That shiny look threw me off too the first time I put one in. My neighbor joked it looked like a UFO landed on my roof, but now you’d never know it’s there unless you’re looking for it. Funny how fast the weather dulls things down.
I totally hear you on the caulk—learned that lesson during a surprise spring storm a couple years back. I’d just slapped some caulk around the edges, figured that was enough, and then came home to a nice little drip right over my workbench. Ended up pulling a section of shingles, doing the whole flashing-under-and-cement routine like you described. Haven’t had a drop since.
One thing I’ve noticed, especially after some of those wild summer storms we get here in Oklahoma, is that even with good flashing and cement, those nails can work themselves loose if you’re not careful. Last year after a big hailstorm, I checked mine and found two nails starting to back out. Might be worth giving yours a look after any rough weather—just in case.
Out of curiosity, did you run into any issues with the fan’s solar panel wiring? My install instructions were pretty vague about routing the wires under the shingles versus over them, and I ended up tucking them under but sealing with extra cement where they exited. Seems fine so far, but I always wonder if there’s a better way.
Also, how’s your attic temp now compared to before? Mine dropped by at least 15 degrees on hot days, which honestly surprised me—wasn’t expecting that much of a difference.
That’s a good point about the nails. I’ve seen that too, especially on older roofs or after a big wind event. I usually go back with screws instead of nails if I have to redo anything—seems like they hold up better over time, at least in my experience. Not sure if that’s overkill, but I’d rather not be up there every season chasing loose hardware.
On the wiring, I’ve always run it under the shingles, but I try to keep the path as short and direct as possible. I use a dab of roofing cement where it exits, then press the shingle down tight. Haven’t had leaks yet, but I do wonder if the cement will hold up long-term with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here in Kansas. I’ve seen some folks use those little rubber grommets, but I haven’t tried them myself.
Curious—what kind of roof pitch are you working with? Steeper roofs seem to shed water better, but I’ve noticed the wiring can be trickier to hide without making a lump under the shingles.
I get the appeal of screws, but honestly, I’ve seen just as many issues with folks over-tightening them and cracking the shingles or even pulling through after a couple freeze-thaw cycles. Nails (if you go with ring-shank) aren’t always the villain. As for the cement—man, Kansas winters are brutal. I’ve had it turn brittle and flake off after a couple seasons. Those rubber grommets might look goofy, but they’re surprisingly tough, especially if you’re worried about water sneaking in around the wiring. Ever tried a proper flashing boot? It’s not pretty, but it sure beats crawling around with a caulk gun every spring.
Those rubber grommets might look goofy, but they’re surprisingly tough, especially if you’re worried about water sneaking in around the wiring. Ever tried a proper flashing boot? It’s not pretty, but it sure beats crawling around with a caulk gun every spring.
I hear you on the flashing boot. Not the prettiest thing up there, but after dealing with a couple of mystery leaks last winter, I’ll take ugly over wet insulation any day. I used to swear by roofing cement too—until it started peeling up like old sunburn after a few freeze-thaw cycles. Kansas weather just laughs at that stuff.
Funny enough, I’ve had better luck with ring-shank nails than screws on my last install. Screws always seemed like the “pro” move, but I’ve seen more than one shingle split from someone getting a little too enthusiastic with the drill. Nails plus a good flashing boot and those rubber grommets have kept things dry so far.
Honestly, I’d rather have something that works than something that looks perfect from the street. If it means one less trip into the attic during a rainstorm, I’m all for it.
Honestly, I’d rather have something that works than something that looks perfect from the street. If it means one less trip into the attic during a rainstorm, I’m all for it.
Right there with you. After patching the same spot twice with fancy sealants, I gave up and just used a flashing boot and some grommets—hasn’t leaked since. I do think screws have their place, but on my old 3-tab shingles, nails just seem less risky. The Kansas freeze-thaw cycle is brutal on anything that isn’t locked down tight. At the end of the day, dry insulation wins out over curb appeal every time.
