Labor’s higher, yeah, but honestly, peace of mind is huge when you’re dealing with tricky flashing. I’d rather pay up front than chase leaks every rainy season.
I get wanting to pay for peace of mind, but sometimes a solid patch job can hold up just fine—especially if the damage isn’t too widespread. Had a spot over my porch that I fixed up with some butyl and decent sealant two years ago, and it’s still bone dry. Not saying it’s always the answer, but sometimes “quick fix” isn’t as temporary as folks think. Just depends how bad the flashing is, I guess.
I hear you on the patch jobs sometimes lasting longer than folks expect. I did a quick repair on a back gutter corner with aluminum tape and sealant, and it’s held up through two winters so far. That said, I always wonder if I’m just putting off a bigger headache down the road... especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here. Sometimes it’s tough to know where to draw the line between “good enough” and “should probably just redo it.”
I always wonder if I’m just putting off a bigger headache down the road... especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here.
That’s the thing with patch jobs—they can surprise you, but sometimes they’re just buying time. I’ve seen aluminum tape hold up for years, then suddenly fail and cause hidden rot behind the fascia. If you’re seeing any swelling or staining around that gutter corner, it might be time to bite the bullet and replace. Otherwise, keep an eye on it each spring. Freeze/thaw is brutal on sealants... they crack when you least expect it.
Freeze/thaw is brutal on sealants... they crack when you least expect it.
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve lost count of how many “quick fixes” I’ve seen turn into science experiments after a rough winter. Sometimes you get lucky and the patch holds, but usually, water finds a way in—especially with all the expansion and contraction going on. I had a client who swore by duct tape for a gutter seam... until the spring melt turned his soffit into a sponge.
Curious if anyone’s tried those newer flexible flashing tapes? I keep seeing them at the hardware store, but I’m skeptical they’d last more than a season up here. Or is it just better to rip out the old aluminum and start fresh before things get ugly?
I had a client who swore by duct tape for a gutter seam... until the spring melt turned his soffit into a sponge.
That gave me a laugh—duct tape always seems like a good idea until water gets involved. I’ve actually played around with those flexible flashing tapes on my own shed roof last fall. They stuck great in September, but by March, the edges were curling up like old wallpaper. Maybe they’d work better in milder climates, but up here, the freeze/thaw cycle just eats them alive. Honestly, sometimes it’s less headache to replace the whole run of flashing and call it a day, especially if you want to avoid the annual “what’s leaking now?” game.
