Had a similar experience myself—thought I was being smart using regular silicone on my aluminum flashing, ended up with corrosion and peeling after just a few months. Switched to neutral-cure silicone too, and it's been holding up great since. Guess we all learn eventually...
Been there myself—tried regular silicone on aluminum flashing thinking it'd save me a trip to the store. Big mistake, haha. Within months, it was peeling and looking rough. Switched over to neutral-cure silicone after a buddy recommended it, and it's been solid ever since. Sometimes shortcuts just aren't worth it...lesson learned the hard way.
Yeah, neutral-cure silicone is definitely the way to go with aluminum flashing. Regular silicone releases acetic acid as it cures, which reacts badly with aluminum—hence the peeling and corrosion. Learned that one myself after some trial and error...
Neutral-cure silicone is definitely better than regular silicone for aluminum, but honestly, silicone itself isn't always the best long-term solution for flashing repairs. I've seen plenty of cases where even neutral-cure silicone eventually fails due to UV exposure and weathering. If you're looking for durability, you might want to consider a proper flashing tape or even replacing the damaged section entirely. Silicone can be a decent temporary fix, but relying on it long-term usually leads to revisiting the same issue down the road...
"Silicone can be a decent temporary fix, but relying on it long-term usually leads to revisiting the same issue down the road..."
Couldn't agree more. How long are you planning to keep the property? If you're looking at a short-term hold or just patching things up temporarily, neutral-cure silicone might be okay. But if you're aiming for something more permanent, silicone—even the neutral-cure stuff—isn't going to cut it.
Have you checked out aluminum-compatible flashing tapes? I've had good luck with those. They're pretty straightforward to apply, and they hold up way better against UV and weather than silicone ever will. I manage several properties, and honestly, every time we've tried to "quick-fix" flashing issues with silicone, we've ended up back on the roof within a year or two. Not exactly ideal, right?
Replacing the damaged section entirely is obviously the best route, but I get it—sometimes budgets or timelines don't allow for that. Still, have you priced out what a proper replacement would cost? You might be surprised; sometimes it's not as expensive or complicated as you'd think, especially if it's just a small section.
Also, what's causing the damage in the first place? If there's an underlying issue—like improper installation or water pooling—then even the best tape or silicone won't help much until that's addressed. Just something to consider before you spend time and money on a fix that won't last.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide. Flashing repairs are never fun, but tackling them properly now can save you headaches later.
