Drainage

Kick-Out Flashing

Kick-out flashing is a diverter at the lower end of certain roof-to-wall intersections. It directs water away from the wall and toward the intended drainage route, rather than allowing the flow to continue behind the wall finish.

Loose small one-piece metal kick-out diverter sample on a roofer workbench, physically plausible folded thin sheet.
AI-generated educational image. Assigned location metadata: North Port, FL. This is not a documented local project or an installation detail.

Understand the transition it serves

Where a sloping roof meets a wall, flashing components guide water along the junction. The lower termination needs an appropriate way to turn that water outward. PNNL guidance explains kick-out flashing in this context. It is different from the edge metal along an ordinary eave and should not be confused with a pool-cage kickplate.

Separate short sample of plain step flashing next to a loose kick-out flashing sample on a workbench, uninstalled.
AI-generated educational image. Assigned location metadata: North Port, FL. This is not a documented local project or an installation detail.

A leak repair should identify the assembly

Water staining near a gutter end can involve a roof-wall junction, gutter or another route. Ask the contractor which component is being evaluated and how the work integrates with adjoining layers. Applying sealant to a visible corner does not demonstrate that concealed drainage is correct. Details depend on the roof and wall system rather than one universal folded shape.

A practical homeowner example

Water stains appear below the end of a roof-wall junction. The contractor reviews the flashing termination and receiving gutter rather than assuming the downspout is the only relevant part.

This is an illustrative planning scenario, not a report of a particular West Coast Screening project.

Questions to bring to an estimate

  • Show where the water enters, travels and ultimately discharges.
  • Record the symptom separately from the proposed cause and repair.
  • Ask how the completed work will be checked under suitable conditions.

Frequently asked question

Is kick-out flashing the same as drip edge?

No. Kick-out flashing diverts flow at a roof-wall termination. Drip edge generally serves the roof perimeter; the components address different transitions.

Related glossary terms

For the broader vocabulary, return to the pool cage and screen-enclosure glossary.

Authority sources and further reading

Use these sources within their scope. Manufacturer information applies to the identified product; research and general guidance do not establish a rating or an approved repair for an individual project.