Rubber boots have been my go-to too, even with our wild Midwest weather. I once thought about switching to metal after a neighbor swore by them, but honestly, the price tag made me laugh out loud. As long as I catch those little splits before they turn into indoor waterfalls, the rubber ones do just fine. Only time I regretted it was when a squirrel decided to chew on one... but that’s a whole other story.
- Metal boots? My wallet ran for cover just looking at the price tags.
- Midwest weather’s wild, but my rubber ones have survived everything except, yeah, a squirrel with a taste for footwear.
- I just slap on some roof sealant if I spot a crack—cheaper than a new boot and keeps the rain outside where it belongs.
- Only hassle is remembering to check them before the next thunderstorm rolls in... but swapping them out every season? Nah, unless you’re collecting boots for fun.
- If I ever see a metal one on sale, maybe I’ll reconsider. Until then, rubber it is.
- Not sure I’d risk just sealant long-term, at least not up here in Minnesota. Last winter, a tiny crack turned into a full-on leak after an ice storm—ended up with water stains on my ceiling before I caught it.
- I get trying to save cash, but swapping boots every year seems like overkill unless they’re really cheap or your roof’s super exposed.
- I switched to the silicone kind last time—costs a bit more than rubber but hasn’t cracked yet after two years of wild temp swings.
- Metal is pricey, yeah... but if you’re already up there fixing stuff every season, might be worth the investment just for peace of mind.
I hear you on the Minnesota winters—those freeze-thaw cycles are brutal on anything up there. I had a similar issue last year where a small split in the boot let water seep in, and it wasn’t obvious until the snow melted. I get why some folks swap boots often, but honestly, I lean toward longer-lasting materials too.
Same here. The upfront cost was higher, but I’ve noticed way less maintenance and waste. Plus, silicone seems to hold up better to UV and doesn’t get brittle as fast. If you’re already climbing up there, it’s worth considering something that’ll last more than just a season or two.“I switched to the silicone kind last time—costs a bit more than rubber but hasn’t cracked yet after two years of wild temp swings.”
“The upfront cost was higher, but I’ve noticed way less maintenance and waste. Plus, silicone seems to hold up better to UV and doesn’t get brittle as fast.”
That lines up with what I’ve seen on the job. The older rubber boots just don’t stand a chance after a couple of those deep freezes and thaws—especially on steeper roofs where runoff is faster and ice dams are more likely. I’ve replaced a lot of cracked rubber ones that looked fine from the ground but were split right at the collar.
Silicone’s definitely tougher, but I’ve noticed installation can be a bit trickier in the cold. It gets stiffer, so you’ve got to be careful not to force it and risk a bad seal. Still, I’d rather deal with that than have to go up there every spring swapping out another failed boot.
One thing I’d add: if you’re already investing in silicone, check the flashing around the vent too. Sometimes the boot’s fine but the metal’s rusted out underneath, especially on older asphalt shingle roofs. Learned that the hard way last winter—thought I had a boot leak, but it was the flashing letting water in.