I hear you on the 7/12 pitch—mine’s not quite that steep, but it’s enough to make me question my life choices every time I haul the ladder out. Midwest winters just chew up anything rubber, and I’ve noticed the same thing: vent boots seem to go brittle and crack way before the shingles even start curling. I’ve tried both the standard rubber and the pricier silicone versions. Honestly, the silicone ones seem to last a bit longer, but they’re not invincible. After about five years, even those start to show some wear around the base, especially with all the ice dams we get.
One thing I’ve started doing is adding a little bead of roofing sealant where the boot meets the pipe—nothing fancy, just a cheap insurance policy. It seems to help, but I’m not convinced it’s a permanent fix. Still, paying $25 for a new boot and risking a sore back beats shelling out for a roofer every time. Not exactly my idea of a fun weekend, but it’s hard to argue with the savings.
- Totally get where you’re coming from on the pitch and the Midwest winters. That combo is brutal—makes me wonder why vent boots aren’t just made out of whatever they use for car tires.
- I’ve had the same experience:
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve swapped out the “lifetime” rubber ones and the silicone ones, and honestly, neither lasted as long as I hoped. Silicone’s a bit better, but not by much once you factor in ice and UV.“vent boots seem to go brittle and crack way before the shingles even start curling.”
- Tried the sealant trick too. Helps for a while but, like you said, it’s not a forever fix. Still, I’d rather slap some goop on there every year or two than pay someone $200+ for a five-minute job.
- My neighbor swears by those “retrofit” covers that slip over the old boots. I’m skeptical, but he hasn’t had a leak yet. Might be worth a shot if you get tired of climbing up there.
- Hard to avoid the hassle if you want to keep things dry—just part of owning a house up here, I guess. At least swapping out boots is cheaper than fixing ceiling stains…
Yeah, you nailed it—those “lifetime” boots are anything but. I’ve had to replace mine twice in about ten years, and that’s with regular sealant touch-ups. The retrofit covers are actually not a bad idea if you’re over climbing ladders every spring. Not perfect, but definitely less hassle than tearing into shingles. Midwest winters just chew up everything on the roof, it seems.
I hear you on Midwest winters—mine trashed two sets of “lifetime” boots in less than a decade too. I switched to silicone retrofit covers last year, and while they’re not perfect, at least I’m not up there every season. Ever looked into metal vent boots or even green roof options? I’ve heard they hold up better in harsh climates, but I haven’t tried them myself yet.
Ever looked into metal vent boots or even green roof options? I’ve heard they hold up better in harsh climates, but I haven’t tried them myself yet.
Metal vent boots can definitely outlast the standard rubber ones, especially with the freeze/thaw cycles we get here. I’ve seen a few installations where the metal boots were still solid after 15+ years, though you’ve got to watch for rust if the flashing isn’t properly coated. Silicone covers are a decent stopgap, but they tend to degrade under UV after a while—nothing’s truly “lifetime” in Midwest weather. Green roofs are interesting, but unless your structure’s built for the load, they’re usually not practical just for vent protection. Honestly, I tell folks to check vent boots every fall—sometimes a $10 bead of sealant gets you another year.
