Had a similar thing happen with my first install—thought I’d scrubbed the decking clean, but apparently missed some old caulk. That spot leaked after a week of heavy rain. Swapped to butyl and started using sealant under the flange too. It’s a pain, but honestly, I’ll take sticky hands over another soggy attic any day.
Sticky hands are the worst, but I gotta admit, I’m still not sold on butyl for everything. Maybe it’s just me, but that stuff never seems to come off my clothes, and I swear I find bits of it weeks later. Did you ever try one of those flashing tapes instead? I used one on a vent pipe last fall—no leaks so far, and way less mess. Wondering if I just got lucky or if tape’s actually a decent shortcut...
I hear you on the butyl—stuff gets everywhere, and I’ve ruined more than one pair of work pants with it. I tried the flashing tape on a skylight curb last year, mostly because I was tired of the mess and didn’t want to shell out for another tube. It’s held up through a couple of storms so far, no leaks or peeling. I do wonder about longevity, but honestly, for the price and how quick it was, I’d use it again. Sometimes shortcuts actually pay off... at least until they don’t.
Sometimes shortcuts actually pay off... at least until they don’t.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen flashing tape hold up way better than I expected, especially on quick repairs after a storm. Honestly, sometimes the “proper” products just aren’t worth the mess or hassle, especially if you’re dealing with butyl. That stuff sticks to everything except where you want it half the time.
I wouldn’t lose sleep over the tape for now. If it’s made it through a couple storms without peeling or leaking, that’s a good sign. In my experience, the weak spots usually show up pretty quick—if it was gonna fail, you’d probably know by now. Still, I’d keep an eye on it after any big wind or heavy rain, just in case.
I’ve patched up more than a few jobs with “temporary” fixes that ended up lasting years. Sometimes you just need something that works and doesn’t ruin your clothes in the process.
Flashing tape can surprise you, but I’ve seen it fail in weird ways too—especially after a couple freeze-thaw cycles. Sometimes it’s just luck of the draw. Out of curiosity, did you use any sealant under the fan’s flange or just rely on the tape? I’ve found that combo can make a difference, but it’s a pain if you ever need to remove the unit later.