Just wish installers took as much care as they claim...
That right there hits home. I’ve been on both sides—watching someone else slap down a membrane in a hurry, and then being the one crawling around trying to track down a leak months later. Corners and skylights are always the spots that make me sweat, too. Doesn’t matter how fancy the new materials are, if someone’s rushing or just not paying attention, water finds its way in. I’ve seen it sneak through a pinhole you’d never spot unless you were looking for it.
Funny you mention green roofs. My uncle tried one on his garage, mostly for the look (and to keep the HOA off his back about “blending in”). It did help with insulation—his garage stayed way cooler in summer—but he ended up with this patch of mushrooms growing right over his workbench. Not exactly what he had in mind. Still, I get the appeal, especially near the ocean where every bit of extra protection helps.
Salt air is brutal out here. I’ve seen metal flashing start to pit after just a couple years if it’s not the right grade. Even stainless can get weird stains if you’re close enough to the spray. I’m always double-checking fasteners and edges for rust now, even on newer jobs.
I do think membranes have come a long way since tar paper days—less brittle, better at sealing around nails—but nothing’s perfect. I still run my hand along every seam and corner before calling it done. Maybe it’s overkill, but after chasing leaks under three layers of old felt last winter, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Anyway, you’re not alone worrying about those details. Sometimes feels like half the job is just making sure nobody cuts corners when they think no one’s watching...
I still run my hand along every seam and corner before calling it done.
That’s exactly what I ended up doing after my first DIY roof patch. I thought I’d nailed it, but a month later, water started dripping right over the kitchen window. Turns out, I missed a tiny gap where two pieces of flashing overlapped. Now I always double-check those spots, especially near the ocean—salt just seems to find any weakness. It’s tedious, but saves a ton of headaches down the line.
- Been there. Salt air is like a ninja—shows up where you least expect and just wrecks stuff.
- Had a metal roof on one property, thought I was clever using galvanized fasteners... two years later, rust stains everywhere. Now I double up on sealant around every screw, even if it feels overkill.
- Learned to never trust “it looks fine from the ladder.” Gotta get up close, or you’ll be chasing leaks forever.
- Honestly, I’d rather spend an extra hour checking seams than deal with another soggy ceiling tile.
Salt air is brutal—people underestimate just how fast it can chew through “weather-resistant” materials. Galvanized fasteners are better than plain steel, but honestly, even those don’t stand a chance long-term if you’re right on the coast. Stainless steel is pricier, but I’ve seen it hold up way better in salty environments. And yeah, the “looks fine from the ladder” thing... been burned by that too many times. Up close, you catch stuff you’d never spot otherwise. I’d rather overdo the sealant and flashing than deal with hidden rot later.
Galvanized fasteners are better than plain steel, but honestly, even those don’t stand a chance long-term if you’re right on the coast.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen some of the newer hot-dipped galvanized stuff hold up okay—at least for a decade or so. Not saying it’s perfect, but if budget’s tight, it can be a decent compromise. Stainless is great, just not always in the cards for every job. Sometimes it’s more about regular checks and swapping out the worst offenders before they fail.
