If you’re patching with tape and sealant, just keep a close eye on it—especially after big storms or freeze/thaw cycles. I’ve seen some pretty creative patches hold up for years, but once the rubber starts cracking or pulling away from the pipe, water finds its way in fast. Metal mesh for squirrels is a solid move... those little guys are relentless. If you’re going the patch route to save cash, just make sure you’re checking everything each season—sometimes a quick look saves a lot of headache later.
Patching with tape and sealant can buy you some time, but I’m not convinced it’s a solid long-term fix—especially in areas with harsh winters or big temperature swings. Once that rubber boot starts to go, water finds every little gap, and you might not notice until there’s drywall damage. I’ve seen folks spend more on patch materials over a few years than just swapping out the boot once. Metal mesh is great for critters, but if the vent itself is failing, it’s usually better to just replace it rather than keep patching season after season.
I get where you’re coming from about just replacing the boot instead of patching over and over, but I’m not totally convinced it’s always the best call—at least not right away. Maybe it depends on the age of the roof and what you’re working with? My house is pushing 30 years, and the shingles are due for replacement in a couple years anyway. I had a cracked vent boot last fall, and honestly, I just hit it with some high-quality flashing tape and a dab of roof sealant. It got me through a brutal New England winter—ice dams, freeze-thaw, the whole deal—and I checked the attic after every big storm. No leaks so far.
I guess my thinking is, if you’re planning a full roof job soon, why spend extra time and money swapping out boots now? The new roof will come with all new vents and boots anyway. Plus, getting up there to replace a boot isn’t always simple if you’ve got a steep pitch or brittle old shingles that’ll crack when you try to lift them. Sometimes patching is just less risky.
That said, if your roof’s in good shape otherwise and you want peace of mind for another decade, yeah, replacing the boot makes sense. But for folks like me who are just trying to stretch things until the next big project, a careful patch job can be a decent stopgap. Maybe it’s not ideal long-term, but sometimes “good enough” really is good enough... at least until you’re ready to tackle the whole thing.
Curious if anyone else has had luck with temporary fixes holding up longer than expected? Or am I just rolling the dice here?
I get the logic behind patching if you’re close to a full roof replacement, but I’ve seen those “temporary” fixes turn into bigger headaches. Sometimes the sealant or tape holds up for a season, but if water sneaks in under the patch, it can rot the decking or even mess with insulation before you notice. Especially with older shingles—lifting them for a boot swap is risky, but sometimes just working around them for a patch can crack them too. I’d say if you’re checking after every storm and not seeing leaks, you’re probably fine for now... just keep an eye out for any signs of moisture inside. Personally, I lean toward swapping the boot if there’s any doubt, but I get why folks want to stretch things when a new roof’s on the horizon.
I hear you on the patching—sometimes it feels like a gamble. I’ve patched around my vent boots before to save cash, but ended up with a small leak that turned into a stained ceiling. If you’re not seeing moisture inside, it’s probably okay for now, but I’d still budget for a proper fix soon. Those “quick” repairs can sneak up on you cost-wise if you’re not careful.