Ever tried checking for daylight up there on a sunny day? Sometimes that reveals gaps you’d never spot otherwise.
Funny you mention that—I learned the hard way a few years back. I thought I’d sealed everything up tight, but one afternoon I was in the attic and noticed a thin sliver of sunlight peeking in behind a vent pipe. Turns out, a bit of insulation had slipped and left just enough space for a draft (and probably critters, honestly). No musty smell yet, but I did catch a faint water stain near the eaves once. Quick patch job saved me a much bigger headache down the line. Roofs really do keep you on your toes, especially through those spring storms.
That sunlight trick really does work, even if it feels a bit old-school. I’ve found a couple of spots that way, especially around the chimney flashing—always seems like those joints shift a bit after a rough winter. I’m in the Midwest, so the freeze-thaw cycle is brutal on older asphalt shingles. Did a patch myself last year with some leftover roll roofing and sealant. Not pretty, but it held up through the spring rains. Funny how the smallest gaps end up costing the most if you let them go...
Chimney flashing—yep, that’s always the troublemaker, especially after a Midwest winter. I swear, you could seal it up tight in the fall and by March it’s like the shingles and flashing had a falling out and stopped talking to each other. The freeze-thaw cycle is rough on everything, but those joints just love to open up at the worst possible time.
Honestly, I’ve seen some “ugly but effective” patches hold up better than the fancy stuff. Roll roofing and a good goop of sealant? Not pretty, but if it keeps the water out, who cares what the birds think. I’ve patched more than a few like that for folks who just needed to get through another season or two. Sometimes you gotta pick your battles—especially when the budget’s tight or you’re not ready to rip off half the roof.
Funny thing, I’ve noticed the smallest gaps always seem to let in the most water. You’d think a big hole would be the real problem, but nope... it’s always that tiny crack by the flashing or under a lifted shingle that turns into a ceiling stain or, worse, a soggy attic. Had a homeowner call me last spring, swore he had a waterfall in his living room—turned out to be a gap barely wider than a pencil.
I will say, though, if you’re patching with leftover materials, just keep an eye on it after the first big storm or two. Sometimes those quick fixes hold, sometimes they don’t. And if you ever get tired of chasing leaks, flashing tape is surprisingly handy—just don’t expect it to win any beauty contests.
Anyway, Midwest roofs have it rough. I’m still amazed when I see a 25-year-old shingle roof around here that isn’t curling like potato chips.
- Always amazes me how a tiny crack can cause a huge headache, while a big patch job sometimes holds up fine.
- I’ve had folks call after a windstorm, swearing half their roof was gone, but it’s just that flashing joint by the chimney again. Midwest winters really test every seal.
- I’m with you on the quick fixes—sometimes ugly is what gets you through to spring.
- Ever tried the newer rubberized flashing membranes? I’ve had mixed results, but they’re a lot easier to work with than metal in the cold.
- Curious, have you found any sealants that actually stay flexible after a couple freeze-thaw cycles? Most of mine end up cracking by March.
- Seen it more times than I can count—a hairline crack in a valley or around a vent, and suddenly you’ve got water stains in the attic. Meanwhile, that big ugly patch with three layers of mastic from last winter is still holding strong. Go figure.
- Midwest freeze-thaw is brutal. I’ve had decent luck with the SikaFlex line, but even that gets stiff by late February. Some of the newer polyurethane sealants claim to stay flexible, but in my experience, they’re not magic—just a bit better than the old silicone tubes.
- Tried those rubberized membranes last December. Way easier to get down when it’s cold, but I noticed the edges started to curl up by March. Might be installer error or just the way the material reacts to wild temp swings.
- Had a customer with a 15-year-old asphalt roof—one tiny missed nail pop let in enough water to ruin a bedroom ceiling. Meanwhile, the patched-up ridge cap from a windstorm two years ago is still going strong. Sometimes it’s just luck... or maybe the roof gods have a sense of humor.
