Funny thing, I’ve seen folks slap sealant on everything and hope for the best, but sometimes that just hides the real problem. Are you sure it’s not ice damming or poor insulation making things worse? I’ve torn off more than a few roofs where the “quick fix” just trapped moisture and made the rusting even faster. What kind of boots are you using—galvanized or neoprene? Some hold up better, but nothing’s bulletproof if the attic’s cooking underneath.
“the ‘quick fix’ just trapped moisture and made the rusting even faster.”
That’s what I keep seeing too, especially on older houses where folks just keep adding more goop every year. It’s wild how many times I’ve gone up thinking it’d be a simple patch job, only to find rotten decking underneath because water kept sneaking in around those boots. I’m in a spot with wild temperature swings, so ice damming is a real pain—sometimes you don’t even notice until the ceiling stains show up.
About the boots, I’ve mostly seen galvanized ones on jobs around here, but they always seem to rust out after a few seasons. Neoprene sounds better, but I’ve heard they can crack if the attic isn’t vented right. Anyone actually had neoprene last more than five years? Or is it just trading one problem for another? I’m starting to think attic airflow matters more than what you slap on the roof... anyone else notice that?
I've seen the same thing—galvanized boots just don't hold up in our climate, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles. Neoprene's hit or miss for me. Lasted about six years on one building, but cracked in just three on another where the attic was basically a sauna. Ventilation made a way bigger difference than I expected. Once I added more soffit vents, leaks dropped off and even the shingles seemed to age slower. Guess it's less about the material and more about letting things breathe...
That’s interesting about the ventilation helping your shingles last longer. I always thought it was just about the sun beating down or the ice dams doing their thing, but maybe I’ve been blaming the wrong culprit. Has anyone actually measured attic temps before and after adding vents? I’m tempted to stick a thermometer up there just to see if it’s really making that much difference, or if it’s just wishful thinking. Also, does anyone actually bother with those turbine vents, or are they just spinning for show?
I’ve actually stuck a cheap thermometer up in my attic just to satisfy my own curiosity after adding ridge vents. The difference was bigger than I expected—before, it’d get so hot up there in summer you could barely breathe, but with the new vents it dropped by at least 15 degrees on a sunny day. As for those turbine vents, I used to think they were mostly for show too, but after a big hailstorm took one out, I noticed the attic felt stuffier until I replaced it. Maybe not a miracle solution, but they do move air if there’s any kind of breeze. If you’re thinking about checking your temps, I’d say go for it—it’s kind of eye-opening.
