- Heat gun’s a mixed bag for me—sometimes it helps, but I’ve also seen it mess with the shingle surface if you’re not careful.
- Butyl tape definitely creeps in the heat. I’ve had it ooze out on a south-facing install last July… not a dealbreaker, but it’s messy.
- I usually back it up with a bead of sealant, but honestly, neither is perfect in extreme temps.
- If you’re worried about long-term creep, maybe try an EPDM gasket or just stick to high-quality sealant and skip the tape.
I’m curious—has anyone just skipped the butyl tape altogether and relied only on a good sealant? I keep hearing mixed things about longevity, especially with all the temp swings we get here. Wondering if the tape is even worth the hassle or just extra cost.
I tried skipping the butyl tape once, just used a high-end sealant around the flashing. Looked fine at first, but after a couple of freeze-thaw cycles, I started seeing tiny leaks. For me, the tape’s a pain but it’s cheap insurance—especially with our wild temps.