"Metal flashing has decades of proven reliability behind it, while these tapes are still relatively new on the market."
That's exactly my hesitation too. I've had metal flashing on my main roof for over 15 years now, and it's still rock solid. But I do wonder if anyone's noticed how these flexible tapes handle UV exposure specifically? Sun damage can be sneaky...even if the tape stays watertight, could it become brittle or lose adhesion after a few hot summers?
I've seen a few roofs with these newer tapes, and honestly, the UV thing is a legit concern. A couple summers back, we did a repair job on a roof that had been patched up with flexible flashing tape maybe 3 or 4 years earlier. At first glance, it looked decent—no obvious leaks or peeling edges—but once we got up close and started poking around, you could see the tape had gotten noticeably stiffer and less tacky. It wasn't flaking off yet, but definitely wasn't as pliable as fresh tape. The homeowner hadn't noticed any leaks yet, but who knows how much longer it would've held up.
On the flip side, I've also seen metal flashing that's been poorly installed rust out after just a few years. I think installation quality and material grade matter just as much as the type of flashing itself. Good metal flashing, properly installed, is tough to beat—like you said, 15 years and still rock solid speaks volumes. But I've also worked with some of these newer tapes that claim UV resistance and have impressive warranties. Still makes me wonder though... warranties are great, but they don't stop leaks from happening in the first place.
One thing I'm curious about is how these tapes handle extreme temperature swings. Metal flashing expands and contracts predictably, but does anyone know if these tapes can keep their adhesion through repeated freeze-thaw cycles or intense heat waves? Seems like that might be just as important as UV exposure over the long haul.
"One thing I'm curious about is how these tapes handle extreme temperature swings."
Yeah, that's a solid point. Last winter I helped out on a job where we replaced some flashing tape that was only like two years old. It looked fine at first, but when we peeled it back, the adhesive had gotten brittle from the cold snaps and summer heat waves. Seems like metal flashing still has the edge if it's done right, but who knows, maybe the tech will catch up soon enough...
I've seen similar issues with flashing tape, but honestly, I think it depends a lot on the brand and how it's installed. A couple years back, we did a roof for a customer who specifically requested high-end flashing tape instead of metal. I was skeptical at first, but we went ahead with it. Checked back last summer after some pretty brutal heat waves and a harsh winter, and surprisingly, it was holding up great—no brittleness or peeling at all.
Not saying metal flashing isn't reliable—it definitely is—but I've seen plenty of metal flashings fail prematurely too if they're not installed properly or if the metal quality isn't great. I think the key is really about choosing quality materials and making sure whoever's installing it knows what they're doing. Tape tech has improved quite a bit lately, so I wouldn't write it off completely just yet...
Had a similar experience myself, actually. Helped out a buddy who insisted on using tape instead of metal flashing around his skylights. Thought he was crazy, but sure enough, after two rough hurricane seasons, it's still tight and dry. Definitely made me rethink things...
