I get the argument for copper or steel, but man, the price difference is no joke. I had to patch a section last year and just couldn’t justify the cost at the time. Has anyone actually seen aluminum totally fail from rot, or is it usually the wood underneath that goes first?
- Haven’t seen aluminum itself rot—usually it’s the wood under it that gets trashed first, especially if water sneaks in somewhere.
- Aluminum can corrode, but it takes a while unless you’re near the coast or have some weird chemical reaction going on.
- Patched mine last fall after a squirrel “remodel.” The flashing was still fine, but the plywood underneath? Not so much.
- Honestly, for the price, aluminum’s not bad unless you’re planning to never touch your roof again. Copper looks cool but my wallet says nope.
Had a similar situation last year—thought the flashing was the problem, but it turned out to be the OSB underneath that was basically mulch.
I’m in a pretty humid area, so once water sneaks in, it’s game over for the wood. Aluminum held up better than I expected, honestly. Still, I wonder if a thicker gauge would buy more time or just cost more for not much gain...“The flashing was still fine, but the plywood underneath? Not so much.”
- Seen a lot of this in humid climates—once the OSB goes, it’s tough to stop the rot.
-
That’s been my experience too, even with thinner stuff.“Aluminum held up better than I expected, honestly.”
- Thicker gauge might help with dents or wind, but once water gets past, the wood’s still at risk.
- Curious if you’ve tried any different underlayments or sealants to slow down moisture? Sometimes that makes more difference than the metal thickness.
Tried a couple of those “miracle” sealants from the hardware store—one was basically glorified paint, the other actually seemed to help for a season or two. Still, once the OSB got mushy, it was game over. I’m in the Gulf Coast, so humidity’s a beast. Anyone ever just replaced the flashing and slapped peel-and-stick under it? Wondering if that’s just wishful thinking or actually buys some time.
