"I've inspected plenty of roofs where silicone was peeling off metal, and almost every time it was because someone skipped cleaning or didn't scuff the surface properly."
Couldn't agree more with this. Prep really is 90% of the battle. I remember when I first tackled my own metal edging, I underestimated how important that cleaning step was. Thought a quick wipe-down would do the trick—big mistake. Ended up peeling off within a year, and I had to redo the whole thing. Lesson learned: take your time, clean thoroughly, and scuff the surface well.
As for butyl, yeah, messy is an understatement. I once got some on my gloves and then accidentally touched my ladder... took forever to clean up. But you're right about UV resistance varying by brand. I've had some cheaper stuff crack and dry out after just a couple summers, while higher-quality butyl tape has lasted years without issue. Definitely worth spending a bit extra there.
Sounds like you nailed it though—nice job tackling that project. Always feels good to cross something like that off the list.
"Prep really is 90% of the battle."
Yeah, learned that one the hard way myself. First time I did metal edging, I thought sanding was optional—just wiped it down with a rag and slapped on some silicone. Looked great...for about six months. Then peeling started, and I had to redo everything properly. Definitely worth the extra hour or two to scuff and clean thoroughly. Saves headaches later for sure.
Yeah, prep is definitely key, but I'd say material choice matters a lot too. A few years back, I did metal edging on my garage roof and went with a cheaper silicone sealant thinking it wouldn't make much difference. It held up okay at first, but after a year or so, it started cracking and letting moisture in. Ended up having to scrape it all off and redo it with a proper roofing-grade sealant. Lesson learned—saving a few bucks upfront isn't always worth it.
Also, one thing I've found helpful is using a good primer specifically made for metal surfaces. It really helps the sealant bond better and last longer. Might seem like overkill at first, but trust me, it's worth the extra step if you don't want to be climbing back up there anytime soon...
Been there, done that with the cheap silicone... never again. Last spring, I tried sealing around my skylights with some bargain-bin stuff I picked up at the hardware store. Looked great for a few months, but as soon as summer heat hit, it shrank and cracked like crazy. Ended up redoing it with a pro-grade sealant and proper primer—lesson learned indeed. Saving $5 upfront cost me a whole weekend later, plus a few choice swear words on a shaky ladder.
Haha, shaky ladders and choice swear words—sounds like my kind of weekend project. Ever had that moment when you're halfway done sealing and realize you forgot to prep the surface properly? Been there... way too many times. You're spot on about cheap silicone though; it always seems like it's doing the job until it suddenly isn't. I've found the pro-grade stuff is worth every penny, especially when dealing with metal edging or anything exposed to weather extremes. Did you go with polyurethane-based sealant or something else? I've had decent luck with both, but poly seems to flex better without cracking in temperature swings. Curious if others have noticed the same thing or if it's just my imagination...
