When hail meets metal: a suburban legend

Maybe it’s just the Midwest freeze-thaw cycles messing with everything...

That freeze-thaw is brutal on sealants, no doubt. I’ve seen tar cement hold up decently if you prep right, like you said. Ever tried a butyl-based patch? Curious if it’s less prone to peeling in those swings.

I’ve actually had mixed luck with butyl patches - sometimes they stick like crazy, other times they start curling up after a couple seasons. Maybe it’s just the way our temps swing here, or maybe I didn’t get the surface clean enough. Have you noticed any difference between brands? I’ve wondered if some of the “roofing grade” stuff is just marketing. Also, does anyone else get that weird metallic smell after a hailstorm, or is that just my imagination?

I’ve had the same thing happen with butyl patches - sometimes they hang on for years, other times I’m up there peeling off curled edges after a winter or two. Prepping the surface makes a difference, but I swear some brands just don’t hold up as well when temps swing hard. I tried a “roofing grade” roll from the big box store and honestly, it didn’t last any longer than the generic stuff. And yeah, that metallic smell after hail? Not just you. I always notice it, especially if the rain’s heavy right after.

Yeah, that metallic smell after a hailstorm is wild - always hits me right when I open the back door. And you’re spot on about butyl patches. I’ve had “roofing grade” stuff fail way sooner than it should, even after scrubbing the surface clean. Weather swings just chew through some brands, no matter what the label says.

That smell is weirdly nostalgic for me, even if it means trouble’s brewing. I hear you on the butyl patches - some of them just don’t hold up, no matter how careful you are. It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone. Weather here (Midwest) just eats through stuff sometimes.