But I keep wondering—has anyone actually had a silicone boot slide off, or is it just one of those “seems risky” things?
I’ve wondered the same thing. On my last property (steep roof, lots of wind), I stuck with lead after seeing a neighbor’s silicone boot start to peel up after just a couple seasons. Didn’t fall off, but it definitely wasn’t sealed tight anymore. Those combo boots with a metal base and flexible top seem promising—sort of a compromise. If you’re worried about leaks, I’d say peace of mind is worth the extra cost, especially if you’re not keen on climbing up there every spring.
I’ve seen a few silicone boots loosen up on flatter roofs, especially after a rough winter. Never had one fully slide off, but once they’re not tight, water finds a way in. Has anyone tried those retrofit metal collars over old boots? Wondering if that’s a decent fix or just kicking the can down the road...
- Been there with the silicone boots on low-slope roofs—had one last winter that looked like it wanted to migrate south for the season.
- Never had one fully bail, but once they’re loose, it’s like giving water a VIP pass into your attic.
- Tried those retrofit metal collars a couple times. They’re not magic, but they do buy you some time.
- Trick is making sure the old boot isn’t already too far gone... if it’s split or crumbling, the collar just covers up the mess.
- On a client’s place, slapped a collar over a cracked boot in January (because nobody wants to rip shingles in -10°C). Held up till spring, but I still swapped the whole thing out when it warmed up.
- If you’re just trying to get through another season or two, collar’s fine. Long-term? I’d rather just replace the boot and be done with it.
- Flat roofs are always more drama anyway—water loves to hang around where it shouldn’t.
Bottom line: collars are like duct tape for your roof—handy in a pinch, but don’t trust ‘em forever.
I’d rather just replace the boot and be done with it. - Flat roofs are always more drama anyway—water loves to hang around where it shouldn’t.
- 100% agree with “collars are like duct tape for your roof.”
- Had a collar limp along through a wet spring once—bought me time, but I still found a little staining in the attic.
- If you’re dealing with old boots, sometimes it’s just worth biting the bullet and swapping them out when you can.
- Flat roofs really do seem to attract trouble... water just sits there, waiting for a weak spot.
- Short-term fix? Collar’s fine. Long-term? Full replacement’s the only thing that’s really given me peace of mind.
Short-term fix? Collar’s fine. Long-term? Full replacement’s the only thing that’s really given me peace of mind.
I get the urge to just swap out boots, but have you looked into using a green roof layer on top of your flat roof? I’ve found adding some vegetation actually helps with water pooling and extends the life of those boots. Not for everyone, but it’s cut down my maintenance headaches. Curious if anyone else has tried something similar or if I’m just lucky with my climate.