Yeah, sanding and sealing minor corrosion spots can definitely buy you some extra time. I've done that myself on aluminum flashing around my chimney, and it held up surprisingly well for several seasons. One thing I'd add is that the type of sealant you use matters quite a bit—I've had better luck with polyurethane-based sealants rather than silicone, as they seem to adhere better and stay flexible longer.
But you're right, once the flashing gets seriously compromised or bent out of shape, patching it up becomes more trouble than it's worth. At that point, water intrusion risks go way up, and you're just delaying the inevitable. Plus, replacing damaged flashing isn't usually too expensive or complicated if you're comfortable working on roofs. If not, hiring someone to do it properly can save headaches down the road... learned that one the hard way myself after a quick fix turned into a bigger leak later on.
I've patched flashing with polyurethane sealants too, and yeah, they do hold up better. But honestly, after chasing leaks around my roof one rainy weekend, I'd say bite the bullet and replace sooner rather than later... your future self will thank you.
Yeah, patching can feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Last storm season, I thought I'd saved myself some cash with a quick fix... ended up spending the weekend scrambling buckets around the attic. Ever had a patch job actually last long-term?
"Ever had a patch job actually last long-term?"
Honestly, patching aluminum flashing is usually just kicking the can down the road. Sure, you might get lucky and buy yourself a season or two, but eventually you're back up there again. I switched to a green roof setup a few years back—no flashing headaches since. Plus, it handles storms way better than I expected. Might seem like overkill at first, but beats playing bucket roulette in the attic every year...
- Had a similar issue last year—patched it up thinking it'd hold, but nope, back up there after the first big storm.
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Haha, bucket roulette is exactly what it felt like! Definitely relatable."Might seem like overkill at first, but beats playing bucket roulette in the attic every year..."
- Ended up biting the bullet and replacing the flashing entirely. Cost more upfront but haven't had to climb up since.
- Green roof sounds interesting though...never considered that. Might look into it down the line if I run into more issues.
- Anyway, good to hear you found something that actually works long-term. Gives me hope I'll eventually stop chasing leaks around my roof too...
