- Totally agree on the sanding—if you skip it, you’re just asking for trouble down the line.
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“I’ve seen a few folks try to shortcut with just a wipe-down and sealant, but it never seems to last more than a season or two, especially if there’s any chalky residue left.”
Yeah, I’ve watched neighbors do the same. Looks fine for a bit, then the leaks start up again after the first big rain.
- On the self-adhesive flashing tape: I’ve used it on a detached garage roof where I couldn’t get up there safely for a full repair. Lasted about 18 months before it started peeling at the edges. Not bad for a stopgap, but I wouldn’t trust it on anything critical or exposed to a lot of sun.
- Coastal corrosion is a pain. I’m about 10 miles inland, but even here, the aluminum gets that powdery look after a few years. Tried a marine-grade clear coat once—helped a bit, but it started flaking after two summers. Haven’t found a magic bullet yet.
- Has anyone tried switching to galvanized or even copper flashing in those salty spots? Wondering if the upfront cost is worth it compared to replacing aluminum every few years.
Copper flashing holds up great near salt air, but the price can be a shock—plus, it’s a magnet for thieves in some neighborhoods. Galvanized is a step up from aluminum, but it’ll still rust out eventually if you’re close to the coast. If you’re already dealing with corrosion every few years, copper might actually save you hassle (and money) long-term, especially if you’re paying someone to replace flashing each time. Just make sure you’re not mixing metals where they touch—seen plenty of weird corrosion when folks do that.
Copper’s definitely the gold standard near the ocean, but I’ve seen folks regret it after a theft or two. Sometimes, stainless steel flashing is a solid compromise—less flashy, still tough against salt. Has anyone tried stainless in a coastal spot and had it hold up?
I actually swapped out some old aluminum flashing for stainless a couple years back—right on the coast, too. The salt air here eats through most metals, but the stainless has held up way better than I expected. No green stains or weird corrosion yet. It’s not as pretty as copper, but I’ll take that over having to patch leaks every winter. Only thing is, it was a bit trickier to cut and bend compared to aluminum. If you’re thinking of going that route, just make sure you’ve got the right tools... learned that the hard way.
Only thing is, it was a bit trickier to cut and bend compared to aluminum. If you’re thinking of going that route, just make sure you’ve got the right tools... learned that the hard way.
That’s a good point about stainless being tougher to work with. I ran into something similar last fall—was helping a neighbor swap out some corroded aluminum flashing on his shed, and we tried using his old tin snips on the stainless. Ended up chewing up the snips and barely making a dent in the metal. Ended up having to borrow an angle grinder, which made things way easier but definitely not as clean as working with aluminum.
One thing I’ve noticed is that even though stainless holds up better against salt air, it can still get surface rust if you nick it during installation or use the wrong fasteners. I always recommend using stainless screws or nails too—otherwise you get those weird rust streaks running down after a few months.
I’m curious—did you run into any issues with galvanic corrosion where the flashing meets other metals? Sometimes mixing metals (like stainless against galvanized steel or copper) can actually speed up corrosion in certain spots, especially near the coast. I’ve seen some weird pitting happen when folks don’t use a barrier or compatible fasteners.
Also, for anyone thinking about switching from aluminum to stainless: measure twice before cutting. Stainless is way less forgiving if you mess up your bends or cuts. I usually make a cardboard template first, just to be sure everything lines up before committing.
Has anyone tried any of those coated aluminum products? Supposedly they’re more resistant to salt air than plain aluminum, but I haven’t seen them in action long-term yet. Wondering if they’re worth the extra cost compared to just going with stainless and dealing with the hassle of installation.
