I know it’s pricey, but I’ve heard it can last decades if installed right. Wondering if it’s worth the investment in places with wild weather swings like we get here.
Copper flashing is basically the Rolls Royce of flashing materials—expensive upfront, but man, it’s got staying power. I’ve swapped out plenty of bent-up aluminum for copper on older homes, and those spots just never seem to leak again. Only catch is you’ve got to watch for galvanic corrosion if it’s touching other metals. In wild climates, though, it really does hold up. If the budget allows, I’d say go for it…unless you’ve got a magpie problem. Those birds love shiny stuff.
- Copper’s definitely the gold standard for flashing, but it’s not always necessary unless you’re planning to stay in the house for decades or you’re dealing with a lot of ice and snow cycles.
- Aluminum’s a lot more common because it’s cheaper and easier to work with, but it does get beat up faster—especially if you’ve got hail or big temp swings.
- If you’re seeing damage just in a few spots (like dents or minor corrosion), you can sometimes patch or replace just those sections. But if the aluminum’s starting to pull away or you’ve got leaks, a full redo is usually smarter.
- One thing I see a lot: folks mix metals without thinking about it, and then you get that galvanic corrosion mentioned above. If you go copper, make sure it’s not touching steel or aluminum anywhere.
- In wild weather areas, copper’s a solid investment, but it’s not magic. You still need good install and regular checks. I’ve seen copper last 50+ years on old Victorians, but I’ve also seen it fail early if it wasn’t installed right.
- If budget’s tight, heavy-gauge aluminum with a good paint coating can hold up decently, just expect to keep an eye on it every few years. Copper’s more of a “do it once, forget about it” deal...unless the birds get to it first.
Had a place with aluminum flashing on a low-slope roof, and every spring I’d find new dents or spots where it looked like squirrels had been holding dance parties. Patching worked for a while, but once the seams started lifting, it was game over—water found its way in no matter what. Ended up redoing it with heavier aluminum and a better paint coat, since copper was way out of budget. Honestly, as long as you keep an eye on it and don’t mix metals (learned that one the hard way), it holds up okay... but I do wonder if copper would’ve saved me some gray hairs.
- Been there with the squirrel “dance parties”—mine seemed to invite raccoons too, like it was some sort of roof club.
- I stuck with aluminum for cost reasons too. Copper looks great but my wallet said nope.
- Patching worked for a couple years, but after that, water just found new ways in. Not sure if copper would’ve lasted forever, though... I mean, wouldn’t critters still mess with it?
- Heavier aluminum + decent paint coat = best compromise I’ve found. Still gotta check for corrosion, especially where the paint chips.
- Mixing metals... learned that lesson the hard way too. Ended up with some weird stains and extra repairs. Galvanic corrosion is no joke.
- Anyone tried those rubberized coatings as a sealant? Wondering if that’d add a few years or just peel right off in the sun.
- Honestly, I’m just hoping to get 10 years out of this setup before the next roof headache shows up.
Rubberized coatings seemed like a good idea when I tried them, but honestly, after two summers, most of it started peeling where the sun hit hardest. Maybe it helps in the short term, but I wouldn’t count on it for a decade. I’m with you—heavier aluminum and regular touch-ups are about as much as my budget can handle. Copper’s nice, but not at those prices.
