"Did you find it tricky getting the new flashing shaped just right around corners or odd angles? That's always been the part that slows me down..."
Yeah, corners and odd angles are pretty much the bane of flashing work. A few years back, I was fixing some storm damage on a client's house—aluminum flashing got torn up pretty badly around a chimney. Thought I'd knock it out quick, but those weird angles slowed me down big time. Spent way too long trying to get it bent just right, and ended up scrapping a couple of pieces before I got it decent enough to seal properly.
One thing I've learned: always have a bit of extra material handy, because the first try rarely goes perfect. Also, marking and pre-bending with a scrap piece or cardboard template can save you some headache. It's an extra step, but trust me, it's better than wrestling with aluminum flashing up on a ladder for an hour...
Corners and angles are definitely tricky, but I'm curious—do you find aluminum flashing easier or harder to work with compared to something like copper or vinyl? Aluminum seems to kink and crease so easily, especially if you're making tight bends. I've had some luck using a pair of duckbill pliers wrapped in tape to avoid scratching it up too badly, but even then, it's hit or miss.
The cardboard template idea sounds good, though. Do you usually measure everything out precisely beforehand, or do you eyeball it first and adjust as you go? I tend to be skeptical about pre-measuring everything perfectly because something always seems slightly off when you're actually up there on the ladder. Maybe that's just my luck...
"Aluminum seems to kink and crease so easily, especially if you're making tight bends."
Haha, tell me about it... I've definitely had my share of aluminum flashing mishaps. Copper feels a bit more forgiving, but it's pricier, so I usually stick with aluminum and just brace myself for the occasional frustration. I tend to eyeball measurements first, then tweak as I go—precise measurements always seem perfect on the ground, but once I'm balancing awkwardly on a ladder, reality kicks in and adjustments are inevitable. Glad I'm not alone in this!
"I tend to eyeball measurements first, then tweak as I go—precise measurements always seem perfect on the ground, but once I'm balancing awkwardly on a ladder, reality kicks in and adjustments are inevitable."
Haha, this is exactly why my flashing jobs always end up taking twice as long as planned. Last summer, I thought I'd nailed it with careful measurements, but once I got up there, nothing lined up right. Ended up bending and rebending until the aluminum looked like a crumpled soda can. Do you guys usually try to smooth out minor creases, or just scrap it and start fresh?
- Yep, been there more times than I'd like to admit. Honestly, if it's just a few minor creases and it's not visible from the ground, I'll usually smooth it out the best I can and move on.
- A rubber mallet and a wooden block can help flatten it without making things worse—gentle taps are key.
- But once aluminum starts looking seriously mangled or kinked, it's usually toast. I've learned the hard way that repeatedly bending it only weakens it further.
- Plus, the more you fuss with it, the harder it is to get a good seal later. Water loves those tiny gaps and cracks...
- My rule of thumb: minor dents, smooth out; major creases, bite the bullet and cut a fresh piece. It's annoying to scrap material, but better than dealing with leaks later.
