"Had vinyl flashing on a shed once, and it warped badly after a few hot summers."
That's interesting, because I've actually had decent luck with newer composite flashings. I was skeptical too, but here's what I found helps: first, make sure you leave enough room for expansion—composites move more than aluminum. Second, use stainless steel fasteners to avoid corrosion issues. Aluminum's decent near the coast, but composites can work if installed carefully. It's not just luck; proper prep and install steps matter a lot.
Good tips there, but honestly I'm still kinda wary of composites. My neighbor used composite flashing around his garage windows and it ended up buckling after just two summers. Maybe he didn't leave enough expansion room like you mentioned, or he cheaped out on fasteners (wouldn't surprise me lol).
For my last shed project, I stuck with aluminum flashing and stainless screws. Zero issues after five years, even with some blazing hot summers thrown in. But now you've got me wondering if composites have improved lately... maybe I'll test it out on something small first before committing to a bigger job.
I hear ya on composites. When we redid our porch trim, I tried composite flashing thinking it'd hold up better. Nope... warped like crazy after just one summer. Back to aluminum for me, lesson learned.
Yeah, composites can be tricky... especially if they're exposed to direct sunlight or big temperature swings. I've seen some newer PVC trims hold up pretty well, but it really depends on the brand and installation method. Did you leave any expansion gaps when installing? I've noticed sometimes even a small tweak in how it's fastened can make a big difference in warping. Curious if anyone's found a composite product that's actually reliable long-term.
"Curious if anyone's found a composite product that's actually reliable long-term."
Have you tried the Boral TruExterior stuff? Installed some on my south-facing windows a few years back, and it's held up surprisingly well—no warping yet. Maybe I just got lucky... or finally did something right for once, haha. Did you nail or screw yours in?
I used the TruExterior trim on a porch project about three years ago, and yeah, it's holding up pretty well so far. I screwed mine in—stainless steel screws, countersunk and filled. Nails might've been quicker, but screws gave me more control over alignment, especially around tricky corners. Did you prime or paint yours? I went with a high-quality exterior primer and two coats of paint, and haven't seen any peeling yet... fingers crossed it stays that way.
Interesting to hear your TruExterior trim is holding up well—I just finished my first window install last month and used the same stuff. I ended up going with nails because that's what the guy at the hardware store recommended, but now I'm wondering if screws would've been smarter, especially since alignment was a bit tricky around the corners. Did you find countersinking and filling the screw holes took a lot of extra time?
Also curious about the primer and paint... I only did one coat of paint (no primer) because the label said it was self-priming. Now I'm second-guessing myself—should I have gone with a separate primer anyway? Have you noticed any difference in durability between primed vs. self-priming paints? Still new to all this home improvement stuff, so I'm always questioning if I'm doing things the best way possible...
I've used TruExterior a few times, and screws definitely give you more control—especially around corners. Filling the holes isn't bad once you get a rhythm going. As for paint, self-priming is usually fine, but I always do two coats anyway...just peace of mind, I guess.
"Filling the holes isn't bad once you get a rhythm going."
Interesting point about filling the holes—I haven't tried TruExterior yet, but I'm planning to replace some windows soon. I've heard mixed opinions on caulking versus wood filler for screw holes...some say caulk is quicker and flexible, others swear by filler for durability. Have you experimented with both? Curious if one holds up better over time, especially with temperature swings and moisture.
I've done a fair bit of window replacements around my place, and honestly, I'd steer clear of caulk for filling screw holes. Sure, it's flexible and quick, but over time it tends to shrink or pull away from the edges, especially with temperature swings. Wood filler is better durability-wise, but even that can crack if moisture gets in or the wood expands and contracts a lot.
What I've found works best is epoxy putty—it's a bit pricier and takes a little more prep, but it's rock-solid once cured. Just mix it up, press it into the holes, let it dry, then sand smooth. It bonds really well to wood and composite materials, doesn't shrink or crack easily, and holds paint nicely. I did this on some south-facing windows that get hammered by sun and rain year-round...two years later, still looks great.
Might be worth giving epoxy putty a shot if you're looking for something that'll hold up long-term.