Sometimes the “easy” option just means more headaches later...
That’s been my experience too. I tried those deck-mounted seals on my last place (asphalt shingles, mid-Atlantic, not exactly hurricane alley but we get our share of sideways rain). Looked clean at first, but after two years, I found a slow leak right where the seal met an old nail hole. Flashing might be more work up front, but I’d rather deal with that than hunt down mystery drips in the attic. Maybe I’m just old school, but water always finds a way if you give it a chance...
Funny, I’ve seen the same thing—those deck seals look slick at first, but a couple years in and you’re chasing leaks. I’ll take the extra hassle of flashing if it means I’m not patching ceilings later. Water’s sneaky like that...
I hear you on the leaks—seen way too many “innovative” seals fail after a couple freeze-thaw cycles. Flashing’s a pain, but at least it’s tried and true. Curious if anyone’s had better luck with those new seals in really wet or snowy climates? Around here (coastal Maine), I’ve patched more than a few ceilings thanks to shortcuts. Wondering if it’s just our weather or if those deck mounts just don’t hold up anywhere long-term...
Deck-mounted seals always sound great on paper, but in practice—especially up here in the Northeast—they just don’t seem to stand up to the freeze-thaw cycles. I’ve seen a few installs where the rubber gaskets looked fine for the first year or two, then started letting water creep in once things got cold and wet. It’s like they shrink just enough to let a trickle through, and before you know it, you’re chasing stains across the ceiling.
Traditional flashing is definitely more work (and yeah, it’s a pain wrestling with shingles on a cold morning), but I’ve had way fewer callbacks when I stick with it. The extra step of tucking metal under the shingle and sealing around the lag bolts just seems to hold up better long-term, at least on asphalt roofs. Maybe it’s overkill for drier climates, but around here, I’d rather spend an extra hour up front than come back in February with a bucket.
If anyone’s had luck with those newer seals in places that get real winter, I’d be curious too. For now, I’m sticking with what’s worked—even if my knees hate me for it.
- Been there with the deck seals—looked great at first, but after two winters in upstate NY, I was patching leaks around the mounts.
- Traditional flashing is a pain, especially when you’re fighting ice under the shingles, but I’ve had fewer headaches long-term.
- On steeper roofs, flashing feels like extra insurance. The seals just don’t seem to flex back after a deep freeze.
- Only exception: I did one low-slope metal roof with high-end gaskets and it’s held up... but that’s not the norm for asphalt.
- For Northeast winters, I still lean toward metal flashing every time. My knees complain, but my phone doesn’t ring with callbacks.