“Sometimes the boot’s fine but the metal’s rusted out underneath, especially on older asphalt shingle roofs.”
That’s a good point—flashing gets overlooked way too often. Have you tried any of the newer recycled metal flashings? I’ve found they last longer and are less prone to rust, plus it cuts down on waste. Curious if anyone else has had luck with those, especially in freeze/thaw climates.
I’ve noticed the same thing—flashing is usually the first thing to go, not the boot itself. I tried recycled aluminum flashing last time I did a repair, and it’s holding up better than the old galvanized stuff, especially through our wild spring thaws. Only downside is it was a bit pricier, but I figure it’s worth not having to climb up there every couple years. Anyone else find the recycled stuff a little trickier to bend or cut? Maybe it’s just me, but it felt stiffer than what I’m used to.
Anyone else find the recycled stuff a little trickier to bend or cut? Maybe it’s just me, but it felt stiffer than what I’m used to.
I ran into the same thing—ended up with sore hands after wrestling that recycled flashing around a vent. It’s definitely tougher than the old galvanized, but I chalked it up to being out of practice. The upside is, like you said, it’s lasting longer through the freeze-thaw swings. I use tin snips, but they bog down a bit on the thicker stuff. Worth it for the peace of mind, though.
That recycled flashing is a beast, no question. I’ve had to put a lot more muscle into shaping those pieces, especially when it’s cold out—they stiffen up even more, and my old snips barely make a dent sometimes. I’ve started using aviation snips for the tougher cuts, but even then, it’s slow going.
One thing I did notice, though, is that the recycled stuff seems less likely to kink or crease in weird ways. The trade-off is sore hands and a little extra time, but I think it’s worth it if you’re in an area with lots of temperature swings. I’ve been called back way less often for leaks or cracked flashing since making the switch. Still, I wouldn’t mind if the manufacturers eased up on whatever makes it so rigid... maybe there’s a middle ground between durability and workability.
Funny enough, I actually miss the old galvanized sometimes—at least you could bend it with your knee if you had to.
Funny enough, I actually miss the old galvanized sometimes—at least you could bend it with your knee if you had to.
I know what you mean. I swapped out a couple vent boots last winter and that recycled flashing was brutal in the cold. Took twice as long just to get a clean bend. But, like you said, it really does hold up better once it’s in place—haven’t seen any splits or leaks even after a rough freeze-thaw cycle this spring. Still, part of me misses how forgiving the old stuff was for quick repairs... especially when you’re working solo on a steep pitch.