If you’re not seeing daylight through the flashing yet, sometimes a patch buys you enough time to save up for a proper fix.
That’s pretty much been my experience too. Patching with tape and cement can hold up surprisingly well, especially if you’re dealing with older aluminum flashing that’s just starting to pit or corrode. One thing I’d add—if you go the patch route, make sure the area’s bone dry before applying anything. Moisture trapped under a patch can actually speed up corrosion. I’ve seen a few “quick fixes” turn into bigger headaches when water got underneath and started eating away at the metal. Still, for Midwest weather, sometimes you just need something that’ll get you through another season...
Moisture trapped under a patch can actually speed up corrosion.
Yep, learned that one the hard way. Thought I was clever slapping some flashing tape over a tiny pinhole last fall—turns out, water found its way in anyway and by spring, the hole was twice as big. Midwest freeze-thaw cycles don’t mess around. If you’re patching, I’d say use a heat gun or hair dryer to make sure it’s dry, then cross your fingers... Sometimes you just need to buy yourself a little time until you can do it right.
I’m honestly still not sure what the “right” answer is with this stuff. We had a small spot on our back porch flashing that started to bubble up, and I figured a quick patch would hold until spring. Used some of that aluminum tape and pressed it down hard, but by March, the area underneath was all white and powdery—looked worse than before. Maybe I didn’t dry it out enough? Or maybe water just finds a way no matter what.
Is it really worth pulling off the whole section of flashing for a tiny hole, though? I get that moisture can get trapped, but sometimes it feels like overkill to redo everything for a small spot. On the other hand, I don’t want to be dealing with rot or mold later. Has anyone actually had luck with those liquid sealants, or is that just another temporary fix? I’m starting to think there’s no such thing as a “quick” fix when it comes to flashing...
I’ve been down this road a couple times, and honestly, every “quick fix” I’ve tried on flashing has come back to haunt me. Last year, I used one of those brush-on sealants for a pinhole leak on my garage roof flashing. Looked fine for a few months, but by the next rainy season, water had crept underneath and started rusting the metal. Ended up pulling the whole section anyway. I get the temptation to just patch and move on, but in my experience, water always finds a way if there’s even a tiny gap or trapped moisture. Sometimes ripping off the band-aid is less work in the long run, even if it feels like overkill at the time.
Sometimes ripping off the band-aid is less work in the long run, even if it feels like overkill at the time.
I get where you’re coming from, but do you think there’s ever a case where a patch is actually the smarter move? Like, if the flashing is only damaged in a tiny spot and the rest is solid, is it always worth the hassle to pull it all out? I’ve seen some folks use high-quality butyl tape and proper prep and get years out of a repair. Maybe it depends on the age of the roof or the climate? Just curious if you’ve ever had a patch job actually hold up, or if it’s always ended up being a waste of time for you.
