Bend a Kick-Out Flashing From One Piece — No Cuts, No Seams

The Problem

Where a roof edge dies into a sidewall — a gable end running into a wall, for example — water coming down the step flashing has to go somewhere when the roof stops. If the first piece of step flashing runs flush with the roof edge, that water rides off the end and down the face of the siding below. On wood siding that means staining and, over time, rot.

A kick-out flashing at the bottom of the run catches that water and diverts it into the gutter. The usual way to make one is to cut a step flashing and bend a tab — but the cut leaves a hole or an overlapped seam at exactly the spot where all the water concentrates.

The Technique

1. Start with a standard step flashing for the bottom position of the sidewall run, where the roof edge meets the gutter.
2. Grip the bottom corner with needle-nose pliers and fold it down and outward so it forms the kick. Fold it away from the direction the water comes from, so runoff washes over the crease rather than into it.
3. Work the fold flat with a hand seamer until it sits flush. The piece stays one continuous sheet of metal — no holes, no seam for water to get past.
4. Set the flashing in place with its lower edge down flush with the drip edge and the kick aimed into the gutter, then fasten it to the wall.
5. Continue up the sidewall as normal: full step flashing pieces lapping about 4 inches up the wall and 4 inches onto the roof deck, a shingle fitted at the bottom course, then alternating shingles and step flashing up the wall.