Finally tackled that metal edging thing on my roof

"Watched like five YouTube videos beforehand, but turns out real life isn't quite as smooth as those DIY guys make it look."

Haha, sounds familiar. Honestly starting to think those DIY tutorials edit out all the real-life struggle bits. I've been eyeing my own roofline lately and your post isn't exactly making me eager to climb up there... Still, kudos for sticking with it - bet it feels good looking up now knowing you did it yourself, right?

Haha, those DIY vids definitely skip the part where you're sweating buckets and cursing under your breath. I remember when I first installed metal edging on my shed roof - thought it'd be a quick afternoon job. Nope. Took me two weekends and a lot of coffee breaks to keep my sanity. Still, gotta admit, once it's done, there's nothing like stepping back and knowing you nailed it yourself... imperfections and all.

"Took me two weekends and a lot of coffee breaks to keep my sanity."

Haha, sounds about right. DIY vids always make it look easy. Quick tip: next time, pre-drill your holes before installing metal edging - saves a ton of frustration and bent nails... learned that one the hard way myself.

Haha, sounds about right. DIY vids always make it look easy.

Pre-drilling is definitely a solid tip. Another thing that helps a lot is marking your bends carefully before you start shaping the corners. I usually measure twice and mark clearly with a sharpie - keeps things precise and saves headaches later. And yeah, DIY vids skip over all the awkward balancing acts and dropped tools... real roofing jobs are always messier than they look online.

Totally agree on marking bends clearly - sharpies are a lifesaver. Another thing I've found helpful is having a buddy around, even if they're just handing you tools or steadying the ladder. Roofing solo can get sketchy real quick, especially when you're juggling metal edging and drills at height. DIY vids never show the part where you're halfway up a ladder realizing you left something important on the ground... been there more times than I'd like to admit.

Sharpies are definitely handy, but I found painter's tape even better for marking bends clearly. You can peel it off easily afterward, and it stands out more when you're up there squinting in the sun. Totally agree about having someone around though - first time I tackled metal edging, I thought I'd be fine solo. Big mistake. Halfway through, I'm balancing on the ladder trying to drill and hold the edging steady at the same time... not fun. Ended up calling my neighbor over just to hold stuff in place.

Another thing that helped me was setting up a small bucket or tool pouch attached to the ladder itself. Saves you from climbing down repeatedly because you forgot screws or your drill bit rolled off somewhere. Learned that one the hard way after multiple trips up and down - my legs were sore for days afterward.

Painter's tape is a solid tip, especially if you're new to metal edging. But honestly, once you've done it a few times, you'll probably ditch marking altogether and just eyeball it - saves a ton of time. The real lifesaver, like you mentioned, is having someone else around. I've seen way too many DIY-ers try to juggle drills, screws, and sharp metal edges solo... not pretty.

One thing I'd add: invest in a decent pair of gloves. Metal edging can slice your hands up pretty quick if you're not careful, especially when you're wrestling with awkward angles up on a ladder. Also, if you're working with longer sections, pre-drill your holes on the ground first. Trust me, it's way easier than trying to drill through metal while balancing 15 feet up.

And yeah, the bucket-on-the-ladder trick is gold. I can't tell you how many times I've climbed down just to grab one stupid screw I dropped. My knees aren't what they used to be...

Painter's tape definitely helps at first, but you're right - after a few rounds, eyeballing it becomes second nature. I remember my first time tackling metal edging solo... thought I'd save time by skipping gloves. Big mistake. Ended up with a nasty slice and spent more time patching myself up than actually working on the roof.

Your bucket-on-the-ladder trick made me chuckle because I've been there way too many times. Dropping screws from up high is like some cruel DIY rite of passage. And yeah, pre-drilling on the ground is a game changer. Learned that one the hard way after nearly losing my balance trying to drill through metal while perched awkwardly on a ladder.

Sounds like you've got this down pretty well now, though. Feels good when you finally get comfortable enough to ditch the tape and just trust your eyes and hands, doesn't it?

"Dropping screws from up high is like some cruel DIY rite of passage."

Too relatable. I've lost count of how many screws I've sacrificed to the lawn gods over the years. Regarding metal edging, though, has anyone experimented with different fastening methods? I've seen some roofers swear by rivets instead of screws for a cleaner finish and tighter seal. Curious if anyone here has tried that approach - and whether it's worth the extra hassle.

I've seen rivets used a few times, and while they do look cleaner, I'm not entirely convinced they're always the best choice for metal edging. Rivets definitely have their place - especially if you're after aesthetics - but from an inspection standpoint, screws often provide more flexibility down the road.

Here's the thing: roofs expand and contract with temperature changes, and screws typically handle this movement better because they're easier to adjust or replace. Rivets, on the other hand, are pretty much permanent once they're in. If you ever need to make adjustments or repairs later (and trust me, eventually you will), drilling out rivets can be a real pain. I've seen homeowners curse the day they chose rivets when it came time for maintenance or repairs.

That said, if you're confident in your installation and you're using quality materials that won't warp or shift much over time, rivets can give you a sleek finish that's hard to beat. Just make sure you're using corrosion-resistant rivets designed specifically for roofing applications - otherwise, you'll be dealing with rust stains and leaks sooner than you'd like.

Personally, I'd stick with screws for practicality's sake. You can always opt for color-matched screws or caps to keep things tidy-looking without sacrificing ease of maintenance. But hey, if you're set on rivets and prepared for the extra hassle down the line, go for it... just keep a drill handy!

Interesting points about screws vs. rivets. I've been considering metal edging myself, mostly because I'm tired of dealing with shingles lifting at the edges every few years. The clean look of rivets caught my eye initially, but your comments about maintenance and flexibility have me reconsidering.

One thing I'm curious about though - does anyone have experience with how screws hold up long-term in terms of corrosion? I know you mentioned corrosion-resistant rivets, but are there specific screw types or coatings that perform better over time? I've seen some roofs around my neighborhood where the screws seem to rust out pretty quickly, especially near gutters or areas with standing water.

Also, regarding expansion and contraction, is there a noticeable difference in noise or creaking between riveted and screwed edging? My current roof tends to make some popping sounds during temperature swings, and I'm wondering if the fastening method might influence that at all.

I appreciate the practical perspective on screws being easier to adjust later. As someone who's budget-conscious, the idea of having to drill out rivets down the road doesn't sound appealing at all - especially if it means extra labor costs or specialized tools. Still, aesthetics do matter to me somewhat, so I'm trying to find a good balance between looks and practicality.

If anyone has personal experience or anecdotes about how their metal edging has held up over several seasons (especially in climates with big temperature swings), I'd be interested to hear about it.

If corrosion's a big worry, have you thought about stainless steel screws? I've seen them hold up really well even in damp climates. They might cost a bit more upfront, but honestly, replacing rusted hardware later is way more hassle and expense.

Totally agree on stainless screws. When I first moved into my place, the previous owner had used regular screws for pretty much everything outside. Didn't think much of it at first - rookie mistake, right? Fast forward a year, and I'm up on a ladder trying to pry out these rusted, crumbly screws from the gutter brackets. One snapped clean off, and I nearly took a tumble into the bushes below (my neighbor still teases me about that one).

After that near-death experience (okay, slight exaggeration), I swapped everything out for stainless steel. Yeah, it stung a bit at checkout, but man... worth every penny. Three years later, they're still shiny and solid as ever - even after some nasty winters and rainy springs. Lesson learned: saving a few bucks upfront isn't always the smartest move.

Yeah, stainless is definitely the way to go. Can't tell you how many times I've seen homeowners regret skimping on hardware - rusty screws are a nightmare. Glad you made the switch before things got worse... and hey, at least your neighbor got a good laugh out of it, right?

"rusty screws are a nightmare."

Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way myself. Stainless isn't cheap, but it's worth every penny in the long run. Glad you caught it early - your neighbor won't let you forget this one anytime soon though...

- Stainless is solid, but I've seen coated screws hold up pretty well too.
- Had a client last year who went stainless everywhere, then cheaped out on washers - guess what failed first...
- Curious, did you check your flashing while you were up there? Rusty screws usually mean other surprises lurking nearby.

Good call on the flashing - rusty screws are usually just the tip of the iceberg. Last summer, I replaced some screws on my metal roof edging and thought I was good to go... until I noticed a suspicious stain near the chimney flashing. Turned out water had been sneaking in for months. Ended up redoing all the flashing around there. Stainless screws held up great, but lesson learned: always double-check those hidden spots while you're at it.

Had something similar happen a couple years back. I noticed a tiny drip in the attic after a storm, figured it was just a loose screw or two. Climbed up, replaced a few rusty screws with stainless, thought I'd fixed it. Nope... next rainstorm, same drip. Turned out the flashing itself was slightly warped - barely noticeable unless you really looked close. Ended up pulling everything off, reshaping it carefully, and sealing it back down step by step. No leaks since then, but man, these roof issues always seem to have hidden layers.

Yeah, roof leaks are sneaky like that. Had a similar issue myself - thought it was just a quick caulk job around the chimney, but nope, ended up being a whole weekend project. Honestly though, reshaping flashing sounds pretty intimidating... did you find it tricky to get it back into shape without damaging it further? I'm always hesitant to mess with metal parts too much, especially since replacements aren't exactly cheap these days.