"A good old-fashioned metal flashing barrier might save more hassle in the long run."
Metal flashing is solid, but honestly, I've had decent luck with motion sprinklers. Set mine up carefully to avoid soaking the mail carrier (learned that lesson quick, lol). Water waste isn't too bad either—mine only triggers occasionally, and it seems to scare critters off pretty fast. Might not be perfect, but it's been working for me so far...
Motion sprinklers, huh? Never thought of that one... I've just been patching things up with whatever's handy (duct tape, mostly—don't judge). Might finally give flashing or sprinklers a shot if it saves me climbing up there every few months.
Motion sprinklers sound interesting, but honestly, flashing was a game changer for me. I used to do the duct tape thing too (no judgment here), but after one particularly nasty storm, I bit the bullet and installed proper flashing around the chimney and vents. Haven't had to climb up there nearly as often since. Worth the upfront hassle if it means fewer trips up the ladder...
Flashing definitely helps, but I'm curious—did you notice any hidden water damage when you finally installed it? I've seen cases where everything looked fine until we pulled back the shingles...then surprise, soggy plywood underneath. Glad your ladder trips are fewer now though!
Good catch on the flashing—it's definitely a lifesaver. I've seen exactly what you're describing: shingles looked pristine, but underneath was a mess of damp plywood. Always feels like dodging a bullet when you catch that early... Glad your roof checks paid off.
