"Maybe installation technique matters more than material choice sometimes?"
Yeah, I think you're onto something there. I've seen aluminum flashing hold up surprisingly well when it's done right. But I've also come across some DIY jobs that looked great at first glance, then turned into squirrel condos within a year... 😅 Makes me wonder if the mysterious roof sample OP found was someone's experimental attempt at critter-proofing or just leftover from another project? Curious to see how this turns out.
Yeah, installation can definitely make or break things. Reminds me of when I patched up my shed roof with some leftover metal panels—looked solid enough at first. A month later, the raccoons had turned it into their own personal Airbnb. 😅 OP's mystery sample might just be someone's abandoned experiment like mine was...or maybe it's actually legit? Wouldn't hurt to take it to a local roofing supply place and see if they recognize it.
"A month later, the raccoons had turned it into their own personal Airbnb."
Haha, that's a first—I can just picture those raccoons lounging around up there. But seriously, OP, taking it to a roofing supply place is definitely worth a shot. Sometimes these random samples turn out to be discontinued products or even specialty materials someone custom-ordered. You might've stumbled onto something interesting here... who knows? Keep us updated if you find out what it is, I'm genuinely curious now.
Could be discontinued, but honestly, roofing supply places can be hit-or-miss with identifying random samples. Had a similar thing happen once—turned out it was some obscure European import. Took forever to track down. Did you notice any markings or stamps anywhere on it? Sometimes manufacturers put tiny codes or batch numbers on the underside... might save you from chasing your tail around town.
"Sometimes manufacturers put tiny codes or batch numbers on the underside... might save you from chasing your tail around town."
Good call on checking for those tiny stamps. Had something similar happen after a hailstorm a couple years back—client had this random metal tile that no one could ID. Spent days going from supplier to supplier, and just when I was about to give up, noticed this faint little code underneath. Turned out it was some limited-run Canadian product. Definitely worth flipping it over and squinting a bit before you start the wild goose chase around town...
