I've gotta say, roofing cement can be a decent quick fix, but honestly, it's more of a band-aid solution. In my experience, if water's already sneaking in, you're better off biting the bullet and replacing the flashing altogether. Also, primer does help, but I've found that choosing higher-quality metal flashing—like copper or coated aluminum—makes an even bigger difference long-term. Costs a bit more upfront, sure, but saves headaches down the road... and fewer leaks means less stress every rainy season.
"roofing cement can be a decent quick fix, but honestly, it's more of a band-aid solution."
Couldn't agree more with this. When I first moved into my place, I tried patching leaks with roofing cement—worked fine for a few months, then the leaks came back worse than before. Ended up replacing the flashing with coated aluminum (copper was tempting but budget said nope). Definitely pricier upfront, but two rainy seasons later and zero leaks... worth every penny for peace of mind alone.
"roofing cement can be a decent quick fix, but honestly, it's more of a band-aid solution."
Yeah, learned this lesson the hard way myself. A couple years back, I noticed some water stains on my ceiling after a heavy storm. Being budget-conscious (and maybe a bit stubborn), I grabbed some roofing cement thinking I'd save myself some cash and hassle. Followed all the instructions to the letter—cleaned the area thoroughly, applied generously, smoothed it out nicely... honestly thought I'd nailed it.
Fast forward about six months, and those stains were not only back but had multiplied. Turns out the cement had cracked and shrunk under temperature swings (hot summers and freezing winters here). After doing some digging around online forums and talking to a buddy who's in construction, I realized roofing cement is really just temporary—great for emergency patch-ups but not reliable long-term.
Decided to bite the bullet and do it properly. Here's what worked for me:
1. Stripped away all the old cement and debris around the leak area.
2. Inspected carefully for any hidden damage or rot (thankfully minimal).
3. Installed new aluminum flashing—like someone else mentioned, copper would've been nice but definitely out of my price range.
4. Sealed edges with a high-quality polyurethane sealant designed specifically for roofs.
5. Checked everything again after a few days of drying time to ensure no gaps or missed spots.
Honestly, it wasn't as expensive as I'd feared once I factored in how often I'd have to redo the cement patches otherwise. Plus, there's something comforting about knowing it's done right and won't surprise you during the next big storm.
Roof maintenance isn't exactly fun or glamorous, but getting ahead of issues early saves headaches down the road. Just wish I'd known sooner that roofing cement was more of an emergency fix than a permanent solution... would've saved me some drywall repairs too!
You're spot on about roofing cement being temporary. I've seen plenty of quick fixes fail after a season or two. Props to you for tackling it properly—flashing and polyurethane sealant are definitely the way to go long-term. Saves money (and sanity) eventually... trust me.
I've inspected more roofs than I care to count, and you're right—roofing cement is basically the duct tape of roof repairs. Sure, it'll hold things together for a bit, but give it a season or two of harsh weather, and you're back up there cursing yourself for not doing it right the first time.
I remember inspecting this one house a few years back—beautiful old place, gorgeous woodwork inside. The owner proudly told me he'd patched up the flashing around his chimney with roofing cement because "it was quicker and cheaper." I nodded politely (as you do), but in my head, I was already picturing the water stains I'd probably find in his attic. Sure enough, when we climbed up there, it looked like someone had spilled coffee all over the insulation. He wasn't thrilled when I pointed out that his quick fix had turned into a bigger headache.
Flashing and polyurethane sealant aren't just better—they're really the only reliable solution if you don't want to be climbing ladders every spring. Plus, I've found that once homeowners bite the bullet and do it properly, they sleep better at night knowing their attic isn't slowly turning into an indoor swimming pool.
That said, I'll admit I've slapped some roofing cement on my own shed roof when I was feeling lazy. But hey... it's just a shed. If it leaks a bit, no big deal—my lawnmower hasn't complained yet.
