Quick fix or redo: dealing with damaged aluminum flashing

- Replacing entirely definitely has its perks, but honestly, sometimes a proper patch job can hold up just fine if done right.
- Seen plenty of flashing repairs last years without issues - key is prep work and using quality sealants.
- Green roofs are cool in theory, but they're not exactly maintenance-free... weeds, drainage, extra weight on your structure. Worth thinking about before diving in.
- Either way, good luck - roof leaks are never fun to chase around.

Had a similar issue last year - tried patching aluminum flashing around a chimney. Did all the prep, used high-quality sealant, thought I nailed it... but a few months later, leak was back. Ended up replacing the whole thing. Not saying patch jobs can't work (seen them hold up fine), but sometimes it's just delaying the inevitable. Guess it depends on how much hassle you're willing to risk down the road.

Had a similar experience myself, but with skylights instead of a chimney. Thought I'd save some cash by patching up the flashing - did all the prep, sealed it carefully, and felt pretty proud of myself. Worked great... until the rainy season hit. Then it was buckets and towels all over again. Ended up biting the bullet and replacing the whole flashing setup, and honestly, wish I'd done it sooner.

Funny thing is, my neighbor patched his flashing around the same time, and it's still holding strong two years later. Makes me wonder if it's just luck or if there's some trick to making patches last longer. Maybe it's about the materials or the climate? Curious if anyone's noticed certain sealants or techniques that seem to hold up better over time.

Had a similar issue with my porch roof flashing - thought I'd nailed it with some fancy sealant the hardware guy swore by. Held up great for about a year, then one stormy night... drip, drip, drip. Maybe it's less about luck and more about prep or surface conditions?

Could be prep, yeah, but did you check if the flashing itself had warped or shifted slightly over time? Had something similar happen to me - sealant was solid, but turns out the metal underneath had moved just enough to let water sneak through.