I swapped my vent boots last fall after spotting a tiny leak in the attic—first time dealing with anything roof-related, and honestly, it was more nerve-wracking than I expected. I went with the metal boots because the rubber ones on my place were already cracking after just a few years (guessing the crazy temperature swings here don’t help). The metal ones weren’t cheap, but I figured it’s better than dealing with water stains or worse down the road.
One thing that surprised me was how much gunk builds up around those vents. I get the advice about checking every year—my neighbor’s been saying that for ages, and now I see why. I’m not convinced green roofs are worth it unless you’re planning a full reno. For me, spending a bit more upfront on the metal boots just felt like less hassle in the long run. Still, I keep a tube of sealant handy, just in case. Midwest weather finds a way to mess with everything eventually...
Yeah, I hear you on the metal boots. I swapped mine out a couple years back after the rubber ones basically turned to mush—didn’t even last five years with the wild temp swings here. Metal’s pricier, but I’d rather pay once than keep climbing up there every other season. The gunk buildup is real, too. I ended up pulling a bird’s nest out from under one vent last spring... never thought I’d be dealing with that. Midwest weather just loves to keep us on our toes.
That’s exactly why I switched to metal boots too. The rubber ones just can’t handle the freeze-thaw cycles—mine started cracking after a couple winters, and I got tired of patching them up. Metal was a bigger hit to the wallet up front, but honestly, not having to drag out the ladder every spring is worth it for me. Midwest weather is brutal on anything up there.
Funny you mention critters—I found a squirrel stash in one of my old vents last year. Never thought roof maintenance would turn into wildlife control, but here we are. It’s always something.
I get why some folks stick with rubber if they’re on a tight budget or planning to move soon, but for long-term peace of mind, metal just makes sense. Less hassle, fewer surprises... well, except for the occasional bird nest.
Metal was a bigger hit to the wallet up front, but honestly, not having to drag out the ladder every spring is worth it for me.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m still a little skeptical about metal boots being the “set it and forget it” solution. Sure, they last longer, but I’ve seen some start rusting out after a few years—especially if you’re near any salt or industrial stuff in the air. Midwest weather is rough, but honestly, nothing’s truly maintenance-free up there. I do like that metal keeps the critters out better though... had a raccoon try to nest under my old rubber one and that was a whole saga. If only someone would invent a boot that’s both green and indestructible—now that’d be worth the hassle.
That’s a fair point about rust—coastal or industrial areas can eat through metal boots faster than folks expect. I usually recommend aluminum or stainless over galvanized for those spots, but even then, you’ve gotta keep an eye out. Midwest freeze-thaw cycles are brutal on all materials. Nothing’s truly “maintenance-free,” but metal does keep the raccoons and squirrels out better than rubber or plastic, for sure. I’ve seen some folks try those silicone boots lately—supposed to be more eco-friendly and flexible in the cold, but I’m not totally sold yet. Anyone else had luck with those?
