That “maintenance-free” label always makes me shake my head a bit. I’ve seen metal boots outlast the rubber ones by years, but only if folks keep up with the sealant and check for movement after big temperature swings. Here’s what I usually tell people: every couple years, get up there (or hire someone) and look for cracked caulk, loose fasteners, or rust starting around the edges. That’s where leaks sneak in, especially after a scorcher of a summer. And you’re right about attic heat—if the ventilation’s off, it’ll cook your decking from the inside out. I’ve seen infrared scans show 20-degree differences between rafters and sheathing... not something you want to ignore.
That “maintenance-free” claim always feels like wishful thinking to me. I’ve seen plenty of “lifetime” boots and flashings start to fail just from a couple of freeze-thaw cycles or a summer where the attic turns into an oven. Even metal’s not immune—once that caulk goes brittle or a screw backs out, water finds its way in. I usually tell folks: if you’re seeing big temp swings, especially in older homes, check those penetrations every year, not just every few. And yeah, attic ventilation’s a sneaky culprit. I’ve pulled up decking that looked fine from the outside but was cooked and crumbly underneath. Infrared scans are eye-opening, but honestly, just feeling for hot spots or musty smells in the attic can tip you off before things get ugly.
Those “lifetime” claims are definitely optimistic, especially around penetrations. I’ve seen even high-end metal boots fail after a couple of rough winters—usually the caulk or gasket gives out first, like you said. Annual checks are a must in my book, especially if you’re managing multiple properties. Ventilation’s tricky too; I’ve had attic mold pop up just from a blocked soffit vent no one noticed for years. Sometimes the techy reports help, but nothing beats actually crawling up there and poking around for soft spots or weird smells.
Sometimes the techy reports help, but nothing beats actually crawling up there and poking around for soft spots or weird smells.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had inspectors hand me those glossy PDFs with thermal scans and drone shots, but it’s always my own nose that finds the first hint of trouble. Had a “lifetime” vent boot split after just three years—guess the sun didn’t get the memo. Annual checks are a pain, but they’ve saved me from way bigger headaches down the line. Mold from blocked vents is sneaky stuff... caught it once by accident when I was chasing a squirrel in the attic.
it’s always my own nose that finds the first hint of trouble
Same here. I’ve had those fancy reports miss stuff like a slow drip that only showed up after a week of rain. Nothing replaces getting up there and checking things yourself, even if it’s a hassle.
