Using Aluminum Flashing on Garden Arbors

Arbor with flashing installed over support boards

When I first built my arbor, I didn't think to use aluminum flashing to protect the top flat part of the arbor from rot. Eventhough I used pressure treated wood, over time the top of the arbor support boards decayed from the water that pooled on them.

Flashing bent over board

To fix this I took aluminum flashing and a hand seamer and made an attractive top for the arbor boards. I didn't realize how easy it was to use the hand seamer to make straight seams. Once I made the tops, I screwed them in with stainless steel screws and silicon caulk.

Bending the aluminumw with a hand seamer

Flashing seen from below