Good call on scoring the steel first—wish I'd known that trick a couple years ago when I redid my shed roof. Would've saved me some colorful language and a few bent-up pieces, haha. Aluminum definitely has its perks, especially if you're working solo or dealing with awkward angles. But honestly, I've seen steel hold up better over time in harsher climates, even with the rust risk. Just gotta make sure you prime and seal it properly.
Also, totally agree on not splurging for fancy mallets. I picked up a slightly dinged rubber mallet from a clearance bin years ago, and it's still going strong. One thing I'd add: if you're using aluminum edging, be careful not to overheat it with the heat gun—seen folks warp it pretty badly by accident. Slow and steady usually does the trick. Anyway, sounds like you've got it figured out now... congrats on getting that done!
Yeah, aluminum edging can be tricky. Learned that the hard way when I warped a whole section trying to rush with the heat gun—ended up looking like a roller coaster track. Slow and steady definitely wins there. Glad yours turned out better than mine did...
"ended up looking like a roller coaster track"
Haha, been there myself. I tried aluminum edging last summer and thought I'd save time by skipping clamps—big mistake. The whole strip shifted halfway through, and I had to redo the entire section. Lesson learned: shortcuts usually aren't worth it. Glad you got yours sorted without too much hassle though...
Did something similar a few years back—figured I'd eyeball it instead of measuring properly. Ended up wasting half a day fixing the mess. Sometimes shortcuts just double your workload... Glad yours turned out okay though.
"Did something similar a few years back—figured I'd eyeball it instead of measuring properly. Ended up wasting half a day fixing the mess. Sometimes shortcuts just double your workload..."
Haha, I've seen this scenario play out more times than I can count. Metal edging is one of those deceptively simple-looking jobs—people think, "It's just a straight line, how hard could it be?" But roofs are rarely as straight or level as they seem from the ground. Even seasoned pros get caught out sometimes.
I've had clients who've insisted they could handle their own flashing or edging, only to sheepishly call me later when things didn't line up. I remember one homeowner who spent an entire weekend trying to DIY his drip edge. He eyeballed everything, thinking he was saving time. By Monday morning, he was calling me in desperation—water pooling, edges misaligned, and he'd run out of materials twice already. Felt bad for the guy, but it was hard not to chuckle a bit.
Still, I'm glad your project turned out alright. Sometimes luck favors the brave (or the reckless, haha). But seriously, measuring twice and cutting once isn't just an old saying—it's solid advice. Even if you don't go full-on laser-level precision, at least grab a tape measure and jot down some numbers before you start cutting metal. Saves headaches, wasted materials, and a lot of frustration.
Anyway, congrats on getting it done without any major hiccups. Sounds like you dodged a bullet this time!
