adopted by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department in Colorado Springs, kick-out flashing is required at all roof-to-wall lower terminations where the step flashing system ends above a wall cladding or gutter. This makes it a code-mandated component of any permitted replacement on homes where it was previously absent — and therefore a reimbursable code upgrade item under your policy’s ordinance and law provision.
The argument to the carrier is direct:
- The prior installation lacked kick-out flashing at [specific location]
- Current code requires kick-out flashing at this location under 2021 IRC as adopted by PPRBD
- The permitted replacement must include kick-out flashing to meet current code standards
- The cost is a reimbursable code upgrade under the ordinance and law provision
This is one of the most defensible code upgrade arguments in Colorado Springs roof claims — the requirement is specific, the prior installation’s deficiency is documentable, and the code citation is clear.
Kick-Out Flashing as a Direct Storm Damage Item
Beyond the code upgrade context, kick-out flashing that is present but damaged by hail or wind is a direct storm damage item covered under the same provisions as other flashing components. Hail impact on metal kick-out flashing causes denting and displacement that can compromise its ability to direct water correctly. Wind can lift, bend, or displace kick-out flashing that has lost its proper orientation.
Document kick-out flashing condition at each location during any post-storm inspection — both the presence or absence of the component and any storm-related damage to existing pieces. Whether the issue is absence (code upgrade) or damage (storm damage), proper documentation supports inclusion in the claim scope.
The Consequence of Missing Kick-Out Flashing
The water damage caused by absent kick-out flashing follows a consistent pattern that is worth understanding — both to recognize the problem and to document it when found:
- Water enters behind siding at the roof-to-wall termination, saturating the housewrap or building paper behind the siding panels
- Wall sheathing absorbs moisture — OSB sheathing swells and delaminates; plywood softens; both lose structural integrity over time
- Framing members absorb moisture — studs, rim joists, and structural members adjacent to the entry point develop rot and mold
- Damage progresses invisibly — the entry point is concealed behind siding and the damage spreads laterally within the wall cavity before any interior signs appear
- Interior signs appear late — by the time ceiling stains, wall discoloration, or musty odors appear inside the home, significant structural damage has typically already occurred
The remediation cost for kick-out flashing-related wall damage can range from several thousand dollars for limited sheathing and framing replacement to tens of thousands for extensive structural repair, mold remediation, and siding replacement. The cost of the kick-out flashing itself is measured in single digits.
Documenting Kick-Out Flashing for a Supplement
Documenting kick-out flashing absence or damage for a supplement claim requires specific photographs and notation:
- Wide shot establishing location — photograph the full roof-to-wall transition showing the lower termination of the step flashing system and the absence or damaged condition of the kick-out piece
- Close-up of termination point — a close-up photograph showing the specific point where kick-out flashing should be installed, with the current condition clearly visible
- Evidence of water damage if present — if water staining on the adjacent wall or siding is visible, photograph it and note the connection to the missing kick-out flashing above
- All affected locations — photograph every location where kick-out flashing is absent or damaged, not just one example. Multiple missing locations on the same property strengthen the supplement.
Common Kick-Out Flashing Questions
How do I know if my roof has kick-out flashing?
Look at the lower end of every roof-to-wall transition on your property — where a sloped roof terminates at a vertical wall. At the lowest point of the step flashing run, where it meets the eave or gutter level, there should be a small metal piece bent away from the wall directing water into the gutter. If the step flashing simply ends at the eave without a distinct diverter piece — or if only caulk is visible at the termination — kick-out flashing is absent. Your contractor or roof consultant can identify every location during an inspection.
My carrier says kick-out flashing is not a roof component and does not belong in my roof claim. How do I respond?
Kick-out flashing is part of the integrated roof-to-wall waterproofing system — the step flashing system is not complete without it. It is listed as a required component in the IRC and in most shingle manufacturers’ installation requirements. Its omission from the roof estimate is no different from omitting step flashing itself — both are required components of the flashing system. Cite the applicable IRC provision requiring kick-out flashing and reference it as a code upgrade item under the ordinance and law provision if that is the basis for its inclusion.
Can I add kick-out flashing without replacing the entire roof?
Yes — kick-out flashing can be added as a standalone repair without full roof replacement. A qualified contractor can install kick-out flashing at each termination point by carefully lifting the adjacent shingle course and siding edge, installing the flashing, and re-securing the disturbed materials. This is typically a modest repair cost when done as a standalone improvement. When performed as part of a full storm-related roof replacement, the cost is even lower because the contractor is already working on the flashing system.
Is kick-out flashing required in Pueblo under the 2009 IBC?
The 2009 IBC has kick-out flashing provisions similar to the IRC, but the specific requirements under Pueblo’s adopted code with local amendments should be verified directly with PRBD at prbd.com or 719-543-0002 before presenting kick-out flashing as a code-required upgrade in a Pueblo claim. The argument for including kick-out flashing in Pueblo replacements may rest more on installation best practice and manufacturer requirements than on a specific local code citation — confirm before submitting the code upgrade argument to a carrier.
How Claim Advocacy Helps With Kick-Out Flashing Claims
Kick-out flashing is absent on a high percentage of older Colorado homes — and consistently absent from initial insurance estimates even when its inclusion is code-required. Getting it included requires specific inspection, documentation, and code knowledge.
- Location identification — systematically identifying every roof-to-wall lower termination on the property that requires kick-out flashing during the post-storm inspection
- Absence documentation — photographing the missing kick-out flashing at each location with the wide and close-up shots needed to support a supplement
- Code upgrade documentation — citing the specific PPRBD provision requiring kick-out flashing and presenting it in a format the carrier can review and approve
- Storm damage documentation — photographing hail or wind damage to existing kick-out flashing where it is present but damaged
- Wall damage connection — documenting any water staining or wall damage adjacent to missing kick-out flashing locations to establish the functional consequence of the missing component
- Supplement preparation — including kick-out flashing as a specific code upgrade line item in supplement packages with supporting photographs and code citations
Related Glossary Terms
- Flashing
- Step Flashing
- Dormer
- Code Upgrade Coverage
- Law and Ordinance Coverage
- IRC (International Residential Code) — Colorado Adoption
- Supplemental Claim
- Scope of Loss
- Concealed Damage
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD)
Missing Kick-Out Flashing on Your Home?
Kick-out flashing is absent on a significant percentage of older Colorado homes — and the wall damage that results from its absence is one of the most expensive and most preventable moisture problems in residential construction. A free inspection identifies every kick-out flashing location on your property, documents what is missing, and ensures the code upgrade requirement is included in your replacement estimate before you accept a settlement that leaves this critical component out.
📞 Call to discuss your claim: (719) 210-8699
📧 Email: gerald@winik.io