"Lesson learned: always double-check previous 'fixes' before adding new stuff."
Haha, isn't that always the way it goes? Did you end up fixing the flashing yourself or hire someone? I'm debating whether to DIY mine or bite the bullet and call in a pro...
"Haha, isn't that always the way it goes? Did you end up fixing the flashing yourself or hire someone?"
- Totally relate to this... every DIY project seems to uncover another hidden issue.
- If you're comfy on a ladder and have basic tools, flashing isn't too bad.
- But honestly, if you're unsure, hiring someone might save headaches (and $$) down the road.
- Totally get this... every time I start a DIY project, it feels like peeling back layers of an onion. Last summer, I thought I'd just replace a few shingles and ended up discovering rotted plywood underneath. Turned into a whole weekend ordeal.
- Flashing itself isn't rocket science if you're comfortable with heights and have some patience. I watched a couple YouTube vids, grabbed some flashing tape and sealant, and managed to patch mine up pretty decently. But honestly, it was a bit nerve-wracking being up there—especially when the wind picked up.
- If you're already worried about your roof's condition with solar panels going on, might be worth getting someone experienced to at least inspect it first. A buddy of mine skipped that step and ended up having to remove his panels later to fix leaks he didn't know were there. Cost him way more in the long run.
- Curious though... has anyone here actually had solar installed on an older roof? Did you run into unexpected issues or was it pretty straightforward?
Yeah, definitely agree on getting an inspection first—I had mine checked before solar went up and found some weak spots I hadn't even noticed. Ended up reinforcing those areas beforehand... saved me a headache later. Did your buddy's leaks cause interior damage too?
"Ended up reinforcing those areas beforehand... saved me a headache later."
Smart move getting ahead of it. When we put our solar panels up, I skipped the inspection thinking my roof was solid enough—big mistake. About six months in, we had a nasty storm roll through and suddenly had water dripping into the attic. Turns out there were a couple weak spots that the installers missed, and the added weight and drilling from the panels made things worse. Thankfully, we caught it early enough that it didn't cause major interior damage, just some minor drywall repairs and repainting. Still, lesson learned the hard way. Definitely worth the extra step to get everything checked out first, even if your roof seems fine at first glance.
