Yeah, heat guns can be tricky for sure. I had a similar experience when I tried reshaping some aluminum flashing around my chimney. Thought I'd speed things up with the heat gun, but ended up warping it pretty badly—lesson learned. Honestly, now I just stick to gentle tapping with a rubber mallet and patience. Takes longer, but at least I don't have to redo it twice...
Yeah, heat guns are definitely hit or miss with aluminum flashing. I once tried using one to smooth out a crease on some valley flashing—ended up making it worse. Now I just stick to hand tools and slow, steady bends... saves headaches later.
"I once tried using one to smooth out a crease on some valley flashing—ended up making it worse."
Yeah, aluminum flashing can be tricky like that. Heat guns tend to soften the metal unevenly, making it easy to accidentally warp or distort it further. I've seen plenty of cases where folks tried quick fixes and ended up needing a full replacement anyway. Your approach of sticking to hand tools and taking it slow is spot-on. Aluminum responds best to gradual, controlled adjustments rather than sudden heat or force. It might take a bit more patience, but in the long run, you're saving yourself from bigger headaches and potential leaks down the road. Good call on that one.
Yeah, heat guns and aluminum flashing rarely mix well. I've seen guys try to rush it with heat, thinking it'll save time, but usually it just ends up costing more in the long run. Honestly, once aluminum gets creased or kinked badly enough, you're better off biting the bullet and replacing that section entirely. A careful hand and patience go a long way—learned that the hard way myself years ago...
- Totally agree, heat guns usually just make things worse with aluminum flashing.
- If it's minor damage, sometimes careful tapping with a rubber mallet and a wood block can smooth it out enough to get by.
- But yeah, once it's kinked badly, replacement is usually quicker and cheaper in the end.
- Learned this managing properties—trying to patch up badly damaged flashing rarely holds up long-term...
