Good point about primer—it's definitely underrated. I've seen people skip it thinking they're saving time, but it usually backfires. One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone tried using sealants or coatings specifically designed for aluminum flashing instead of tape? I've heard mixed things about durability, especially in areas with harsh weather. Wondering if that's a viable alternative or just another shortcut waiting to fail...
- Tried aluminum-specific sealant last fall on my porch flashing—mixed results.
- Application was straightforward, seemed solid at first.
- After winter though, noticed some cracking around edges (Midwest here, harsh winters).
- Ended up redoing with proper tape and primer this spring.
- Might work fine in milder climates, but personally wouldn't trust it again for heavy weather areas.
Had a similar experience with aluminum flashing on my folks' cabin roof last year. Thought I had a quick fix with some sealant—looked perfect at first glance. But then came January, and the freeze-thaw cycles just wrecked it. Ended up redoing it properly with tape and primer too, lesson learned. Wonder if anyone's tried silicone-based sealants in harsher climates...maybe they'd hold up better?
"Wonder if anyone's tried silicone-based sealants in harsher climates...maybe they'd hold up better?"
Tried silicone sealant on my shed roof a couple winters back, thinking I'd outsmart Mother Nature—spoiler alert: I didn't. It held up better than the cheap stuff, sure, but still cracked after a few freeze-thaw cycles. Ended up biting the bullet and doing it properly with tape and primer like you did. Seems like shortcuts just lead to longer weekends on the ladder...
I've seen silicone sealants hold up okay-ish, but you've gotta pick the right kind—there's a huge difference between general-purpose and stuff specifically rated for extreme temps. A neighbor of mine swears by the marine-grade silicone he uses on his boat cabin; says it handles ice and snow without cracking. Haven't tested it myself, but maybe something marine-rated could work better? Still, I wouldn't bet my weekend on it...
