You're definitely on the right track with flashing under the ridge vent—sealants are tempting, but like you said, they're usually just a temporary patch. And yeah, those gutter noises can get pretty creepy at night. Had something similar happen last year and found out mine weren't pitched enough, so water was pooling and causing this weird dripping echo. Adjusting the slope slightly and clearing out some hidden debris made a huge difference. Hang in there, sounds like you're close to solving it!
Had a similar issue a couple years back—those midnight drips can drive you nuts. You're spot-on about sealants; they're tempting but rarely hold up long-term. Flashing is definitely the way to go. One thing I'd add: double-check your attic insulation and ventilation while you're at it. Sometimes condensation buildup can mimic leaks, especially if temps fluctuate a lot. Sounds like you're almost there though... good luck!
Totally agree on the flashing—sealants were a quick fix for me too, but didn't last. Also, check if your bathroom fan vents properly outside. Mine was venting into the attic... caused condensation issues that felt exactly like leaks. Worth a look.
"Mine was venting into the attic... caused condensation issues that felt exactly like leaks."
Had the exact same issue a couple years back. Thought I was losing my mind chasing phantom leaks at 2 AM with a flashlight. Turned out my attic insulation was soaked from condensation—fan vented straight into the attic space. Once I rerouted it properly outside, problem solved. Also, make sure your soffit vents aren't blocked; proper airflow makes a huge difference in preventing moisture buildup. Learned that one the hard way too...
Same thing happened here a while back—spent weeks convinced I had a roof leak. I was climbing around the attic at all hours, flashlight in hand, feeling like some kind of amateur ghost hunter. Turns out the bathroom vent was just dumping humid air straight into the attic space. Insulation was damp and heavy, and I had mold starting to creep in around the edges. Not fun.
Once I fixed the venting to route outside properly, things improved dramatically. But one other thing I noticed was that my attic hatch wasn't sealed very well. Warm air from the house would seep up through the gaps, hit the cold attic air, and create even more condensation. Adding some weather stripping around the hatch helped a ton.
Also, if you're still having issues after rerouting your vents, double-check your insulation levels. Even if the vents are properly routed, thin or patchy insulation can let heat escape into the attic and cause moisture buildup. I topped mine up after fixing everything else, and it made a noticeable difference in both moisture control and my heating bill.
Roofing and attic ventilation can be weirdly tricky. Little details you wouldn't think matter can end up causing big headaches down the line. Glad you got it sorted though—nothing worse than chasing mystery drips at midnight... been there myself more times than I'd like to admit.
