Plastic just doesn’t stand up to winter here, either—six years is about all I get before it starts looking like it’s been through a war. The freeze-thaw is brutal. I’ve had better luck with metal, but even then, if the flashing isn’t done right, you’re chasing leaks every spring. I totally get the frustration with those “premium” kits… why do they always throw in the cheapest screws? Had one snap off halfway in last year. Ended up raiding my own stash just to finish the job.
I’m with you on the sealant. I used to go heavy-handed with it, but honestly, a tight fit and good install seems to matter more than globbing on more goo. Unless you’re in a spot that gets hammered by rain sideways—then maybe it’s worth the mess.
Funny thing, my neighbor thought his fan was leaking because of a crack in the housing, but turns out it was a tiny gap in the flashing from where he rushed the install before a storm rolled in. One tube of roof cement later and he was dry again.
Anyway, nice work getting it up there yourself. These projects always teach you something for next time—usually about what not to buy at the hardware store... or how much patience you actually have for fiddly screws on a hot roof.
Man, I hear you on those “premium” kits—my last one came with screws softer than butter. Ended up using deck screws from my garage just to get through the install. You nailed it about the sealant too... I used to think more was better, but now I just focus on getting everything snug and lined up right. Still, every project seems to teach me a new way to lose my patience (and a few tools) up there. At least you got it done without calling in backup—props for that.
Funny, I had the same issue with the screws—thought I was just being rough, but they really are junk. Deck screws definitely held better for me too. I’m curious, did you have any trouble getting the flashing to sit flat? Mine always seems to want to lift on the corners, probably because my shingles aren’t perfectly even. Wondering if it’s just my roof or if that’s a common hassle.
That’s not just your roof—getting flashing to sit perfectly flat is a pain more often than not, especially on older roofs where the shingles have settled unevenly. I’ve run into this a bunch, particularly after hailstorms when I’m patching things up. Sometimes it’s the shingle thickness, sometimes it’s just the way the decking has warped over time. I’ve found that using a bit of roofing cement under the corners helps keep things down, but you’ve got to be careful not to overdo it or you’ll end up with a mess if you ever need to pull it up again.
One time, I thought I had it nailed (literally and figuratively), but a week later after a heavy rain, I noticed a little drip right at the edge where the flashing was lifting. Turns out, even a tiny gap can let water sneak in, especially if you get wind-driven rain. I’ve started using a small roller to press the flashing down as much as possible before securing it, but honestly, there’s always a bit of wrestling involved. Deck screws are definitely sturdier, but I wish more of these kits came with better hardware to begin with.
Yeah, I hear you on the hardware—why do these kits always come with the flimsiest screws? I’ve had the same issue with flashing not sitting flush, especially where my roof dips a little. Ever tried using butyl tape instead of just cement? I’ve found it’s a bit less messy if you ever need to remove things later, though it doesn’t solve the uneven decking problem. Curious if anyone’s actually had a kit where everything fit right out of the box... because I sure haven’t.