Lead’s heavy and not exactly pretty, but it just shrugs off the ice and sun.
I’ve noticed the same thing. I used to think those fancy rubber boots would be a game-changer, but after crawling up there in February to patch splits (again), I’m over it. On my last job, we tried a silicone boot that claimed “flexible in all temps”—looked good for about a year before UV did its thing.
Lead’s not perfect, like you said, but if you’re dealing with snow sliding down a steep pitch and freeze/thaw cycles, it just holds up. Yeah, it’s heavier and takes a bit more effort to shape around the pipe, but once it’s on there right, you can almost forget about it.
I get why some folks want to avoid lead—there are environmental reasons for sure. But for me, swapping boots every couple of years is way more hassle (and risk) than biting the bullet and using lead once. If you’re trying to keep maintenance calls down and don’t want to gamble with leaks every spring thaw, I’d go with what actually lasts.
if you’re dealing with snow sliding down a steep pitch and freeze/thaw cycles, it just holds up.
That’s been my experience too. I manage a couple older buildings with some pretty gnarly roof angles, and the only boots that haven’t given me grief are the lead ones. Tried those “lifetime” rubber ones—looked sharp at first, but after two winters, they were splitting right where the snow piles up. I do wonder though, has anyone had luck with those new composite boots? I keep seeing ads but haven’t seen them in action yet.
I’ll admit, I’m not totally sold on the lead boots being the only way to go. On one of my flatter roofs, I swapped in those silicone-based boots last fall—figured I’d give ‘em a shot since the snow doesn’t slide as much there. They’re holding up better than I expected, even with a couple freeze/thaw cycles. Not sure I’d trust them on a 12/12 pitch, but for less aggressive slopes, they might be worth a look. Sometimes it’s just about matching the boot to the roof’s personality... if that makes sense.