Squirrels are brutal, right? I’ve seen them go to town on lead boots, especially near big old trees. They seem to love chewing on anything up there. As for the silicone collars, I’ve installed a few lately. They’re easy to work with, but honestly, I’m not convinced they’ll outlast the tried-and-true stuff. The UV resistance is decent, but time will tell if they actually hold up through a couple of brutal summers and winters. I wouldn’t call them a miracle fix just yet.
Squirrels are brutal, right? I’ve seen them go to town on lead boots, especially near big old trees. They seem to love chewing on anything up there.
Yeah, the squirrels here treat my roof like their personal buffet. I swear, if they ever develop a taste for asphalt shingles, I’m doomed. I had a lead boot that looked like it’d been through a cheese grater after just a couple years—couldn’t believe it. My neighbor tried wrapping his in chicken wire, but the little guys just found new ways around it. Not sure there’s any real “squirrel-proof” option unless you want to camp out with a water gun.
I swapped out my old boots for those silicone collars last fall. They were definitely easier to get on, and I liked not having to mess with flashing as much. But I’m kinda with you—jury’s still out on how they’ll handle the weather swings. Our summers hit 100+ and then we get ice storms in winter, so anything up there gets punished pretty hard. The UV resistance is supposed to be better, but I’ve seen plastic stuff turn brittle after just a couple seasons.
Honestly, if you’re already up there doing seasonal checks, swapping boots isn’t the worst job… but I wouldn’t call it fun either. My roof’s got a pretty steep pitch and every time I’m up there, my wife’s convinced I’m gonna slide off into the bushes. I try to put it off until something actually leaks or looks chewed up.
One thing I will say: the silicone ones don’t seem to attract the squirrels as much (yet). Maybe they don’t like the taste? Or maybe mine are just picky eaters.
If you’re dealing with big trees nearby and persistent critters, nothing really feels permanent. Might just be one of those things we have to keep an eye on every year or two. At least the new boots aren’t as pricey as some of the other roof repairs I’ve had to deal with…
I get the appeal of those silicone collars—less hassle, no sharp metal edges, and supposedly better UV resistance. But I’m not totally convinced they’re the most cost-effective route in every situation, especially if you’re on a tight budget or dealing with extreme weather swings like we do here in Oklahoma. I tried them on my detached garage roof last year, thinking it would be a set-it-and-forget-it fix. They were easy enough to install, but after one summer and a couple ice storms, I noticed some hairline cracking right where the collar flexes around the pipe. Maybe I just got a bad batch, but it made me a little wary about relying on them for the main house.
Lead boots are definitely squirrel magnets (I’ve got the shredded leftovers to prove it), but they seem to handle temperature extremes better—at least until the critters get at them. What’s worked for me lately is using an aluminum boot with a rubber gasket. Not as cheap as lead, but less tempting for squirrels and seems to hold up okay through freeze-thaw cycles. I still check them every spring and fall, but haven’t had to do a full replacement since switching.
I hear you on safety—my roof pitch isn’t forgiving either, and I’m not getting any younger crawling around up there. That’s part of why I lean toward something that’ll last longer between swaps, even if it costs a bit more upfront. The way I see it, spending $30 more now beats risking a hospital bill later.
One thing I haven’t tried yet is trimming back overhanging branches to make access harder for the squirrels. Might not be foolproof, but at least it could slow them down... and maybe buy me another season or two before they find their way back up there.
Long story short—I’m still on the fence about swapping out boots every year unless there’s visible damage or leaks. For me, investing in something slightly sturdier (and maybe less tasty) has been worth it so far. But yeah, nothing up there seems truly permanent when you’ve got determined wildlife and wild weather gunning for your roof.
The way I see it, spending $30 more now beats risking a hospital bill later.
Couldn’t agree more on that—safety’s worth every penny, especially when you’re up on a steep roof. I’ve managed a few properties with those silicone collars and honestly, they just don’t seem to handle the freeze-thaw cycles as well as advertised. I’ve had better luck with the aluminum boots too, especially when paired with a decent gasket. Squirrels are relentless, but trimming back branches did help a bit at one place—just don’t expect miracles. At the end of the day, I’d rather check twice a year than swap out cheap boots every season.
I’ve had better luck with the aluminum boots too, especially when paired with a decent gasket.
That lines up with what I’ve seen. I tried those “lifetime” silicone collars on my last place (asphalt shingles, Midwest winters), and they started cracking after two years. Maybe it’s just our freeze-thaw cycles, but I’m not convinced they’re worth the hype. Anyone else notice the aluminum ones sometimes get a bit of corrosion around the base? Not a dealbreaker for me, but I do wonder if there’s a way to slow that down. I’d rather swap a gasket every few years than mess with the whole boot again.
