I've used anodized aluminum flashing on a shed roof about four years ago, and honestly, it's been holding up pretty well so far. Granted, I'm not right by the coast or anything, but we do get some pretty harsh winters and heavy rains here. I had regular aluminum flashing before that started corroding noticeably after just two seasons, which was frustrating. Switched to anodized hoping it'd buy me more time before another redo...and it seems to have done the trick.
Still, I get your skepticism. Anodizing quality can vary quite a bit between brands and batches, so it's hard to be totally confident it'll last as long as advertised. I'd say if you're already thinking about stainless steel as an option, you might want to stick with something you trust more. Mixing metals always makes me uneasy too—seen enough unexpected corrosion issues pop up even when people swear they've isolated everything perfectly.
"Mixing metals always makes me uneasy too—seen enough unexpected corrosion issues pop up even when people swear they've isolated everything perfectly."
Yeah, totally agree with this. A few years back, I replaced some damaged aluminum flashing with stainless steel thinking it'd be bulletproof. But I overlooked a couple of aluminum nails left behind, and within a year, I had noticeable galvanic corrosion spots. Lesson learned: if you're switching metals, triple-check everything...or stick with anodized aluminum if it's working for you.
Good point about anodized aluminum—it's usually the safer bet. If you do mix metals, a quick tip:
- Always use isolation barriers (like rubber or plastic washers).
- Double-check fasteners—easy to overlook.
- Regular inspections help catch corrosion early.
Been there myself...
Anodized aluminum is definitely solid advice, but honestly, even with isolation barriers, I've seen corrosion sneak in—especially if moisture gets trapped. Had a client once who religiously used plastic washers but overlooked drainage... ended up with hidden corrosion anyway. So yeah, barriers help, but don't underestimate good drainage and airflow. Regular checks are key too; catching it early saves headaches down the road. Learned that one the hard way myself, haha.
I get what you're saying about anodized aluminum and drainage, but honestly, sometimes even the best drainage setup isn't foolproof. Had a similar issue myself a few years back—thought I'd nailed it with proper airflow and drainage channels, but corrosion still managed to creep in. Turns out, the flashing itself had tiny imperfections from day one, and those microscopic flaws were enough to let moisture start its dirty work.
Ended up chatting with a contractor buddy who swears by coated galvanized steel flashing instead. He mentioned it's a bit heavier and trickier to work with at first, but he's rarely seen corrosion issues crop up as quickly compared to aluminum—even anodized. I was skeptical, but after replacing mine with galvanized steel, haven't had any trouble since. It's been about four years now, and I've checked regularly (lesson learned, haha). Still looks solid.
Not saying aluminum is a bad choice—it's obviously popular for a reason—but sometimes switching materials altogether can save you headaches down the line. Just figured I'd toss that out there since I've been through the corrosion battle myself.
