"Aluminum's solid stuff, sure, but relying too much on sealant alone can be risky..."
Yeah, I get what you're saying about sealant. Did you notice any corrosion or damage to the aluminum itself when you pulled it off? Curious because I've seen some flashing that's still in decent shape underneath, just poorly sealed. Wondering if it's worth inspecting closely before deciding to replace completely... might save some hassle if the metal's still good.
Good points raised here, but I'd suggest being cautious about assuming aluminum flashing is still in good shape just because it looks decent at first glance. I've seen plenty of cases where the metal seemed fine superficially, but once you start inspecting closely—especially around edges and underneath—you'll find pitting or corrosion that's not immediately obvious.
Aluminum itself is pretty resilient, sure, but it can corrode over time if moisture's been trapped underneath sealant that's failed. Sometimes you won't even see obvious rust (since aluminum doesn't rust like steel), but instead you'll notice a powdery white oxidation or small pits that weaken the integrity of the flashing. These subtle issues can become bigger headaches down the road if they're overlooked.
That said, I'm definitely not advocating for automatically replacing everything. It really depends on how long it's been up there and how thoroughly you inspect it. If the flashing is relatively recent and inspection shows minimal oxidation or damage, then cleaning it up and resealing properly with a high-quality roofing-specific sealant might be perfectly adequate. On the other hand, if it's older flashing that's already showing signs of deterioration—even minor ones—it might be worth your time to replace it now rather than risk leaks later.
I recently had a job where the homeowner was convinced their flashing was fine because from ground level it looked pristine. But once we got up close and peeled back some old caulking, we found significant oxidation underneath that would've caused leaks within months. Catching that early saved them from potential water damage repairs later on.
Bottom line: thorough inspection is key before making your decision. Don't rely solely on surface appearance—take a close look at the underside and edges too. If you're unsure about what you're seeing, getting a second opinion from someone experienced never hurts either...
"Sometimes you won't even see obvious rust (since aluminum doesn't rust like steel), but instead you'll notice a powdery white oxidation..."
Yeah, learned that the hard way on my uncle's roof—looked fine until we poked around and found that chalky stuff everywhere. Sneaky stuff, aluminum corrosion...lesson definitely learned.
Yeah, aluminum corrosion can really sneak up on you. Had a similar issue at a property I manage—flashing looked totally fine at first glance, but once we started digging into it, the damage was way more extensive than expected. Honestly, patching it up felt like chasing our tails...ended up biting the bullet and replacing the whole section. Sometimes it's just better to redo it properly instead of dealing with constant quick fixes down the line.
Had a similar experience recently during an inspection. The homeowner had mentioned some minor leaks around the chimney, nothing major they said, just a quick patch job needed. At first glance, the flashing looked decent enough—just a bit weathered, nothing alarming. But once I got up close and started poking around, it was clear the aluminum had corroded badly underneath. Honestly, it was like peeling back layers of an onion...every time I thought I'd found the extent of the damage, there was more hiding beneath.
I remember chatting with the homeowner afterward, and they were pretty set on just patching it up to save money. Totally understandable—no one likes unexpected expenses—but I gently explained that patching would probably just delay the inevitable. Sure enough, about six months later, I got a call from them again. The quick fix hadn't held up through winter storms, and now they had water damage inside their attic space too.
In the end, they ended up replacing all the flashing around that chimney anyway. It cost them more than if they'd done it right from the start because now they had interior repairs to deal with as well. It's one of those tough lessons we all learn at some point: sometimes biting the bullet early saves you headaches (and cash) down the road.
Still, I get why people try quick fixes first—it's human nature to hope for an easy solution. But aluminum corrosion is sneaky stuff; once it starts eating away at flashing, it's usually best to replace rather than chase after temporary patches. Learned that one myself the hard way years ago when I tried patching my own garage roof flashing...ended up redoing it completely after a year of frustration and leaks. Live and learn, right?
