I’ve actually tried a retrofit split boot once on a vent stack last January—temperatures were hovering around -5°F. Install was way less of a hassle than pulling shingles, but sealing the split was tricky. The boot itself seemed sturdy, but I’m not convinced the gasket holds up to freeze-thaw cycles as well as a standard boot. Has anyone noticed if the retrofit gaskets start to leak after a season or two? I’m wondering if it’s just a short-term fix for emergencies or worth banking on for a few winters.
Has anyone noticed if the retrofit gaskets start to leak after a season or two? I’m wondering if it’s just a short-term fix for emergencies or worth banking on for a few winters.
I’ve had a couple of those retrofit boots on some older duplexes—one in particular got slapped on during a February cold snap. I get what you mean about the split being tricky to seal, especially with numb fingers. Honestly, after two winters, I noticed a bit of seepage around the gasket, but nothing catastrophic. Still, I wouldn’t call it a long-term fix. For me, it’s more of a “buy yourself a season or two” move, not a permanent solution. If you’ve got easy access, swapping it out for a full boot when the weather’s better is probably worth it.
I’ve run into this exact thing on a couple of my places, especially the older ones with those weird vent stacks that never seem to line up with anything standard. I’ll admit, I was pretty skeptical about the retrofit gaskets at first—felt like slapping a band-aid on a bigger problem. But when you’re staring down a forecast full of freezing rain and you’ve got water dripping into someone’s closet, you do what you gotta do.
One spot in particular comes to mind—a low-slope roof with asphalt shingles, midwestern winters, and a vent boot that had basically turned to dust. I put on one of those split gaskets in late fall because there was no way I was tearing up shingles in November. It held up better than I expected through the first winter, but by the second spring, there was definitely some minor leaking around the edges. Nothing major—just enough to annoy me and make me wish I’d done it right the first time.
I guess my take is: they’re fine for emergencies or if you just need to buy yourself some time until the weather’s decent enough for a proper fix. But if you can get up there safely and swap out for a full boot when it’s warm, it’s worth it in the long run. The split ones just don’t seem to seal as tight after a couple freeze-thaw cycles... maybe it’s our climate or maybe it’s just how they’re made.
Funny thing is, I’ve had tenants who never even noticed any issues until I pointed them out during inspections. Makes me wonder how many little leaks are going unnoticed out there. Anyway, if you’re dealing with steep roofs or hard-to-reach spots, sometimes “good enough for now” really is all you can do until spring rolls around.
- Totally get the “band-aid” vibe with those split gaskets.
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— Story of every winter repair, right?“you do what you gotta do.”
- Did a quick fix last December on a steep roof. Lasted until March, then started seeping.
- Honestly, not a fan for long-term. They just don’t hold up after a couple freeze-thaws.
- If you can wait for warmer weather, swapping the whole boot is way less hassle in the end.
- Tenants never notice leaks until their socks get wet... figures.
Split gaskets are just a temporary patch in my book, especially up here in the Midwest where we get those wild freeze-thaw cycles. I tried one on a rental last January—looked fine at first, but by April, water was sneaking in around the pipe. Ended up replacing the whole boot anyway, which was a pain since I had to undo my own “quick fix.” If you can hold off till spring, swapping the full boot is way more reliable and honestly less wasteful. Those band-aid repairs just don’t cut it for long-term durability, especially if you care about keeping stuff out of the landfill.