Traditional flashing is just more forgiving with our rain. It’s slower to install, yeah, and you’ve got to lift shingles, but I rarely see leaks when it’s done right—even on older roofs.
I’ve only been on a handful of jobs where we used those deck-mounted seals, and honestly, I was surprised how fast they went in. But then again, that was on a new build with architectural shingles—totally flat, no moss yet. Couple years later, I drove by and saw some dark streaks under the mounts... made me wonder if water was sneaking in already.
On the other hand, every time we do traditional flashing, it feels like a pain—especially when you hit those stubborn shingles that don’t want to budge. But I get what you’re saying about the Seattle rain. My uncle’s house had solar put in with flashing mounts about 10 years ago and not a single leak so far. He grumbles about the install mess but says he’d do it the same way again.
I guess if you’re dealing with anything older than a brand new roof around here, flashing just seems like less of a gamble. Deck seals might be fine for dry climates or super fresh roofs, but up here? Not sure I’d risk it either.
Deck seals might be fine for dry climates or super fresh roofs, but up here? Not sure I’d risk it either.
That lines up with what I’ve seen too. After a few storms, those deck seals don’t always hold up—especially once algae and moss start creeping in. I’ve torn into a couple roofs where the seal looked fine from above, but water had found its way down the threads anyway. Flashing’s a pain, no doubt, but around here, it’s the lesser of two evils. The minute you get a little wind-driven rain, shortcuts come back to bite.
I hear you on the flashing—it’s a hassle, but after seeing what a couple of wet winters did to my neighbor’s deck seals, I wasn’t willing to gamble. My roof’s got a low pitch and plenty of tree cover, so leaks would be a nightmare. Maybe in Arizona... but not here in the Northwest.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve managed a handful of properties around here, and every time someone tries to cut corners on roof penetrations, it comes back to bite them. One place had those “no-flash” deck mounts—installer swore by them, said they were the new thing. First winter, we had a windstorm and sideways rain for days. By February, water was dripping through the ceiling fan in the living room. Turns out, the seals just didn’t hold up with all the moss and needles piling up from the fir trees.
Flashing’s a pain, no doubt. It takes longer, costs more, and you’ve got to find someone who actually knows what they’re doing. But I’d rather deal with that up front than have to rip out drywall and insulation later. Maybe those deck seals work in dry climates, but around here, I’m not convinced. I’ll take old-school flashing over a fancy gasket any day, especially with these low-slope roofs and all the shade. Just my two cents—maybe I’m too cautious, but I’ve seen enough soggy attics to last me a while.
