Man, I hear you on the sleeve shortcut. I’ve seen more than a few folks try to get clever with those “quick fix” sleeves, and it’s almost always the same story—ends up costing more time (and sometimes drywall) in the long run. The temptation’s real though, especially when it’s freezing out and you’re staring up at that vent pipe thinking, “Eh, this’ll hold till spring.” Famous last words.
I manage a bunch of older duplexes here in the Midwest, and every spring we’re dealing with at least one mystery leak that traces back to someone trying to dodge the full boot swap. I get it—climbing up there isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time, especially if your roof’s got any pitch to it or if you’re dealing with those brittle old shingles that seem to crack if you even look at them wrong.
Honestly, I’ve found that just biting the bullet and doing the full boot replacement saves so much hassle. The sleeves might buy you a little time if you’re in a pinch, but they never seem to seal right around the base. Water finds its way in eventually...and then you’re chasing stains and musty smells for months. Not fun.
One thing I will say—if you do have to get up there, check out those newer silicone boots. They’re a bit pricier but way easier to install than the old-school lead ones, and they flex better when things expand and contract in the cold. Plus, less chance of cracking or splitting over time.
Anyway, shortcuts are tempting but rarely worth it with roofs. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve got my own “haunted ceiling” story from a few years back—let’s just say my wife still brings it up every time she sees a water spot anywhere in the house.
If nothing else, at least we get some good stories out of it...
I’ve seen those silicone boots hold up surprisingly well, especially in areas with big temp swings. Curious if you’ve noticed any issues with critters or ice dams around the newer boots? Sometimes I wonder if the extra flexibility makes them more vulnerable in weird weather.
That’s a good point about critters and ice dams. I haven’t had any raccoon or squirrel issues with the silicone boots so far, but I do wonder if that’s just luck or if they’re less appealing for some reason. The flexibility does make me a little nervous during those freeze-thaw cycles—like, is it actually sealing better, or is it just flexing enough to hide small gaps? Haven’t seen any leaks yet, but I’m always checking after a big storm.
Ice dams are still a pain here in the Midwest, but honestly, I haven’t noticed them getting worse since switching to silicone. If anything, the boots seem to handle the expansion and contraction better than the old rubber ones did. I’m more worried about the flashing around them than the boots themselves.
Has anyone tried pairing these with metal roofs? Wondering if the combo helps or hurts when it comes to weird weather swings...
I hear you on the freeze-thaw thing. I’ve got a couple buildings with metal roofs and silicone boots, and honestly, they seem to play pretty well together. The boots flex with the metal panels when temps swing, which is better than the old rubber ones that would crack or pull away. Critters haven’t bothered them here either—maybe they just don’t like the texture? My bigger headache’s always been the flashing too, especially where snow piles up and starts creeping under. If you’re already checking after storms, you’re ahead of most folks.
That’s interesting about the silicone boots holding up better—I’ve only ever dealt with the old rubber ones and they’re definitely not great with our wild temp swings. I’m curious, do you ever have to reseal around the silicone boots, or do they stay watertight on their own? Also, with the flashing, have you tried any of those snow guards or diverters to keep drifts from building up? I keep reading mixed things about whether they actually help or just make more work.