I've done the quick patch thing before, and yeah, it usually holds up fine for a bit... but how long are we talking here? If it's already pretty rough, wouldn't you just end up redoing it anyway down the road?
I patched up some flashing around my chimney last year thinking it'd buy me a couple months tops. Honestly, I was surprised—it held up through winter and spring storms without leaking. But by summer, I noticed it was starting to peel back again. Ended up redoing the whole thing properly anyway, which wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.
If yours is already looking pretty rough, you're probably right—you're just kicking the can down the road. But hey, sometimes that's exactly what you need. A quick fix can buy you time to plan things out, save up a bit, or wait for better weather. No shame in that. Just keep an eye on it and don't let it go too long... learned that one the hard way myself.
Had a similar experience last fall—patched mine thinking it'd hold through winter, but nope, first heavy snow and it started peeling back. Did you find redoing the whole flashing tricky at all? I ended up watching a ton of videos beforehand, and honestly, once I got going it wasn't too bad. Definitely agree though, quick fixes have their place...just gotta know when it's time to bite the bullet and do it right.
Totally agree—patches can be tempting, but they're rarely a long-term solution, especially with aluminum flashing. I redid mine a couple years back and found the prep work was key. Cleaning off old sealant thoroughly and making sure the surface was completely dry made a huge difference. Also, investing in quality flashing tape and sealants pays off big-time. It's one of those jobs where cutting corners just leads to headaches later... learned that the hard way myself.
I get where you're coming from, but sometimes a full redo just isn't in the budget or timeline. I've had decent luck extending the life of aluminum flashing with careful patching—key word being careful. If you're gonna patch, make sure you scrape off every bit of loose sealant first, sand lightly to rough up the surface, and clean it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Then apply a solid flashing tape and sealant combo. It's not forever, but it can buy you a couple years until you're ready to tackle the bigger job.
