• Overview



  • In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to install a rain diverter.

    Steps:

    1. Sand underside of flashing with 80-grit sandpaper to help paint adhere; wipe surface clean.
    2. Spray-paint bottom surface and up-turned edge of flashing to match color of roof.
    3. Cut flashing in half using aviation snips.
    4. Use flat pry bar to loosen stuck roof shingles.
    5. Lay one flashing piece upside-down (painted side facing up) on roof at an angle and slip it under the shingles; repeat for the other flashing piece.
    6. Secure the flashing with roofing nails; be sure to place each nail under a shingle.
    7. Cover the nail heads and seal down each shingle with caulk.
    8. Spray the roof with a garden hose to test the effectiveness of the rain diverter.
    See products and services from this episode.
    • Difficulty: Easy to moderate
      Reaching the roof is the only tricky part.

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    Video Directory

    Selected Topic/Section

      Tools List

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      • flat prybar
        Flat pry bar
        to loosen stuck roof shingles
      • metal cutting snips
        Aviation snips
        to cut flashing
      • hammer
        Hammer
      • hammer
        Caulking gun
      • caulk gun
        Ladder

      Shopping List

      Close
      1. 10-foot-long drip-edge flashing

      2. 80-grit sandpaper, used to scuff up aluminum flashing

      3. Spray paint the color of roof shingles, used to paint flashing

      4. 1 ¼-inch roofing nails, to attach flashing to roof 5. Tri-polymer caulk, for sealing nail heads and roof shingles

      6. Garden hose, to simulate rainfall and test diverter