Which gauge thickness is recommended when fabricating counter flashing for reglets?

Which gauge thickness is recommended when fabricating counter flashing for reglets?

• A. 20 gauge
• B. 26 gauge
• C. 22 gauge
• D. 24 gauge

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is choosing a metal thickness that can be formed cleanly around the reglet while still providing enough strength to resist deformation and tearing in service. Counter flashing needs to be bent and tucked into the reglet to create a tight, water-shedding edge, so you want a thickness that is not too stiff to work with and not so thin that it can be damaged or lose its shape. A mid-range gauge offers that balance: it folds easily around tight radii and delivers the durability to withstand wind uplift and weather without compromising the seal. Thicker gauges would be harder to form and more likely to crack at bends, while thinner gauges could deform or tear under wind loads or during handling. In typical reglet counter flashing installations, this mid-range thickness is the standard choice because it consistently provides reliable performance and workable fabrication in the field.

The key idea here is choosing a metal thickness that can be formed cleanly around the reglet while still providing enough strength to resist deformation and tearing in service. Counter flashing needs to be bent and tucked into the reglet to create a tight, water-shedding edge, so you want a thickness that is not too stiff to work with and not so thin that it can be damaged or lose its shape. A mid-range gauge offers that balance: it folds easily around tight radii and delivers the durability to withstand wind uplift and weather without compromising the seal. Thicker gauges would be harder to form and more likely to crack at bends, while thinner gauges could deform or tear under wind loads or during handling. In typical reglet counter flashing installations, this mid-range thickness is the standard choice because it consistently provides reliable performance and workable fabrication in the field.