I had a similar experience a couple years ago—thought I'd save myself some trouble by just patching up the flashing with sealant. Worked fine for about three months, then started leaking again during a heavy storm...lesson learned. Ended up doing exactly what you described, carefully lifting shingles with a pry bar and replacing the flashing completely. I was surprised how smoothly it went once I got past the initial hesitation of messing around with shingles. Definitely agree patience is key, especially if you're worried about damaging anything.
Honestly, the peace of mind alone makes it worth the extra effort. It's been two winters now and no sign of leaks or issues. You're on the right track thinking about just doing it properly from the start—shortcuts usually come back to bite you later. Good luck!
"shortcuts usually come back to bite you later."
Haha, isn't that the truth? Curious though, did you find it tricky getting the shingles back down flat after lifting them? Last time I replaced flashing, I ended up with a couple shingles that never quite sat right again...still bugs me every time I look up there. Wondering if there's a trick I'm missing or if it's just one of those DIY quirks you learn to live with.
"Last time I replaced flashing, I ended up with a couple shingles that never quite sat right again..."
Yeah, getting shingles to lay flat again can be tricky. One thing I've learned is to gently warm them up first (sunlight or a heat gun on low helps), makes them more flexible and easier to reposition without cracking. Still, sometimes they're just stubborn...
I've been wondering about the heat gun method myself—doesn't it risk damaging the shingles if you're not careful? I've read some horror stories about overheating causing brittleness or discoloration. Maybe sunlight is safer, but then again, what do you do if it's cloudy or cold out? Curious if anyone's found a reliable sweet spot for temperature or timing when using a heat gun...
I've used a heat gun a couple times on shingles, and yeah, it can get dicey if you're not careful. First time around, I definitely went a bit overboard—ended up with some brittle edges that cracked way too easily. Learned pretty quick to keep the gun moving constantly and not linger in one spot. Honestly, sunlight is safer, but when it's cloudy or chilly out, you don't have much choice. I'd say medium-low heat and steady movement is your friend here...
