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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Anybody ever use Flexseal?
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Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 11:41
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...and if so, how did you use it and did it work well?
I'm considering using it to try to solve a roof leak problem around a very complicated dormer.

I suppose it would be as good as anything to seal up a surface, but I've never tried it.

Thanks,
Tim_Ohio

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 15:31
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Sealants should never be a primary source of water proofing in any exterior application.

What kind of roof? What kind of siding?

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 15:40
Reply 


This is the situation as pictured. This is a new roof. The company seems to think the problem is in the old siding. I'm getting water in below on each side of the window area, but nothing obvious looks problematic. It needs scraped and painted to get by. I've looked carefully and caulked all that I can see that might be a problem. I know this is not a cabin. Sorry for bringing it up. It's driving me crazy, though. Maybe insight will help someone else.
leaking dormer
leaking dormer


Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 15:41
Reply 


If you can't see, the flashing does indeed curl up under the siding, as it is supposed to, on each side of the window. Those are the areas leaking, not under the window, but on each side below the siding.

Tim

spencerin
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 20:45 - Edited by: spencerin
Reply 


Did it start leaking only after the roof was replaced? Can you post another picture indicating where you *think* the water is getting in?

Irrigation Guy
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 21:47
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That is a hot mess, there isn’t even any step flashing on the right side

paulz
Member
# Posted: 26 Jul 2022 22:04
Reply 


I sawed this boat in half!

Haven't tried Flexseal but I just saw some in the 'As seen on TV' isle at CVS or Right Aid for $15 a quart. Next time I'm going to get it.

Leaks are a pain, good luck.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 09:53
Reply 


I suspect that a lot of the price of Flexseal is because they have to pay for all that high priced advertising.
Ask at the building center, and read up online, about what is a comparable, and likely less expensive product?

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 10:07
Reply 


Quoting: spencerin

Did it start leaking only after the roof was replaced? Can you post another picture indicating where you *think* the water is getting in?



The inside framing is in a crawl space. It looks like it
has leaked before the new roof. If I knew where it was leaking from, I'd solve the problem. I know where it is leaking to, chuckling. This house is 100 years old. The old roof that was removed and replaced was slate with asphalt shingles over top.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 10:23
Reply 


I would completely remove that window. Its always going to be an issue and shouldnt have ever had the roof put up to the bottom of it to begin with.

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 10:23 - Edited by: Tim_Ohio
Reply 


It's leaking below where the arrows are pointed. The copper flashing looks sound and curls up under the siding. I've caulked everything that looks suspect, but without success. I'm about to cover it with flex-seal after putting a new coat of paint on the framing. I know it should be torn apart and redone, but we've put so much money into other things, it's got to be just patched for now. Here is a pic with arrows showing where the dripping is at.
pic with arrows
pic with arrows


FishHog
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 12:27
Reply 


Put a garden hose on it. One small area at a time starting low and working up. Run for a while and check for a leak. Move hose and repeat until you find the leak.
Flex seal might buy you some time but sooner or later it will need to be fixed right before it causes long term damage and costs you way more for serious repairs

pabear89
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 16:58
Reply 


The thing about water, it never seems to enter where the leak is spotted.
From your pic's, I would look upward to the corners of the siding and roof line to the right.
It may be entering somewhere in those areas and the lower part of the sill is the spot it ends up at and causing the damage.

When i need to search for this type of problem, I always look for its likely path to get where it shows the leak.

The shape of the siding and opening in the corners and gaps in the lap may show you where it comes in and this is the spot that needs repair even if its temp.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 27 Jul 2022 17:18
Reply 


Quoting: pabear89
The thing about water, it never seems to enter where the leak is spotted.

This! Water is more than likely traveling anywhere from a short to a longer distance. That is no real help I know, but I know how difficult leaks can be to resolve. Soaking a small area with a garden hose, starting close to the location where water shows and moving away can help locate the source.

zorro
Member
# Posted: 30 Jul 2022 16:10
Reply 


I used a can of flex seal a few years ago on a flat roof that had a leak I could not find

The stuff in the can was almost like "soft jelly" and brushed on

It then set hard..................and honestly, it worked for me

I am sure that was not the "correct" way to find and fix the roof, but it was the cheapest and fastest way and know that it worked and helped for at least the 3 years we were still there

Alaskajohn
Member
# Posted: 31 Jul 2022 13:23
Reply 


I used the flexseal tape to do an emergency repair on a panel on my RV on a camping trip a couple years ago. The tape held for about 2 years. I don’t recommend the product but it did work for a short period.

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 13:08
Reply 


So, I think I solved this leaking problem. The arrow pointing up is where I finally solved the problem, I think. We had a heavy downpour and it did not leak, so I'm hoping it was the solution to the problem. There is a wedge or triangular shaped board that goes up the side of this shed style roof of this dormer. It was not sealed in anyway on the top edge of that piece of trim. For that matter, the trim piece was not cut very accurately either. So, I'm thinking the water was bouncing off of the roof and up behind the trim piece. It was too difficult to get a caulking gun in place to apply sealant. I had to put a piece of plastic hose over the tip of the caulking tube and spread it across the top edge of that rake piece which had flashing behind it, but was not protecting the top edge. Anyway, I did not use the Flex Seal product. I took the suggestion of using a hose down low and found nothing that leaked.

Thanks to everyone who gave their advice.

Tim_Ohio

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 13:09
Reply 


Here is the pic.
roof leak
roof leak


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