Tape, huh? Wouldn't have bet on that myself either. But was it just regular tape or one of those high-end sealing tapes like Eternabond? I've seen some crazy stuff hold up surprisingly well...but still, metal flashing feels safer long-term, doesn't it?
Honestly, I've seen tape do some surprising things, but relying on it during a hurricane? That feels sketchy to me. I had a similar situation last year when we patched up a customer's roof temporarily with Eternabond tape because the flashing shipment was delayed. It held up pretty well through a couple of rough storms—better than I expected—but we weren't exactly dealing with hurricane-force winds.
Thing is, even though that tape held short term, it still felt like rolling the dice. A few months later, we went back and properly flashed it with metal. When we peeled the tape off, you could already see moisture creeping in around the edges. Nothing major yet, but give it another storm or two and we'd probably have had leaks.
Metal flashing just seems more reliable overall. Tape might get you through in a pinch, but would you really wanna stake your roof's integrity on adhesive alone in hurricane territory? I wouldn't. Maybe if it's some ultra-high-end stuff and perfectly applied on an ideal surface...but how often do you get perfect conditions on a roof job?
I'm curious though—did they say exactly what kind of tape it was or how long it'd been up there before the storm hit?
I've gotta admit, Eternabond tape surprised me too once. Helped a buddy patch his camper roof before a big storm—held up way better than expected. Still, hurricanes are another beast entirely...glad your customer's roof made it through okay.
- Glad to hear the tape held up—I just bought some Eternabond myself for minor leaks.
- Honestly, hurricanes scare me a bit...our roof's older, and I'm debating if I should trust quick fixes or bite the bullet and do a full replacement soon.
- Curious, anyone here had success using similar products long-term? Or am I better off investing in something more permanent before storm season hits again?
I've used Eternabond myself for a few spots on my camper roof, and it's held up surprisingly well—about 3 years now, through a couple of rough storms. But honestly, that's a camper, not my actual house. When it comes to my house roof, I took the cautious route.
A few years back, I was in a similar boat—older asphalt shingles, minor leaks popping up here and there. I tried patching first with various tapes and sealants. It worked okay for short-term fixes but after each storm season, I'd find myself back up on the ladder chasing down new leaks. Eventually, I realized it wasn't just about sealing leaks—the shingles themselves were deteriorating. UV exposure and temperature swings really take their toll over time.
I finally bit the bullet and replaced the whole roof last summer. Costly upfront, sure...but seeing how it handled the recent hurricane season without me worrying or finding new leaks made me feel like it was worth every penny.
If your roof is already older and you're noticing repeated issues, I'd say long-term peace of mind is probably going to mean investing in a full replacement sooner rather than later. Eternabond and similar products are great for targeted repairs or temporary solutions (and they're excellent in emergencies), but they won't stop overall deterioration of aging roofing materials.
Just my two cents from personal experience—your mileage may vary depending on your exact roof condition and local climate factors.
