"Plus, the more you fuss with it, the harder it is to get a good seal later. Water loves those tiny gaps and cracks..."
Yeah, learned that lesson the soggy way myself. Thought I'd save a few bucks by hammering out some gnarly creases on flashing around my chimney... looked decent from the ground, but next heavy rainstorm had me scrambling for buckets. Turns out water's pretty determined when it finds a tiny gap.
I agree minor dents are usually no biggie—just smooth 'em out and call it character. But if it's kinked or seriously bent, you're better off replacing it. Also, if you're cutting fresh aluminum, make sure your snips are sharp. Dull snips can warp or twist the edges, which makes fitting it neatly even harder. Ask me how I know... 🙄
Good points about the snips—sharp tools really do make all the difference. I've also found that adding a bit of sealant along edges after smoothing minor dents can help keep water out longer. But yeah, once it's kinked badly, replacement is usually the safer bet. Curious if anyone's tried the peel-and-stick flashing tape as a temporary fix? I've heard mixed things about durability...
I've messed around with peel-and-stick flashing tape a couple times—honestly, it's decent for quick fixes, but I found it starts peeling up after a season or two. Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't trust it long-term. Has anyone tried layering sealant underneath it for extra durability?
I've seen a few people try layering sealant underneath, and honestly, it does help a bit. But from my experience, it's still more of a temporary fix. Aluminum flashing expands and contracts quite a bit with temperature changes, so even with sealant underneath, the tape eventually starts lifting around the edges. You're definitely not alone noticing that issue. If you're looking for something more long-term, you might have better luck biting the bullet and replacing the flashing altogether... annoying, I know, but probably worth it in the long run.
"Aluminum flashing expands and contracts quite a bit with temperature changes, so even with sealant underneath, the tape eventually starts lifting around the edges."
Exactly this. I had a similar issue after a storm damaged my roof flashing a couple years back. Tried the sealant-and-tape route first—it held up okay for a season or two, but eventually started peeling again. Ended up replacing the flashing entirely with new aluminum and proper fasteners. Bit of a hassle upfront, but haven't had a single issue since.
