Metal edging really does seem like one of those “small detail, big headache if you skip it” kind of things. I just finished my first attempt at it this spring—took way longer than I thought, but I kept hearing stories about leaks and water damage from neighbors who rushed through or skipped steps. The corners were the trickiest part for me, too. I probably spent half my time just fussing over those, making sure everything overlapped right and the caulk was solid.
I get the temptation to cut corners, especially when you’re racing the weather. But after seeing what a little water can do to plywood and insulation, I’m glad I took my time. Not sure if I went a bit overboard with sealant, but better safe than sorry, right? It’s kind of wild how something as simple as flashing or edging can make or break your roof’s lifespan.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience—it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who’s learned these lessons the hard way.
Corners are always the spot that trip people up, honestly. Even after years of doing this, I still double-check my overlaps and sealant at every joint—one missed spot and you’re dealing with rot or mold down the line. You’re right about the temptation to rush, especially if there’s rain in the forecast. I’ve seen folks slap on edging in a hurry and end up with water sneaking in behind their fascia boards... not fun to fix.
Going heavy on the sealant isn’t the worst thing, though sometimes too much can actually trap moisture if it’s not applied right. I usually tell people to focus more on clean, consistent beads and making sure everything’s pressed tight. The real trick is getting those metal pieces to sit flush at the corners—sometimes I’ll even pre-bend them a bit just to get a tighter fit.
It’s wild how something that looks so minor can be the difference between a dry attic and a soggy mess. You did yourself a favor by taking your time, even if it felt like overkill.
Corners are the bane of my existence, honestly. I thought I was being paranoid spending half a Saturday fussing over the back corner of my garage roof, but after reading this, I’m glad I did. The first time I tried to do it “by the book,” I ended up with a tiny gap that let water sneak in during a storm. Didn’t even notice until the paint started bubbling on the inside wall a few months later. That was a fun surprise.
I get what you’re saying about sealant—there’s this urge to just glob it on and hope for the best, but that can backfire. Too much and you’re basically making a little dam for water to sit behind, which is exactly what you don’t want. What worked for me was running a thin bead, then smoothing it with my finger so it really gets into every nook. It’s messy, but at least you know it’s sealed.
Pre-bending the metal is something I wish I’d done from the start. My first go-around, I just tried to muscle it into place and ended up denting one piece so bad I had to replace it. Now I lay everything out on sawhorses and give the corners a gentle bend before climbing up there. Makes a world of difference getting things flush.
It’s wild how much time you can spend on something that looks so minor from the ground. My neighbor laughed at me for “overthinking” it, but he’s already got algae streaks under his eaves... not trying to be smug, but sometimes slow and steady really does win out.
If anyone else is dealing with older wood fascia like mine (mine’s original from the 70s), don’t skip priming those ends before putting metal over them. Learned that lesson after finding soft spots last year—primer and patience go further than any amount of caulk in my experience.
Anyway, glad to see other folks taking their time with this stuff. It’s not glamorous work but man, does it pay off when you hear rain pounding and know you’re not going to wake up to a puddle in your attic.
That bubbling paint thing happened to me too, except I didn’t catch it until the drywall started crumbling. I totally agree about priming old fascia—skipped it once and paid for it with rot. It’s wild how those “little” corners end up being the biggest headaches.
Man, it’s always the spots you think are “no big deal” that come back to bite you. I skipped priming a fascia board once and ended up replacing the whole section after two winters. At least now I pay more attention to those details... even if it takes longer.
