Had a client last fall who thought tape would buy him a year. By spring, the tape looked like old duct tape on a leaky canoe—cracked, peeling, and letting water in everywhere. I’ve had better luck with liquid flashing, honestly. It’s messy, but at least it doesn’t peel off the second you get a freeze-thaw cycle. Still wouldn’t trust it for more than a season or two, though… roofs have a way of reminding you who’s boss.
roofs have a way of reminding you who’s boss.
Ain’t that the truth. Tried the tape trick myself last winter—thought I was clever, but by March it looked like a squirrel had chewed through it. Liquid flashing was less embarrassing, but I swear I spent more time cleaning my hands than fixing the leak. Has anyone here actually replaced a whole section of aluminum flashing themselves? I’m tempted, but those seams always seem to come back to haunt me...
Those seams really are the bane of aluminum flashing, aren’t they? I’ve swapped out a few sections on my own place over the years—midwest winters just chew through anything that isn’t perfect. Honestly, the first time was a bit of a circus. Getting the old stuff off without mangling the shingles took more patience than I expected, and lining up the new flashing so water didn’t sneak in at the seams was trickier than YouTube made it look.
If you’re thinking about tackling it, just take your time with those overlaps and use a decent bead of sealant under the joints. I’ve found that skipping steps or rushing always comes back to bite me later, especially with flashing. And yeah, liquid flashing is messy as heck... I still find flecks on my tools from last year.
It’s not impossible to DIY, but I’d say only do it if you’re comfortable being up there and don’t mind a little trial and error. The peace of mind when it’s done right is worth the hassle, though.
I hear you on the seams—those are always where things go sideways for me, too. I’ve patched a couple spots with sealant just to get through a season, but I’m never sure if that’s actually saving money or just kicking the can down the road. Have you ever tried using one of those flashing repair tapes instead of liquid sealant? I keep seeing them at the hardware store, but I’m skeptical they’d hold up through a full winter freeze/thaw cycle.
Also, curious if anyone’s had luck reusing old flashing after cleaning it up, or is it just not worth the hassle? I hate tossing stuff that still looks mostly solid, but maybe that’s asking for trouble. Midwest winters are brutal on anything metal up there—sometimes feels like no matter what you do, water finds a way in eventually.
I’ve patched a couple spots with sealant just to get through a season, but I’m never sure if that’s actually saving money or just kicking the can down the road.
That’s been my struggle too. I’ve used both liquid sealant and flashing tape (the butyl-backed kind) on my garage roof, and honestly, the tape held up better than I expected. Last winter was rough—lots of freeze/thaw swings—and the tape stayed put where the sealant started to crack. The trick is making sure everything’s bone dry and clean before you stick it down. If there’s any moisture or dirt, it’ll peel up by spring.
I get being skeptical though. Some of those tapes look flimsy in the package, but the thicker ones (like 4" wide) seem to last at least a couple years for me. Not a forever fix, but definitely bought me time until I could budget for new flashing.
As for reusing old flashing, I’ve tried it when the metal wasn’t too bent or corroded. If you can clean off all the old caulk and rust, sometimes it works fine for small patches or less critical spots (like over a shed door). But on main roof seams? I’d be careful—one tiny pinhole or crack and water will find its way in, especially with Midwest winters. Learned that one the hard way after a surprise leak above my kitchen window last January.
If you’re trying to save cash short-term, patching with tape or reused flashing can work as long as you keep an eye on it each season. But if you’re already seeing a lot of trouble spots, might be worth biting the bullet and replacing sections before things get worse. Metal prices are up, but water damage is way pricier in the long run.
Just my two cents from patching things together over the years... Sometimes “good enough” gets you through another winter, sometimes it comes back to bite you.
