- Agree on silicone outlasting black rubber, especially with Texas sun. Seen way fewer splits or dry rot since switching over.
- Install is everything. Even the best boot leaks if it’s not flush and sealed. I’ve seen guys skip the sealant and regret it after the first big rain.
- Price stings up front, but if you’re not climbing up there every few years, it’s worth it. Callbacks are a pain for everyone.
- On metal roofs—mixed results. Expansion/contraction can work the boot loose over time, especially if you don’t use the right fasteners or leave room for movement. I’d be careful there.
- Tried those clamp-on repair boots once. They’re okay as a stopgap, but I wouldn’t trust them long-term. Had one pop off in a windstorm last spring... ended up replacing the whole thing anyway.
- One thing I’d add: watch out for hail damage. Even silicone can get dinged up if you get a bad storm—seen a few with small tears that turned into leaks months later.
- For what it’s worth, I’d rather do it right once than patch every season. But sometimes you just need a quick fix to get through until you can do a full swap.
I get the appeal of silicone, especially in places with brutal sun, but I’ve actually seen a few cases where folks swapped out rubber boots for silicone and still ran into issues—not so much from the material, but from movement at the roof penetration. Sometimes it’s less about what the boot’s made of and more about how the flashing integrates with the roofing system. I’ve inspected a couple homes where even high-end silicone boots leaked because the flashing was undersized or installed over uneven shingles.
On metal roofs, I’d echo the mixed results. Expansion and contraction can really mess with any boot if there’s not enough play built in. I’ve seen some success with flexible EPDM boots that have a wider base and can flex a bit more, but they’re not perfect either. And honestly, sometimes those clamp-on repair boots are all you can do in a pinch—just don’t expect miracles.
One thing I’d push back on: “do it right once” is great in theory, but roofs are moving targets. Even the best install can get undone by hail or shifting decking. Regular checks are still worth it, even if you’ve paid for top-shelf materials.
I’ve noticed the same thing with metal roofs—no matter what boot you use, that expansion and contraction just finds a way to work stuff loose over time. Have you ever tried those retrofit boots with the big flexible collars? I’m curious if they actually hold up better long-term or just delay the inevitable.
That’s been my experience too—metal roofs just seem to have a mind of their own when it comes to shifting around. I tried one of those retrofit boots with the big flexible collar last year after getting tired of crawling up there every spring to reseal the old ones. Honestly, it did seem to hold up better through the first winter, but by the second year, I started noticing a little seepage again. Not as bad as before, but still enough to make me grumble.
I think the flexible collar helps buy some time, especially if your roof gets a lot of sun and temperature swings like mine does here in Missouri. But yeah, I’m starting to think it’s just part of owning a metal roof—eventually, something’s gonna wiggle loose no matter what you use. At least with the retrofit style, it was way easier to swap out without tearing up half the roof panel. If nothing else, it made the job less of a headache... for now.
- Had a similar run-in with my own metal roof here in Kentucky—those temp swings are brutal on seals.
- Tried the flexible retrofit boots too. First year, barely a drip. Second year, same story as you... little bit of seepage, but nothing like before.
- What helped me was adding a dab of eco-friendly sealant around the collar each fall. Not perfect, but it slowed things down.
- Honestly, I’d rather swap out a boot every couple years than deal with a full panel replacement. Less waste, less hassle.
- Still wish there was a truly “set it and forget it” option for metal roofs, but I guess that’s just wishful thinking.