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.
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.
This hits home. I tried the “universal” route on my own place a few years back—mainly because I figured, how different could it be? Turns out, pretty different. My roof’s got those chunky architectural shingles too, and the flashing never really sat flush. I ended up with a tiny gap that didn’t seem like much until we had our first real downpour. Water found its way in, of course. Had to pull everything up and redo it with the right kit.
I get wanting to save a few bucks, but chasing leaks is way more expensive (and stressful) in the long run. Especially here in the Midwest where temps swing all over the place—sealant just doesn’t last like you hope. Now I always double-check before storm season rolls in... learned that lesson the hard way.
- Tried to install a solar attic fan last spring thinking it’d be a quick weekend project.
- Got the “universal” flashing kit because, well, it said universal. Spoiler: my chunky shingles laughed at that.
- Ended up with a weird ridge that looked fine until rain hit... then I had a tiny indoor waterfall.
- Lesson learned: universal is code for “sorta fits, but not really.”
- Next time, I’m just getting the matching kit—even if it means waiting a week for shipping. My nerves (and ceiling) can’t take another surprise shower.
Universal flashing kits are kind of like “one size fits all” hats—sure, they technically fit, but not always in a way you’d want to be seen in public. I ran into the same thing with dimensional shingles. Ended up having to custom-bend the flashing and still got a leak. Next time, I’m just ordering the exact match and saving myself the headache.
I totally get the frustration with those universal kits. When I put in my solar attic fan last fall, I figured the “fits all roofs” flashing would save me some time and money. Nope. My roof’s got these architectural shingles with a pretty chunky profile, and the flashing just wouldn’t sit flush no matter how much I tried to finesse it. Ended up with a weird little gap right where the shingle ridges are highest.
I tried layering some extra roofing cement under the flashing, thinking that’d do the trick, but after our first heavy rain, I noticed a tiny drip in the attic insulation right below the fan. Not a full-on leak, but enough to make me nervous about what could happen if we got a real storm. Had to pull everything back up and order a custom piece from a local sheet metal shop. It wasn’t cheap—cost me about $80 for one piece—but at least it actually matched the roof profile.
Honestly, if I’d just measured everything out and ordered custom from the start, I probably would’ve saved myself an entire Saturday of frustration (and two trips up and down the ladder). The universal stuff might work for basic three-tab shingles or flat roofs, but anything with dimension or odd angles seems like asking for trouble.
I guess it’s one of those things you don’t really think about until you’re halfway through and realize “universal” is more of a suggestion than an actual guarantee. If anyone’s got those thick dimensional shingles like mine, I’d say skip the kit and go straight for something made to fit your roof. It’s not worth gambling on leaks—especially when you’re still paying off your first mortgage like me...
