the recycled stuff does seem to get a bit crispy after a couple summers. Had one literally crumble in my hand last fall.
That’s wild—I’ve had mixed luck with the eco boots too, but I’m up in Oregon where the sun’s not as brutal. Maybe that’s why mine haven’t gone brittle yet? I do wonder if the type of recycled material makes a difference. Anyone tried those silicone-based ones? As for universals on metal, yeah, getting a good seal is tricky. I’ve used extra sealant, but it’s kind of a pain and feels like a band-aid fix.
I do wonder if the type of recycled material makes a difference. Anyone tried those silicone-based ones? As for universals on metal, yeah, getting a good seal is tricky. I’ve used extra sealant, but it’s kind of a pain and feels like a band-aid fix.
That’s been my experience too—those recycled boots are a gamble, especially in places with wild temperature swings. Down here in the Midwest, we get both blazing summers and deep freezes, and I’ve seen the recycled ones just sort of...give up after a couple years. They look fine until you touch them, then suddenly you’re holding a handful of crumbs. Not ideal when you’re halfway up a ladder.
I’ve actually tried the silicone-based boots on a couple jobs, and they seem to hold up better so far. They’re pricier, but I haven’t seen the same cracking or brittleness, even after some rough winters. Only downside is they can be a little trickier to seat right on older metal roofs—sometimes they want to slide around before you get everything tightened down. Still, beats having to replace the whole thing every other season.
And yeah, getting a good seal on metal is always a pain. I know what you mean about the extra sealant feeling like a patch job. I’ve started using those thicker butyl tapes under the boot flange before screwing it down, then just a thin bead of sealant on top. It’s not perfect, but it seems to last longer than just slapping on more caulk every year.
Honestly, I wish there was a universal solution that didn’t feel like a compromise. Every roof seems to have its own personality, and what works great on one just falls apart on another. At least you’re catching these issues before they turn into leaks—half the battle is just keeping an eye out for stuff getting crispy or loose before the weather really tests it.
I hear you on the recycled boots just crumbling out of nowhere—had that happen last fall, right after a big temperature drop. The silicone ones are definitely less brittle, but yeah, they can be slippery on older panels. I’ve had better luck roughing up the metal a bit first, just enough to give it some grip. Still, nothing’s perfect. Every time I think I’ve found a fix, the weather throws something new at me.
That’s interesting about roughing up the metal—never tried that, but it makes sense. I’ve mostly stuck with the silicone boots too, but honestly, I’m still not convinced they’re the long-term answer, especially with how much freeze-thaw we get here. Sometimes I wonder if the recycled ones just aren’t made for our kind of weather swings.
Has anyone tried any of the newer “eco” flashing options? I keep seeing them pop up in green building forums, but I’m skeptical about how they actually hold up over a few seasons. I get wanting to use recycled materials, but if they’re just going to fall apart after a year or two, it kind of defeats the purpose, right? Maybe it’s just a matter of matching the right product to the right climate, but it feels like there’s a lot of trial and error. Curious if anyone’s found something that actually lasts through the wild temperature swings.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually had better luck with one of the recycled rubber flashing kits last year than I expected. We get pretty wild swings here too—like, 60s one day and snow the next—and it’s held up so far. I did notice the install was a bit trickier, though. Had to really make sure everything was sealed tight and overlapped right. Not saying it’s perfect, but for me, it hasn’t cracked or pulled away yet. Maybe it’s more about careful install than the material itself? Still keeping an eye on it, just in case...