That’s the classic trade-off, isn’t it? Save a few bucks up front, then spend the next few years crossing your fingers every time the weather forecast looks ugly. I’ve seen a lot of folks try to make universal flashing work with those thicker architectural shingles, and honestly, it’s rarely a perfect fit. The gaps you mentioned are pretty common—those shingles just don’t want to play nice with “one size fits all” anything.
I get wanting to keep costs down, but sometimes the specialty kits really do save headaches in the long run. I’ve had tenants call me in a panic after a heavy rain, convinced their new attic fan was leaking, only to find out water was sneaking in around improvised flashing. Not fun for anyone.
If it’s holding up so far, that’s good news, but I’d keep an eye on it as those sealants can break down faster than you’d think—especially if you’re in a spot with big temperature swings. Might be worth budgeting for a proper kit next time you’re up there... or at least checking things over before storm season hits again.
