That’s interesting about the newer EPDM seals—haven’t seen many of those in my area yet, but I get the appeal, especially if it means less hassle with shingle layers. One thing I keep wondering: do these deck seals hold up as well over time when the roof starts to age and flex more? I’ve had traditional flashing last 15+ years, but never tried the new stuff past a couple winters. Anyone see deck seals performing just as well on a roof after, say, ten years of shifting and settling?
I get where you’re coming from—traditional flashing’s been the gold standard for ages, and I’ve seen it outlast a lot of other roof components. The newer EPDM deck seals are definitely easier to install, but I’ve only seen them on roofs for about 5-6 years so far. No major issues yet, but I do wonder how they’ll handle a decade of freeze-thaw cycles and settling. If your roof’s prone to flexing or you’re in a spot with wild temperature swings, I’d probably still lean toward tried-and-true flashing, just for peace of mind. But honestly, the tech keeps getting better... wouldn’t be surprised if these seals end up matching or even outlasting the old methods in a few years.
I get the hesitation, but isn’t there something to be said for how much easier it is to swap out or reseal those EPDM boots if you ever need to?
I’ve had traditional flashing leak after a few years just from nails backing out. Maybe the deck seals aren’t as proven, but at least they’re less of a pain to maintain if something shifts. Anyone else notice that?“No major issues yet, but I do wonder how they’ll handle a decade of freeze-thaw cycles and settling.”
- Had both on my roof at different times (asphalt shingles, Midwest winters).
- EPDM boots were way easier to swap when one cracked—just unscrewed and popped a new one in.
- Traditional flashing lasted longer for me, but yeah, nails did back out after a few years.
- Deck seals seem less fussy if you’re doing the work yourself, but I do wonder about long-term UV exposure...
- If your roof moves a lot with freeze-thaw, those boots might actually flex better than rigid flashing.
Deck seals seem less fussy if you’re doing the work yourself, but I do wonder about long-term UV exposure...
That’s exactly what I keep coming back to—isn’t the sun just going to mess with those seals over time? My house is only a few years old, but already the black plastic vents on my roof look faded. Midwest winters are brutal, but summer sun isn’t easy either. Did you notice any leaking around the deck seals after a couple seasons, or did they hold up pretty well? I’m leaning toward flashing just for peace of mind, even if it means fiddling with nails later.
