Had to laugh at the “tube of caulk and a prayer”—that’s basically my toolkit for half the stuff that goes wrong in these rentals. I’ve swapped out more flashing than I care to admit, and every time I think, “How bad could it be?” Then I’m up there, knees shaking, trying not to drop a hammer on the neighbor’s car.
One thing I learned (the hard way) is that aluminum flashing dents and bends if you even look at it funny. First time I tried a quick patch job, I ended up making it worse—water found a new path straight into the attic. Ended up redoing the whole section. Now I just skip the “quick fix” temptation unless it’s truly minor.
Do you ever find yourself second-guessing whether to patch or just rip it all out? Sometimes I wonder if I’m overthinking it, but then again, nothing like a surprise ceiling stain to make you wish you’d gone all in from the start. Anyone else get flashback anxiety every time it rains?
- If the flashing’s already bent or has pinholes, patching usually just delays the inevitable. Water always finds a way, especially with aluminum.
- I’ve tried the “just caulk it” route—worked for a season, then the leak came back worse. Ended up replacing a chunk of sheathing too.
- Now, if I see more than a tiny crack, I just pull the section and redo it. It’s a pain, but less stress when the rain hits.
- One thing that helped: switching to steel flashing in high-risk spots. Costs a bit more, but holds up better to ladders and clumsy hands.
- Still get that pit-in-the-stomach feeling when a storm rolls in, though... guess that never really goes away.
Totally get that pit-in-the-stomach feeling—been there every time dark clouds roll in. I used to patch and pray, but after the third “mystery drip” in my living room, I started just replacing the bad sections. It’s more work up front, but way less anxiety when the rain starts. Steel’s been a game changer for me too, especially since I’m not exactly gentle with the ladder...
I used to patch and pray, but after the third “mystery drip” in my living room, I started just replacing the bad sections. It’s more work up front, but way less anxiety when the rain starts.
That’s pretty much where I landed too. Patching always felt like kicking the can down the road—sometimes it holds, sometimes you’re dragging buckets out at 2am. I’m a little wary of swapping out every section at the first sign of trouble, though. Sometimes a decent patch will buy you a couple years, especially if you’re dealing with older aluminum flashing and you’re not ready to commit to a full redo.
Steel’s definitely tougher, but I’ve had some issues with rust where water pools. If you’re in a wet climate or get a lot of freeze/thaw, it’s worth keeping an eye on those seams. I’ve seen more than one “upgrade” turn into another headache because someone didn’t seal it right.
At the end of the day, peace of mind is worth something. Just wish these fixes didn’t always come right before a storm rolls through...
I hear you on the “patch and pray” method—been there, done that, bought the buckets. Honestly, I’ve found it’s a bit of a gamble either way. Sometimes a patch holds for ages, sometimes it gives up as soon as you get comfortable. I lean toward replacing sections when it’s obvious the metal’s toast, but if it’s just a tiny pinhole or seam, I’ll slap some sealant on and cross my fingers. The trickiest part for me is always finding where the water’s sneaking in... it’s never where you think. And yeah, nothing like scrambling around up there right before a downpour—story of my life.
