I get where you’re coming from on the shims, but I’ve actually had decent luck with them in a couple spots—mainly where the dip was minor and the rest of the decking was still solid. I wouldn’t use them over big soft patches, but for a little sag between rafters, it bought me a few extra years before a full tear-off. Maybe I just got lucky with my roof’s age and the dry climate here.
On sealant, I’m on the other side—I went heavier than most guides suggested, especially around the fan base and flashing. Yeah, it’s messier and takes longer to cure, but after one bad storm season, I’d rather deal with extra cleanup than water stains on my ceiling. I do agree about not overdoing it to the point where water gets trapped, though.
As for the self-leveling flashing kits, I actually liked them for weird angles—my roof’s got a funky pitch, and the kit filled gaps better than regular caulk. Not perfect, but less hassle for me. Guess it depends on how much time you want to spend fussing with it.
I hear you on the shims—if the dip’s minor and the rest of the deck is solid, I’ve seen them hold up for a while too. Wouldn’t trust them on anything spongy, though. On sealant, I probably lean more toward your approach after seeing a neighbor’s attic get trashed from a tiny leak around his fan base. Cleanup’s annoying, but water damage is worse. Those self-leveling kits are a lifesaver for oddball pitches... I had to deal with a 7/12 slope and regular caulk just didn’t cut it. Curious if you noticed any shrinkage with the kit over time? That’s the only thing that bugged me.
Those self-leveling kits are a lifesaver for oddball pitches... I had to deal with a 7/12 slope and regular caulk just didn’t cut it. Curious if you noticed any shrinkage with the kit over time? That’s the only thing that bugged me.
I’ve run into the same issue with shrinkage, especially on the south-facing side of my roof where it gets hammered by sun most of the day. The first year after installing my solar fan, I checked the sealant every couple months and noticed some minor pulling away at the edges—nothing catastrophic, but enough to make me nervous. Ended up running a second bead around the base after about 10 months, just to be safe. Not sure if it’s the brand or just our climate (humid summers, cold winters), but I’d say expect a little movement.
On shims, I’m right there with you—if the deck is solid, they’re fine for minor dips. Tried them once on an older section where the plywood was borderline spongy and regretted it. Ended up having to pull everything up and sister in new supports. Lesson learned: shims are not a fix for structural issues.
Water intrusion is my biggest worry too. My neighbor had a similar situation—tiny leak around his attic vent that went unnoticed until mold started showing up in his insulation. The cleanup cost him way more than just doing a careful install would have. I’d rather spend an extra hour fussing with sealant than risk that kind of headache.
One thing I wish I’d done differently: used a flashing boot designed for steeper pitches instead of trying to make a universal one work. The self-leveling stuff helped, but there’s only so much you can do when the fit isn’t perfect. Next time, I’ll spend the extra $20 for something made for my roof angle.
If you’re budget-minded like me, it’s tempting to cut corners on materials, but in my experience, water always finds its way in if you give it half a chance. A little extra upfront goes a long way toward peace of mind down the road.
Had a similar adventure last year—thought I could outsmart gravity and use a “universal” flashing on a 9/12 pitch. Spoiler: water laughed at me. Ended up crawling back up there with a tube of sealant and a very bruised ego. Next time, I’m just buying the right boot from the start. Also, totally agree on shims—tried to save a buck, wound up spending my Saturday fixing the mess. Sometimes cheap is expensive...
Been there with the “universal” flashing—mine claimed it’d fit anything, but apparently my roof didn’t get the memo. I tried to save a few bucks too, thinking sealant would do the trick. It held up until the first real rain, then I got a nice drip right over my workbench. Lesson learned: sometimes you just have to buy the part that’s actually made for your roof pitch.
I still get tempted by those “one size fits all” deals, though. Hard not to when you’re staring at the price tags in the aisle. But yeah, after spending half a Saturday crawling around up there (and nearly sliding off), I’m starting to think my time is worth more than I realized.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those adjustable boots? Or is it just better to bite the bullet and get the exact match? My attic fan install is next on my list, and I’d rather not repeat last year’s water feature...