finally found a roofing company that didn't rip me off

Had a similar experience a few years back, but honestly, sometimes sealants aren't the worst temporary fix - depends on your situation. I had a leak after a nasty storm, and while everyone told me the flashing was toast, I sealed it up as a quick fix until I could afford proper repairs. Thing is, that "temporary" solution lasted almost two years without issue. Eventually, yeah, I did get it properly fixed, but makes you wonder if sometimes roofers push for bigger jobs when a simpler fix might hold up longer than you'd think. Not saying sealant solves everything (it definitely doesn't), but maybe it's not always as useless as people make it sound? Curious if anyone else has had sealants hold up longer than expected...

- Had a similar thing happen with my garage roof.
- Storm ripped off a few shingles, water started dripping in.
- Roofing guy quoted me some crazy price, said whole section needed replacing.
- Grabbed some sealant from the hardware store instead, patched it myself.
- Honestly thought it'd last maybe a few months tops, but it's been over a year now and still dry inside.
- Not saying it's a permanent fix or anything, but you're right - sometimes these quick fixes hold up way longer than expected.
- Roofers definitely push bigger jobs sometimes...can't blame them for trying to make money, but it's frustrating when you're on a tight budget.
- Glad you eventually got yours sorted properly though. Gives me hope mine might hold out a bit longer until I can afford the real deal.

I get where you're coming from, and it's awesome your DIY fix has held up this long. But honestly, I'd be careful about relying too much on temporary patches. I had a similar situation when I first bought my house - roof started leaking after a nasty storm, and I thought I'd save some cash by sealing it myself. Worked great for a while, but then another storm hit and suddenly the leak was back, worse than before. Turns out water had been slowly seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood underneath. Ended up costing me way more to fix the damage than if I'd just bitten the bullet and gotten it properly repaired in the first place.

Not saying your patch won't hold up longer - sounds like you've done a solid job - but sometimes these quick fixes can hide bigger issues that aren't obvious right away. Roofers definitely push bigger jobs sometimes, but I think it's also because they've seen what happens when small problems get ignored or patched over too long. It's frustrating when you're on a tight budget (trust me, I know!), but sometimes spending a bit more upfront can save you from a huge headache later on.

Glad the OP found someone trustworthy though. Finding a roofer who doesn't immediately jump to "replace everything" mode is like striking gold these days. Gives me hope that next time something comes up, I'll find someone reasonable too.

Totally agree with being cautious about temporary fixes. I've inspected plenty of homes where the homeowner thought they'd nailed it (literally, sometimes 😂), only to find hidden issues later on. DIY patches can definitely buy you some time, but they rarely solve the underlying problem. Water's sneaky - it'll find its way in eventually, and by the time you notice, damage can already be extensive.

That said, it's awesome when you find a roofer who doesn't immediately jump to the "tear it all off" solution. Some companies push full replacements way too aggressively. A good roofer will explain clearly why repairs or replacements are needed and give you options without pressure.

Glad OP found someone trustworthy - it's a huge relief when you know you're getting honest advice. And hey, your DIY patch might hold up fine for now...but keep an eye on it and maybe get it checked out professionally down the road. Better safe than sorry, right?

"Water's sneaky - it'll find its way in eventually, and by the time you notice, damage can already be extensive."

Haha, ain't that the truth. Learned that lesson the hard way myself a few years back. Thought I'd patched up a small leak around the chimney flashing - looked good from the outside, felt pretty proud of myself actually. Fast forward a couple months, and I noticed some weird discoloration on the ceiling inside. Turns out water had been quietly seeping in behind my "perfect" DIY fix. Ended up having to replace drywall and insulation too...not fun.

But yeah, finding a roofer who doesn't immediately push for a full replacement is gold. Had one guy come out once who barely glanced at my roof before telling me it was toast and needed a total redo. Got a second opinion, and turns out I just needed some minor repairs and new flashing. Saved me thousands right there.

Glad OP found someone honest - it's such a relief when you know you're not getting taken advantage of. And hey, nothing wrong with DIY patches as long as you're realistic about their limits. Just keep an eye out for any signs of trouble down the line (like stains or damp spots inside). Catching things early makes all the difference.

Haha, reading this thread makes me feel a little better about my own DIY roof adventures. Did anyone else underestimate how tricky flashing could be? Thought I nailed it (literally), but now I'm second-guessing myself... Anyway, glad you found someone trustworthy. How'd you know they weren't just trying to upsell you on stuff you didn't need? Feels like half the battle is figuring out who's legit and who's just after your wallet.

Flashing definitely has a sneaky learning curve - seen plenty of DIY jobs that looked great until the first heavy rain exposed some 'minor' miscalculations... Happens to the best of us. As for spotting legit roofers, it's usually about transparency. If they're willing to walk you through exactly why something needs replacing, show you the actual issue (photos or even better, up on the ladder), and aren't pushing upgrades without clear explanations, you're probably good. Trust your gut too - if something feels off, it usually is.

"seen plenty of DIY jobs that looked great until the first heavy rain exposed some 'minor' miscalculations..."

Haha, been there myself - thought my flashing was spot-on until a storm turned my attic into a mini swimming pool. Lesson learned: transparency from roofers is gold, but so is knowing your own limits...

Had a similar experience - thought I nailed the gutter slope perfectly until water pooled up and overflowed right onto my porch steps. DIY confidence can be deceiving... Curious, did your roofing company point out any DIY mistakes you hadn't noticed yourself?

I feel this one... when we first moved in, I proudly installed my own downspouts thinking "how hard can it be?" First heavy rainstorm, water was spilling everywhere except the drain. When we finally called in pros, they gently pointed out I'd put the elbows on backwards, which apparently matters a lot more than you'd think. Did your roofing guys suggest any simple fixes or did they recommend redoing entire sections?

Been there myself... first time I tackled gutter guards, thought I'd nailed it until leaves piled up worse than before. Did your roofing guys mention if reversing the elbows was enough, or did they have to swap out parts completely?

"first time I tackled gutter guards, thought I'd nailed it until leaves piled up worse than before."

Ha, sounds familiar. I went through something similar last fall - thought reversing the elbows would do the trick, but nope... ended up swapping out for wider downspouts altogether. Roofing guys said sometimes the original elbows just aren't angled enough to handle heavy leaf buildup. Honestly, upgrading parts was worth the hassle; haven't had a clog since.

Been there myself with the gutter guards...thought I was being smart going for those mesh ones, but turns out they just created a leaf hammock. Roofing guy told me sometimes simpler is better - ended up ditching the fancy guards altogether and just widened the downspouts like you did. Honestly, no regrets. Sometimes these companies push all sorts of pricey extras when basic upgrades do the trick just fine. Live and learn, right?

Had a similar run-in myself a few years ago. Got talked into those fancy gutter helmets - sales guy made it sound like they'd magically repel leaves or something. Well, turns out Mother Nature had other plans...ended up with a mini compost heap right above my porch. Eventually ripped them out, widened the downspouts, and haven't looked back since. Funny how the simplest solutions often beat out all the high-tech gimmicks. Guess we all gotta learn the hard way sometimes, huh?

- Seen plenty of those gutter helmets in action - usually more hype than help.
- Simple mesh guards or wider downspouts usually do the trick just fine.
- Funny how the "latest tech" often just means pricier headaches down the road...

"Funny how the 'latest tech' often just means pricier headaches down the road..."

Haha, nailed it. I've lost count of how many times I've had to pull off those fancy gutter helmets because they ended up causing more clogs than they prevented. Simple mesh guards are usually enough, and honestly, wider downspouts are underrated - cheap and effective. Glad you found a roofing company that's straight with you; they're rarer than you'd think these days...

Couldn't agree more about the wider downspouts - such a simple fix, yet people keep overlooking them. A few years ago I got talked into those high-end heated gutter cables (you know, the ones that supposedly melt ice and snow?). Well, they worked fine for maybe one winter...then the wiring went bad, and suddenly I had icicles twice as long as before, plus a hefty electrical bill. Lesson learned the hard way: simpler is usually better.

On a related note, has anyone tried those copper mesh guards? I've heard they're pricier up front but supposedly last forever and reduce moss growth. Not sure if that's just marketing hype or actually worth considering as a long-term investment...

I've seen those copper mesh guards in action on a few properties I manage, and honestly, they're pretty impressive. Yeah, upfront they're a bit steep, but I've noticed a significant drop in moss and debris build-up over time. Plus, copper naturally discourages algae growth. Not saying they're a miracle fix or anything, but if you're tired of constantly cleaning gutters or dealing with mossy shingles, they might just be worth the extra cash long-term...

I've thought about installing those copper guards myself, but kinda hesitated because of the price. Did you notice if they're tricky to install yourself, or is it better to just pay someone to handle it?

I installed copper guards myself last spring, and honestly, it wasn't too bad. The trickiest part was getting comfortable working up on the roof - if heights aren't your thing, might be worth paying someone. Do you already have a sturdy ladder and safety gear?