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.
