You nailed it—flashing is the unsung hero (or villain) of any roof, no matter what material you go with. I’ve seen folks blame their shingles or metal panels for leaks, but nine times out of ten, it’s a flashing issue hiding in plain sight. Around here (Midwest), we get those sideways rains that’ll find any tiny gap, especially around chimneys and skylights. Even a little loose nail can let water sneak in and cause a mess inside.
I get why people want to check things out themselves, but I always tell friends to be super careful if they’re thinking about climbing up there. One slip, and you’re in for more than just a leaky roof. That said, I’ve patched up a few spots for neighbors who tried the DIY approach—sometimes it works, sometimes it just buys you a little time. Did you notice any spots where the caulking looks cracked or the metal’s pulled away? That’s usually where trouble starts.
Honestly, even with the best materials, if the flashing isn’t tucked right or sealed properly, you’re going to have issues sooner or later. I’ve seen some pretty creative “fixes” over the years—one guy tried duct tape and spray foam... didn’t last through the first thunderstorm, but I guess you can’t fault him for trying.
If you’re not comfortable getting up there, it’s totally fair to call someone in for a quick inspection. Sometimes just having a second set of eyes makes all the difference. But if you do end up tackling it yourself, just take it slow and double-check those tricky spots—especially where different roof lines meet or anything sticks out of the roof. Those are always the first places to leak, in my experience.
Curious if you’ve had more trouble with one type of flashing over another? I’ve found step flashing around chimneys is the trickiest, but maybe that’s just me.
Step flashing around chimneys has been my personal nemesis too. I thought I had it all buttoned up last fall, but then we got one of those sideways rains and I found a nice little drip right behind the wood stove. Turns out, the flashing had pulled away just enough for water to sneak in. I tried the caulk-and-hope method, which bought me a season, but I’ll probably have to redo it properly this summer. I’ve had better luck with the stuff around skylights, weirdly enough—maybe because I obsess over those after a bad experience years ago. Duct tape, though... that’s a new one for me.
Step flashing is always the weak link for me too, especially on older shingle roofs. I’ve managed a few properties with both shingles and metal, and honestly, metal’s been way less drama after storms. Shingles just seem to shift or lift no matter how careful you are. I’ve seen caulk buy a little time, but it never really solves the problem—water always finds a way. I’m not convinced duct tape would last more than a week up there, but I’ve seen some wild “temporary” fixes over the years...
“Shingles just seem to shift or lift no matter how careful you are. I’ve seen caulk buy a little time, but it never really solves the problem—water always finds a way.”
Couldn’t agree more—shingles and step flashing are like the Achilles’ heel of older roofs, especially once you’ve had a couple of good storms come through. I’ve watched so many “quick fixes” get slapped on, from that black gooey roof cement to caulk, and yeah, duct tape is usually just wishful thinking. There was one place I looked after where someone tried to use that spray-on rubber stuff as a patch job... It held up for maybe a month, then started peeling like sunburned skin.
I will say, after switching one property over to a standing seam metal roof, it was like night and day. The initial cost stung, but the peace of mind during heavy rain? Worth it. Metal doesn’t have all those little seams and edges where water can sneak in (at least not as many), and you don’t get the same kind of wind uplift issues. I do get some noise when it rains hard, but honestly, that’s kind of relaxing to me—like being in a cabin.
The only thing is, metal can get tricky if you’re trying to add solar panels or a green roof layer (which I’m a big fan of). You have to make sure the mounting doesn’t compromise the waterproofing, but at least you’re not constantly worrying about individual shingles curling up or blowing off.
One thing I’ve started doing on shingle roofs is using recycled rubber underlayment instead of felt. It’s not a miracle cure, but it does seem to help with minor leaks and feels like a step in the right direction sustainability-wise. Anyone else tried that? I’m curious if it’s just me or if others have noticed less drama with it.
Funny enough, the wildest “temporary” fix I saw was someone stapling plastic grocery bags under loose shingles. That lasted about two days before the wind turned their roof into confetti. Sometimes you just gotta laugh at what people try when they’re desperate.
Anyway, totally get the frustration with shingles after storms. Metal’s not perfect, but for me, it’s been way less stress overall.
Tried the rubber underlayment on my shed roof last fall and it’s definitely holding up better than the old felt ever did. Not totally leak-proof, but I haven’t had those weird little drips during heavy rain like before. Shingles still curl a bit at the edges, though—seems like that’s just how it goes after a few seasons. Metal’s tempting, but man, the upfront cost is tough to swallow. The noise doesn’t bother me either, but my partner says it sounds like living in a tin can during hail... can’t win ‘em all.
