With traditional flashing, at least you can see where water might sneak in. Just feels more reliable, even if it takes longer and costs a bit more.
Totally get where you’re coming from. On older asphalt roofs, I’ve seen deck seals work fine for a while, but tracking leaks later is a pain. Flashing’s not perfect, but at least you can inspect it and spot issues before they get out of hand. Sometimes the “old school” way just gives more peace of mind, especially with Wisconsin’s freeze/thaw cycles.
Sometimes the “old school” way just gives more peace of mind, especially with Wisconsin’s freeze/thaw cycles.
Yeah, those freeze/thaw swings are brutal. I tried deck seals on my garage roof, and two winters later I was up there with a caulk gun. Flashing’s a pain to install, but at least you know what you’re dealing with.
- Totally get the peace of mind with old-school flashing, especially up here where the weather can turn on you fast.
- Deck seals sounded great in theory when I first looked into them—less mess, quicker install. But after a couple of freeze/thaw cycles, I noticed the seals started to pull away from the shingles. Ended up chasing leaks with a tube of caulk, just like you.
- Flashing’s definitely more work upfront. Cutting into shingles, making sure everything’s tucked right... not fun, but at least you can see what’s going on and fix it if something shifts.
- One thing I’ve noticed: deck seals seem to work better on newer roofs with really flat, uniform surfaces. My place is older, so nothing lines up perfectly. That probably didn’t help.
- If you’re thinking long-term (20+ years), flashing just seems to hold up better. Less maintenance, fewer surprises after a rough winter.
- Only downside for me was the look—flashing can be a bit more visible depending on how it’s installed. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning if you care about curb appeal.
- For anyone with metal roofs, I’ve heard deck seals are even trickier since expansion/contraction is more extreme. Haven’t tried it myself though.
- If you’re set on deck seals, maybe check if your installer offers any kind of warranty that covers freeze/thaw damage? Otherwise, I’d lean toward flashing and just accept the extra labor upfront.
Just my two cents after dealing with a few too many spring leaks...
You nailed it about the freeze/thaw cycles—those deck seals just don’t seem to have the staying power up here. I’ve seen more than a few “quick installs” turn into long-term headaches. Flashing’s a pain to install, but at least you know what you’re dealing with when things shift. And yeah, older roofs are never as flat as you hope... makes those seals even trickier. You’re not alone chasing leaks every spring—happens to the best of us.
That’s the story of my life every March—just when I think I’ve finally sealed up the last leak, another one pops up. I totally get what you mean about older roofs not being flat. Mine’s got a few dips and waves, and those deck seals never seem to sit quite right. Flashing is a pain, but at least you can see what’s going on under there if you need to. Ever tried mixing both methods? I’ve patched with flashing around the worst spots and used seals elsewhere... seems to buy me a little more time between repairs.