"Another trick I've seen pros use is moisture meters along rafters or seams to pinpoint hidden leaks early."
Moisture meters are definitely handy—saved us a lot of guesswork on a recent job. But honestly, metal roofs aren't usually the issue themselves. Most leaks I've seen come down to poor flashing or sealant details around vents and edges. If those areas are done right, metal roofing holds up pretty well even in heavy rain...just gotta pay attention to the small stuff.
"Most leaks I've seen come down to poor flashing or sealant details around vents and edges."
Definitely agree—flashing is usually the weak link. I've also noticed that improper screw placement or overtightening screws on metal roofs can create tiny entry points...small stuff, but it adds up quickly in heavy rain.
"improper screw placement or overtightening screws on metal roofs can create tiny entry points"
Yeah, good point about the screws—seen that happen a lot. Curious though, have you noticed if using neoprene washers helps much with preventing leaks around screws? I've heard mixed opinions...some swear by them, others say they degrade too quickly under UV exposure. Wondering if anyone's found a better alternative or workaround for that issue.
Wondering if anyone's found a better alternative or workaround for that issue.
I've had neoprene washers on my roof screws for about 5 years now, and they're holding up okay-ish...but I'm definitely noticing some drying and cracking lately. UV seems to do a real number on them. I've heard about silicone washers or even stainless steel-backed washers lasting longer, but haven't tried them myself yet. Anybody here got experience with silicone washers—are they worth the extra bucks, or just another gimmick?
I've actually looked into silicone washers myself when I was replacing some screws last summer. From what I read, silicone does handle UV better, but it can be softer and might compress too much over time, potentially causing leaks down the line. Stainless steel-backed washers seemed promising though—metal backing helps prevent over-tightening and deformation. Haven't personally tested them yet, but if durability's your main concern, they might be worth checking out before committing extra cash to silicone.
