Swapping out the whole section with better flashing and a solid bead of sealant took more time, but honestly, it’s been headache-free since. Upfront cost stings a bit, but not having to babysit it every season is worth it for me.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I tried the quick patch route last year on my uncle’s garage—looked fine at first, but after a couple storms, water found its way back in. Ended up redoing the whole flashing anyway. It’s a pain upfront, but not having to climb up there every few months is a relief. Sometimes those shortcuts just don’t hold up, especially with our wild winters.
I’ve seen the same thing at a couple of my buildings—patch jobs just don’t cut it long-term, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get. I’m curious, for those who’ve done the full replacement, did you go with aluminum again or try something else? I’ve heard mixed things about switching to steel or even PVC flashing, but haven’t tried them myself. Wondering if it’s worth the extra upfront cost or if aluminum’s still the way to go for most folks.
I’ve heard mixed things about switching to steel or even PVC flashing, but haven’t tried them myself. Wondering if it’s worth the extra upfront cost or if aluminum’s still the way to go for most folks.
I went through this last year after a nasty winter did a number on my old aluminum flashing. I looked into steel since everyone kept saying it holds up better, but honestly, the price difference was pretty noticeable—especially once you factor in labor. Ended up sticking with aluminum again, mostly because it was what I could afford at the time and my roofer said as long as it’s installed right and checked every few years, it should last a good while.
PVC sounded interesting, but I worried about how it’d handle our temperature swings. Maybe it’s fine in milder spots, but here in the Midwest, I just didn’t want to risk it cracking or warping. If money wasn’t so tight, I might’ve gone with steel for peace of mind, but for now, aluminum’s been holding up okay. Just gotta keep an eye on it after those freeze/thaw cycles...
Aluminum’s kind of the “Honda Civic” of flashing—does the job, doesn’t break the bank, but you’ll notice some dings after a rough winter. I’ve seen PVC get brittle here too. Steel’s tough, but yeah, your wallet will feel it. Just keep an eye out for corrosion and loose nails after those wild freeze-thaw cycles... that’s usually where trouble starts.
Aluminum’s kind of the “Honda Civic” of flashing—does the job, doesn’t break the bank, but you’ll notice some dings after a rough winter.
That’s spot on. My garage roof’s got aluminum flashing that looks like it went three rounds with a hailstorm. I just tap the loose bits back down and slap on some sealant. Not pretty, but it keeps the water out... for now. Steel’s tempting, but my wallet says nope.
