Swapping out vent boots every 8 years is pretty reasonable, especially if you’re in an area that gets hail or big temperature swings. I’ve seen folks try to milk those “lifetime” boots for 15+ years, but honestly, most of the time, the rubber or neoprene dries out and cracks way before then. Once water gets in, it’s a mess—drywall, insulation, sometimes even electrical issues if it drips in the wrong spot.
Stainless screws are a good call. Galvanized will hold up for a while, but once they rust, you’re just inviting leaks. I’ve also started using boots with integrated metal flashings, especially on steeper roofs. They’re a bit more expensive up front, but less hassle down the road.
Quick checks after storms are smart. Sometimes you’ll catch a small tear or a nail that’s worked loose before it turns into a real problem. I wouldn’t swap boots just for the sake of it every season, but 8-10 years is a solid window unless you see obvious damage. Weather and sun exposure really dictate the timeline more than anything else.
I get the logic behind swapping every 8 years, but honestly, I’ve had some boots last way longer—especially on roofs with less sun exposure or in milder climates. Sometimes I wonder if we’re replacing them too soon just out of habit. Anyone else notice that the “integrated metal flashing” boots can be a pain to fit on older roofs? I’ve had to do some weird workarounds to get them to sit right. Maybe it’s just the quirks of older construction, but sometimes the old-school rubber boots (with a good bead of sealant) still do the trick for me.
Man, those integrated metal flashing boots are like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole on some of these old roofs. I’ve had to bend and tweak them just to get ‘em to sit halfway decent. Honestly, I’m with you—sometimes the old rubber boots (with a fat bead of sealant) just seem to work better, especially if the roof isn’t getting baked by the sun all day. I get why folks say swap every 8 years, but I’ve seen some last way longer if they’re not getting hammered by weather. Guess it’s one of those “depends on the roof” things...
I get where you’re coming from with the old rubber boots and a fat bead of sealant—sometimes it really does feel like the path of least resistance, especially on those weird, wavy roofs where nothing sits flat. But I’ve gotta push back a bit on sticking with rubber, especially if you’re thinking long-term or trying to keep things as low-maintenance as possible.
I’ve worked on a bunch of roofs in the Midwest, and I’ve seen those rubber boots turn brittle and crack way before the 8-year mark, even when they’re not getting direct sun all day. UV isn’t the only thing that gets them—ozone, temperature swings, and even critters can do a number on them. I’ve had a couple of jobs where squirrels chewed right through the rubber, and suddenly you’ve got a leak that’s way more expensive to fix than just swapping out the boot in the first place.
The metal flashing boots are a pain to fit sometimes, no argument there. But once you get them in place (and yeah, sometimes it takes some creative bending), they’re basically set-and-forget. No worrying about sealant drying out or rubber splitting. Plus, if you’re thinking about sustainability, metal’s got a much longer lifespan and is recyclable at the end of its life. Rubber boots just end up in the landfill.
I get that every roof is different—old houses especially can be a nightmare for anything “standard.” But I’d rather wrestle with a metal boot for an hour than have to climb back up there every couple years to patch up a rubber one. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather do it once and not think about it again for a decade or two.
Curious if anyone’s tried those silicone boots? I’ve heard they’re supposed to last longer than rubber but haven’t seen them in action yet.