Heavier gauge metal has definitely saved me some headaches, especially on spots that get a lot of sun or foot traffic. I’ve noticed the lighter aluminum just doesn’t hold up if there’s any flexing in the decking underneath—like you said, it’ll show every little dip. On a couple of older properties, I tried the synthetic underlayment with sealed edges, but after two winters, the sealant started to crack where the boards moved. Not a huge leak, but enough to be annoying.
One thing I’ve started doing is running a bead of high-quality sealant *under* the flashing as well as at the edges. It’s not perfect, but it seems to help with minor movement. Still, if there’s a lot of shifting or unevenness, I’d rather just bite the bullet and replace with thicker metal. Costs more upfront, but less hassle long-term.
Guess it really comes down to how much you want to patch versus redo. For high-traffic or exposed areas, I lean toward replacement now... learned that lesson after chasing leaks for two seasons straight.
Couldn’t agree more about heavier gauge metal being worth it, especially after a hailstorm we had a couple years back. The thinner stuff just buckled and warped, and I spent way too many weekends chasing leaks that kept popping up in the same spots. I’ve tried the sealant trick too—sometimes it buys you a season, but with freeze/thaw cycles here, it just doesn’t hold up. At this point, if there’s movement or flexing, I just budget for a full replacement with thicker metal. Costs more up front, but I sleep better when the next storm rolls in.
- Right there with you on the thicker metal—seen way too many “quick fixes” fail after a rough winter.
- Sealant’s fine for a patch, but yeah, it’s just a band-aid if the metal’s flexing or warped.
- Upfront cost stings, but chasing leaks every spring is worse.
- Honestly, I’d rather do it once and not worry about it for years.
- Good call budgeting for the upgrade... peace of mind’s worth a lot when the weather turns ugly.
Had a similar situation last year—tried patching with sealant, but by March, water was sneaking in again. Ended up replacing the flashing with heavier gauge aluminum. Cost more upfront, but honestly, haven’t had to think about it since. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.
I get the appeal of just ripping it out and starting fresh, but honestly, I’m not convinced it’s always necessary. I patched my flashing with a combo of sealant and some aluminum tape last fall—yeah, it took a couple tries to get it right, but it’s held up through two nasty storms so far. Sure, heavier gauge stuff is probably more durable, but if you’re careful and keep an eye on things, patching can buy you a few more years without dropping a ton of cash upfront. Sometimes I wonder if we’re too quick to replace instead of repair...
