When we bought our first place near the coast, I had no clue salt air was even a thing. Learned real quick though when our shiny new grill turned into a rusty mess in less than a year. Anyway, we had aluminum flashing put on the roof thinking it'd save us some cash. It was coated and everything, but honestly, after about three years, it started looking pretty rough—spots of corrosion popping up here and there. Not terrible, but definitely noticeable.
My neighbor went with marine-grade stainless steel flashing around the same time, and yeah, it cost him a bit more upfront (he loves reminding me about that), but his still looks brand new. So I guess it depends how long you're planning to stay put. If you're in it for the long haul, might be worth biting the bullet on the pricier stuff. If you're like me and just trying to survive homeownership without going broke... aluminum works, just don't expect miracles.
Have you thought about skipping metal altogether? I've seen coastal homes using composite or rubber flashing with decent results. It's not bulletproof, but it holds up surprisingly well against salt air. Plus, it's usually made from recycled materials, which is a nice bonus if you're into sustainability... Just something else to consider before shelling out for marine-grade stainless.
I tried the rubber flashing route about two years ago—mostly because my wallet cried at the thought of marine-grade stainless. Honestly, it's held up better than expected. No leaks yet, fingers crossed... and bonus points for feeling eco-friendly without going broke.
Glad to hear the rubber flashing's holding up for you. I went with aluminum flashing about four years back, thinking it'd be a decent middle ground between rubber and marine-grade stainless. Big mistake—salt air chewed through it faster than I expected, had to patch things up last summer. Honestly wish I'd gone your route instead, would've saved some headaches (and cash). Lesson learned, I guess... sometimes cheaper really can be better!
Did you try coating or sealing the aluminum beforehand? We manage a few properties right on the coast, and honestly, salt air just laughs at metal sometimes. Rubber's been surprisingly solid for us too, but I've seen folks have decent luck with coated aluminum—though I guess it depends how brutal your local conditions are. Ever thought about copper flashing? Pricey upfront, but I've heard it holds up pretty well...
