Rubber boots have honestly been the least headache for me too. Tried silicone once—looked great at first, but after a couple summers and winters, it was flaking off like old paint. Metal’s tough, but our last hailstorm turned mine into a golf ball. I just keep an eye on the rubber ones now and swap them when they start cracking. Not glamorous, but it beats climbing up there every season for a new experiment...
I’m with you on the rubber boots—nothing fancy, but they just seem to hold up better than the alternatives. I tried those “lifetime” silicone ones a few years back, and honestly, they looked sharp at first. But after two winters (and we get some wild freeze-thaw cycles here), the edges started peeling up and I ended up with a slow leak right down the vent pipe. Not fun.
Metal seemed like a good idea until last spring’s hailstorm. Dented all over, and one even split at the seam. Maybe if you’re in a milder climate it’s worth it, but around here, it’s just not practical.
I do wish there was something more durable than rubber that didn’t cost an arm and a leg or require constant babysitting. For now, I just check them every fall when I’m cleaning gutters. If there’s any sign of cracking or dry rot, I swap them out before winter hits. It’s not glamorous work, but it beats dealing with water stains on the ceiling...
Rubber boots seem to be the Goldilocks option for our kind of weather—just right until they’re not. I’ve seen folks try those “repair sleeves” instead of full swaps, but honestly, I’m skeptical. Anyone actually had luck patching a cracked boot, or is it just delaying the inevitable mess?
I’ve seen folks try those “repair sleeves” instead of full swaps, but honestly, I’m skeptical. Anyone actually had luck patching a cracked boot, or is it just delaying the inevitable mess?
- Tried those sleeves last fall when I noticed a split on my south-facing vent boot. They did hold up through winter, but by spring, water was sneaking in around the edges. Not a total fail, but not a long-term fix either.
- Full swap is more work, but honestly, I’d rather do it once than keep climbing up there every season. Especially with all the freeze-thaw we get—those cracks just keep coming back.
- If you’re set on patching, maybe use a high-quality silicone along with the sleeve. Still, it’s more of a band-aid than a cure.
- For what it’s worth, I’ve started using silicone boots. They cost a bit more, but I haven’t had to mess with them since install. No dry rot, even after three years.
- If you’re worried about hassle, swapping out for something longer-lasting might be less trouble in the long run. Just my two cents from too many cold mornings on the roof...
I get the appeal of just swapping the whole boot and being done with it, but I’ve seen plenty of folks go that route and still end up with leaks a couple years later—especially if the flashing isn’t set right or the shingles don’t seal back down. Sometimes a sleeve with a solid bead of high-grade sealant can buy you a few years, especially if you’re dealing with older roofs where disturbing the shingles could cause more headaches. Not saying it’s a forever fix, but in some cases, it’s less risky than tearing into a brittle roof in the dead of winter. Just depends on what you’re working with, I guess.
