When building surfaces intersect at angles or valleys - a chimney to a roof, for example - 'flashing' must be installed to prevent water from penetrating into assemblies. On many buildings, 'eavestrough' (gutters) are installed to carry water away from the structure and out to site drainage.

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Characteristics of Flashing and Eavestrough:

• Usually made of thin metal like aluminum, copper or tin
• Flashing may be bent on site using a metal brake, a long clamp with a fulcrum for bending and folding thin metal sheets.
• Metal flashing requires a positive overlap from material intersections to guide water away from assemblies.
• Brick and stone will require a shallow cut called a 'reglet' to accept the top edge of flashing.
• Eavestrough (gutters) are located at the lowest point of a roof surface (at the eaves). The water will be funnelled to vertical down-spouts and then away from the building.
• Specialist contractors can be hired to install complete eavestrough systems.
• A buildings eavestrough drainage may be hooked into rain barrels or a cistern, to be saved for grey water use and/or watering gardens.