Ever had those rubber boots around vent pipes crack way sooner than expected?

- Definitely agree, install is half the battle. I’ve seen a lot of boots fail just because they weren’t seated right or got stretched too much around the pipe.
- Up here (cold winters, lots of snow), even the pricier “UV resistant” boots seem to get brittle after a few years. Sun and ice just chew them up.
- I’ve had some luck with the double collar setup, especially on shallow pitches where water tends to linger. It’s not pretty, but it does cut down on leaks and callbacks.
- Tried a few brands that claim 20+ year lifespans - never seen one actually make it that long in real conditions. Usually 5-7 years tops before cracks show up, sometimes less if there’s a lot of movement or shifting.
- One thing I’ve noticed: flashing quality matters too. If the metal base isn’t snug or gets bent during install, water finds its way in no matter what boot you use.
- At this point, I just tell folks to budget for replacements every so often. It’s frustrating, but seems like part of roof maintenance up north... unless someone’s found a miracle boot I haven’t heard about yet?

At this point, I just tell folks to budget for replacements every so often. It’s frustrating, but seems like part of roof maintenance up north... unless someone’s found a miracle boot I haven’t heard about yet?

I hear you on the frustration. Up here in Ontario, it’s much the same story - boots that are supposed to last a decade or more, but after five winters they’re brittle as old licorice. I used to think paying extra for those “UV resistant” ones was the answer, but honestly, the sun and freeze-thaw cycles seem to win no matter what.

One thing that’s helped me a bit (and it’s not exactly a miracle, but maybe a step in the right direction) is switching to silicone boots instead of rubber. They’re pricier up front, but I’ve noticed they don’t get nearly as stiff or crack as fast, even after a few brutal seasons. Not perfect, but better than the old black EPDM ones. I still check them every spring, especially around the base where snow piles up.

Totally agree with you about flashing quality too. I had a job last year where the boot itself was fine, but the flashing was bent during install and water wicked right underneath. Now I always double-check that everything’s seated tight and use a dab of eco-friendly sealant if it looks even a little off.

I’ve also tried the double collar trick you mentioned, mostly on low-slope roofs. It’s not pretty, but it does seem to outlast a single boot, especially where ice dams are an issue. For what it’s worth, I’ve started telling folks the same thing: plan for 5-7 years and treat it like changing the oil - just part of the deal if you want a dry attic.

Would love to hear if anyone’s had luck with any of those “lifetime” metal retrofit boots. I’ve seen them around, but haven’t tried one yet. The price tag’s a bit steep, but if it saves me crawling around on icy shingles every few years, it might be worth it.

Couldn’t agree more about the so-called “UV resistant” boots - marketing hype, if you ask me. I’ve replaced too many of those after just a few years in Manitoba, and it’s always the same: cracks right where the snow sits the longest. Silicone’s a step up, but even those aren’t invincible. I’ve actually installed a couple of those metal retrofit boots on older homes with persistent leaks. Pricey, yeah, but honestly, they’re solid. No more crawling around in March patching things up. If you’re already up there replacing boots every 5-7 years, that metal option starts to make sense.

Had a similar run-in with those “UV resistant” boots on a south-facing roof in Winnipeg - cracked within three winters. Tried a silicone one after that, but it got brittle anyway. Switched to metal last year. Not cheap, but honestly, no issues since. For our climate, I think it’s worth it.

Switched to metal last year. Not cheap, but honestly, no issues since. For our climate, I think it’s worth it.

I hear you on the metal - pricey up front, but after replacing two cracked boots in four years (both labeled “UV resistant,” too), I just couldn’t deal with another spring thaw leak. Did you find installing the metal ones tricky around existing shingles? Mine needed a bit of finesse to get them sealed right, but once done, it’s been smooth sailing. Kinda wild how fast those “UV” ones fail in prairie sun and cold snaps...

Metal boots are a game changer, but yeah, getting them to sit right with old shingles took some patience. I ended up trimming a bit and using extra sealant - probably overkill, but after the last “UV resistant” rubber split in two winters, I wasn’t taking chances. Prairie weather just eats those things for breakfast. Honestly, the peace of mind is worth the upfront pain (and cost).

That’s a smart move - those rubber boots just don’t hold up out here, no matter what the label says. I’ve seen so many “UV resistant” ones fail after a couple seasons. Metal’s a pain to fit on older roofs, but you’re right, the extra effort pays off. I’d rather overdo the sealant than deal with leaks in January...

Metal’s a pain to fit on older roofs, but you’re right, the extra effort pays off. I’d rather overdo the sealant than deal with leaks in January...

I get what you’re saying about metal being a hassle, especially on roofs that aren’t exactly level anymore. I did try to save a few bucks last time and went with those “lifetime” rubber boots - big mistake. They started cracking after maybe three winters (I’m in central PA, so we get the freeze/thaw cycle). The label said UV resistant, but they got brittle anyway. Had to climb up there in February with a heat gun just to get the old one off.

That said, metal boots aren’t cheap either. I found the install was tricky around some of my older vent pipes - nothing’s ever square on this house. Still, patching leaks every other year costs more in the long run. I do think manufacturers oversell those rubber ones... maybe they last longer somewhere milder, but here? Not worth it for me.

I’m still not convinced there’s a perfect solution unless you’re willing to go all-out on both materials and labor. For now, I just keep an eye out for cracks and hope for mild winters.

- Gotta say, I’ve had better luck with the “lifetime” rubber boots than you did, but I’m in southern VA - definitely milder winters. Maybe that’s the difference?
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“maybe they last longer somewhere milder, but here? Not worth it for me.”

I hear you on the crooked rooflines - mine’s got more waves than the beach. Tried metal boots once, but getting them to sit right was a circus act. The rubber ones crack faster up here (Maine), but swapping them out is way less hassle for me. That UV tape trick does help squeeze a bit more life out of them, though.

I get the appeal of just swapping out the rubber ones, but I gotta say, after a couple winters up here, I started leaning toward those all-silicone boots. They’re pricier, but I haven’t seen one crack yet - even with the wild temp swings. The install’s a bit more fiddly, but not as bad as wrestling with metal on a wavy roof. Maybe worth a shot if you’re tired of the rubber routine?

We’ve had a few buildings with those rubber boots fail after just a couple seasons - especially on the south-facing slopes where the sun really bakes them. The silicone ones do seem to hold up better, but I’m curious if anyone’s noticed issues with them loosening over time, especially on steeper pitches?

I’ve run into this with a couple of our older green roofs - those black rubber boots just don’t seem to like the combo of UV and big temperature swings. On one project, we had them start to split after two years, right where the sun hit hardest. Swapped to silicone and, yeah, they definitely last longer in the sun. Haven’t seen much actual loosening on steeper pitches, though I did notice on one steep metal roof that the sealant around the base started to pull away a bit after a few freeze-thaw cycles. Not sure if that’s more about movement in the roof or just the way things settle over time.

One thing that helped was adding a little extra support under the boot on steeper slopes, almost like a wedge, so it wasn’t flexing as much. Also started using a UV-resistant sealant just in case. Haven’t had issues since, but I still keep an eye on them every spring - seems like no matter what you use, that south-facing sun finds a way to do some damage eventually.

That south-facing sun is the worst, right? I’ve seen boots last barely a year on some low-slope spots where the sun just bakes them.

“Swapped to silicone and, yeah, they definitely last longer in the sun.”

Yeah, the sun just cooks those things - especially if you’ve got a dark roof. I switched to silicone too, but I still don’t totally trust it when we get those wild temperature swings. Anyone ever tried those all-metal boots? I’ve thought about it, but they look like overkill unless you’re doing commercial stuff... Wondering if it’s worth the extra cost or just sticking with what works and keeping an eye on ‘em.

I get where you’re coming from - those temperature swings are brutal on any kind of boot, even the silicone ones. I’ve seen the all-metal boots in catalogs but never actually installed one on a residential job. Price is definitely higher, and honestly, I’m not convinced they’re necessary unless you’ve got some really unusual conditions or just want zero maintenance. For most homes, just keeping an eye out and swapping the boots every so often seems to work fine. Still, I’d be curious if anyone’s actually put metal ones on a house and noticed a big difference...

I actually went with the metal boots a couple years back after getting tired of swapping out cracked rubber ones every few seasons. Upfront cost was definitely more, but honestly, I haven’t touched them since and they still look brand new. For me, it was worth not having to climb up there so often - especially since our summers get pretty brutal. I get that it’s not for everyone, but if you’re planning to stay in the house long-term, it might pay off in the end.

I’ve been dealing with the same rubber boot issue, and honestly, it’s kind of frustrating how fast they seem to crack. Ours started splitting after just three years, which felt way too soon. I keep wondering if it’s just the cheap ones the builder used or if it’s something about our weather (I’m in central Texas - lots of sun, lots of heat).

The metal boots sound interesting, but I’m a little hesitant about the upfront cost. Did you have to do anything special to install them, or was it pretty much a straight swap? Also, do they make any noise when it rains? I know that sounds weird, but I’ve got this thing about roof noises since moving in.

I get the appeal of not having to mess with it for years, but part of me wonders if there’s a middle ground - like maybe a better quality rubber boot or some kind of UV protection spray? Just feels like everything on a house is more expensive than you expect...

That Texas sun is brutal on anything rubber, honestly. I had the same issue - boots started cracking after just a couple years, and I’m convinced it’s partly the cheap stuff builders use but also just the relentless UV. I did try a “premium” rubber boot once, and it lasted maybe a year longer, but not by much. As for metal boots, I swapped one in last fall and didn’t notice any extra noise during storms (and I’m picky about that too). The install wasn’t too bad - just had to be careful with the shingles. If you’re handy, it’s doable. I’ve heard of folks using UV sprays but never tried it myself... seems like it’d be a hassle to reapply every year. Sometimes paying more up front saves you from climbing up there again in a few years, which is worth something in my book.

- You’re spot on about the Texas sun - UV just eats through rubber way faster than most folks expect.
- Metal boots are a solid upgrade. I’ve seen them outlast rubber by years, and noise isn’t usually an issue unless they’re loose.
- UV sprays can help, but like you said, reapplying every year is a pain and easy to forget.
- Paying more up front for better materials or metal is almost always worth it in harsh climates. Less hassle, fewer leaks, and less time on the roof.