Funny, I always thought the metal valleys looked a bit out of place, but after patching the same leaky spot three times, I caved and went with metal anyway. Not gonna lie, it’s not winning any style points, but at least my living room ceiling isn’t growing a new water feature every spring. The rattle when it rains is real though—sometimes I think it’s hailing when it’s just a drizzle.
I did try closed-cut valleys on the shed last year. Way easier to work with than woven, and it blends in better with the shingles. Haven’t noticed any leaks yet, but then again, that roof doesn’t take as much of a beating as the main house.
Living near the coast definitely makes things trickier. My neighbor’s metal valley started rusting after just a few years—guess salt air really does a number on anything metal. If I had to do it all over again, I’d probably spring for something less industrial-looking, but at this point I’ll settle for dry floors and call it good.
Metal valleys definitely aren’t winning any beauty contests, but I get where you’re coming from—sometimes you just want the leaks to stop, no matter what it looks like. Did you use galvanized or aluminum? I’ve seen galvanized rust out quick near the coast, but aluminum holds up a bit better, though it dents easier. That rain noise is no joke either... ever try putting a bit of underlayment or foam beneath to muffle it? Not perfect, but helps a little. Closed-cut valleys do look cleaner, but I always wonder if they’ll hold up as long in rough weather. Guess time will tell.
- Used aluminum last time—galvanized just didn’t last with all the salt in the air where I am.
- You’re right, dents show up fast, but at least it’s not rusting out on me.
- Tried foam strips under the metal... helped a bit, but rain still sounds like someone drumming up there.
- Closed-cut valleys look better, but I’ve seen them leak after a few years if the shingles aren’t lined up right.
- Anyone ever mess with woven valleys? I heard they’re tougher but a pain to install.
Galvanized never stood a chance for me, either—coastal air just eats it up. Aluminum’s holding up, but yeah, those dents are annoying. I’ve tried woven valleys on a couple of jobs. They’re definitely sturdier, but getting the overlap right is tedious and you burn through shingles faster. Anyone have luck with synthetic underlayment for noise? I’m still chasing that “quiet rain” dream...
I totally get the “quiet rain” thing—grew up in a house with a metal roof, and every storm sounded like a drumline. When we reroofed my uncle’s place last year, we tried synthetic underlayment hoping it’d help. Honestly, it was a bit quieter than felt, but not by much. The real difference came from adding a thicker layer of insulation under the decking. Not cheap, but it actually muffled the noise way better than I expected. Still, nothing’s ever as silent as you hope when the rain really comes down...