Metal and caulk can be a pain, sure, but at least you’re not fighting with tape that won’t stick because your hands are numb.
I get the urge to just slap some caulk on and call it a day, but honestly? I’ve had better luck swapping out the aluminum for a recycled rubber flashing. It’s not everyone’s thing, but it flexes with temp swings and doesn’t corrode. The upfront work is about the same as metal, but I’m not crawling up there every year fixing splits or leaks. Might be worth a look if you’re tired of patch jobs turning into winter projects.
Might be worth a look if you’re tired of patch jobs turning into winter projects.
Honestly, that’s where I’m at. I used to just hit the seams with caulk every fall, thinking I was saving money, but all it did was buy me another season before I’d have to drag the ladder out again. My place is pushing 40 years old, and the original aluminum flashing started pitting and cracking after a couple decades. We get some brutal freeze-thaw cycles here, so even good caulk doesn’t last long.
I did look at the rubber stuff you mentioned, but I hesitated because it was a bit pricier at the local lumber yard. Ended up sticking with aluminum for one more round, mostly because I had some left over from another job. Regret it now—by the time spring rolled around, half the seams were leaking again. If I’d just spent a little more upfront, I probably wouldn’t have been patching in the snow.
One thing I’ll say is, for anyone on a tight budget, keep an eye out for offcuts or surplus rubber flashing. Sometimes contractors list them cheap online. I picked up a roll last year for half price and used it around my shed as a test run. Went through a full winter—no cracks, no leaks, and it was way easier to work with than stiff metal in the cold.
I get why folks want to just slap some caulk on and call it good, but in my experience, that’s just putting off the inevitable. Might cost a bit more now, but I’d rather do it once and not have to worry about it every time we get a cold snap.
That’s pretty much how it went for me too—kept patching with caulk and aluminum, and every winter I’d end up cursing at the ice dams and leaks. Swapped out a section for EPDM rubber last fall, and honestly, I wish I’d done it sooner. It flexes with the temperature swings, doesn’t crack, and installation was way less of a pain in the cold. Only thing that threw me was the upfront cost, but now I’m not buying tubes of caulk every year. Out of curiosity, did you notice any difference in how the shed handled condensation or interior moisture once you switched to rubber flashing? That’s been a nice bonus for me—seems like less dampness inside.
I’ve seen the same thing—EPDM rubber just seals better, especially in sheds or low-slope roofs where aluminum flashing tends to pull away or crack as temps swing. The moisture issue is real. Once you stop the leaks and drafts, you usually get less condensation inside, but sometimes it can trap humidity if there’s not enough ventilation. I always tell folks to check for airflow after sealing things up tight. Still, way fewer headaches than chasing leaks every year... worth the switch in my book.
