Still beats hauling up new boots every year.
I hear you on that. I’ve seen a lot of folks try to stretch those collars for too long, though, and end up with water stains in the attic. Last spring, I was up on a 12-year-old roof—collar looked fine from the ground, but underneath, the plywood was already soft from slow leaks. Around here (Pacific Northwest), the rain just finds its way in eventually. I’ll use a collar as a quick fix, but if there’s any sign of rot or mold, it’s time for a full boot swap. Not fun, but it saves headaches down the road.
I get the hesitation with swapping boots too often—costs add up, and I’m always looking for ways to stretch a dollar. That said, I’ve had mixed luck with just using collars as a stopgap. On my last place (asphalt shingles, low slope), I tried to get by with a collar for two seasons, but the flashing underneath started to rust out anyway. Curious if anyone’s found a brand or material that actually holds up longer in wet climates? I’ve seen some “lifetime” boots, but not sure they’re worth the extra upfront cost.
I hear you on the cost—those “lifetime” boots always make me wonder if they’re just marketing. I tried a silicone boot last year (Pacific Northwest, lots of rain) and it’s held up better than the rubber ones, but the upfront price stung a bit. If you’re handy, swapping out the flashing with stainless steel can help, but it’s not a quick fix. I’d say collars are fine for a season or two, but like you saw, once the flashing rusts, it’s game over. Sometimes spending a bit more up front really does save headaches down the line... even if it hurts the wallet at first.
- Not totally convinced the pricier boots always save money long-term.
- Seen some cheaper rubber ones last 5+ years on low-slope roofs (Oregon coast), even with all that rain.
- Swapping out flashing is a pain, but if the vent location’s easy to reach, sometimes it’s not as bad as people say...
- Collars seem like a band-aid, yeah, but I’ve had them stretch a couple seasons longer than expected. Maybe depends on sun exposure?
- I get the idea behind stainless steel, but is it really worth the hassle for everyone? Sometimes I wonder if we overthink it.
Swapping out flashing is a pain, but if the vent location’s easy to reach, sometimes it’s not as bad as people say...
That’s been my experience too—on a single-story with a gentle pitch, swapping boots isn’t nearly as awful as folks make it sound. I do wonder about the pricier options though. I’ve seen some of those “lifetime” boots crack just as fast as the cheap ones in full sun. Is it really just UV that kills them, or does all the coastal rain play a part? Stainless steel looks great on paper, but for most houses around here, I’m not sure it’s worth the extra cost and hassle unless you’re already up there for something else.