That’s exactly what happened with my place—tiny gap in the foam closure, and suddenly I’ve got wasps making themselves at home. It’s wild how something that costs a few bucks can turn into a real headache if it’s not done right. I get wanting to save on labor, but honestly, sometimes you end up paying more fixing the shortcuts. I do wonder if some of these closures just aren’t made for our kind of wind and rain, or if it’s mostly installer error. Either way, I’m double-checking every detail next time... not keen on another “surprise” critter invasion.
I do wonder if some of these closures just aren’t made for our kind of wind and rain, or if it’s mostly installer error.
Honestly, I’ve seen both. Some foam closures just don’t hold up in heavy storms—especially the cheaper ones. But even good materials can fail if they’re not installed tight enough or sealed at the ends. I always check for gaps after a big storm, but it’s easy to miss something small. Has anyone tried using a different type of closure or sealant that actually lasts through our weather?
I’ve had better luck with the denser rubber closures, especially on metal roofs. The cheap foam ones just get chewed up by wind-driven rain around here. Sometimes I’ll run a bead of high-quality sealant at the ends too—overkill maybe, but it’s saved me a few callbacks.
Yeah, I hear you on the foam closures. I tried those on my shed a couple years back—figured they’d be fine since it’s just a little outbuilding. Fast forward to the first real storm, and I found bits of foam scattered across the yard like confetti at a parade. Wind-driven rain is no joke, especially if you’re anywhere near the coast or even just in a spot that gets those sideways gusts.
The denser rubber ones are definitely pricier, but I’ve noticed they hold up way better. Less fiddling around with patch jobs later. I’m not sure if it’s overkill to add sealant, honestly… seems like every “overkill” thing I do ends up saving me some headache down the road. My neighbor calls it “belt and suspenders” roofing. He’s not wrong.
Funny thing—my roof survived last year’s hurricane too, but I’m still not sure if it was my “genius” prep or just dumb luck. Did all the right stuff: checked fasteners, made sure closures were tight, did the whole walk-around with a tube of caulk in hand. Still spent the night listening for every creak like I was living inside a drum solo. Roof held, though. Maybe luck, maybe not.
One thing I wish someone had told me: pay attention to how your roof panels overlap at the eaves and ridges. I cheaped out on closure strips there once and ended up with a surprise drip right over my workbench. Nothing like soggy power tools to ruin your day.
Anyway, if “overkill” means fewer leaks and less cussing during storms, I’ll take it.
I’m not sure if it’s overkill to add sealant, honestly… seems like every “overkill” thing I do ends up saving me some headache down the road.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually be careful with too much sealant. It can trap moisture if the panels aren’t vented right, and that’s a recipe for rust or rot down the line. Sometimes less is more, especially with metal roofs. I’ve seen jobs where folks went heavy on caulk and ended up with more problems than they started with. Good closures and proper overlaps usually do most of the heavy lifting.
