But I keep wondering if layering tape and sealant is just delaying the inevitable. Like, am I just kicking the can down the road until I have to climb up there again next year?
That’s pretty much where I landed last year after a nasty windstorm peeled back some shingles and exposed a cracked boot. Tried the tape trick too—held up through winter, but by spring, water snuck in around the seams anyway. Metal boots *do* seem like overkill unless you’re fighting critters or your old ones are totally shot. And yeah, “retrofit” is a bit generous… mine needed a bit more wrestling than the package promised, especially with steep shingles. If you’re not dealing with constant leaks or squirrel Olympics, patching’s probably fine for now.
Tried the tape trick too—held up through winter, but by spring, water snuck in around the seams anyway.
Had the same thing happen last year. I went step-by-step: cleaned, taped, sealed... looked great until a freeze-thaw cycle in March. Water found its way in anyway. Not sure the patching ever lasts more than a season or two unless you’re in a super dry climate. For me, replacing the whole boot (even if it’s a pain) ended up saving time in the long run.
Yeah, I tried patching mine with tape and sealant too—looked solid at first, but once we got a couple of those wild temperature swings, it started leaking again. I’m in the Midwest, so freeze-thaw is just brutal on anything up there. Honestly, swapping out the whole boot was a pain, but it’s held up way better than any patch job I’ve done. Sometimes I wonder if all those “quick fixes” are just putting off the inevitable...
- Been there with the patch jobs... felt like I was just buying time, honestly.
- Midwest weather is wild—one day it’s sunny, next day you’re scraping ice off the roof. That freeze-thaw cycle just eats up sealant and tape.
- Swapping out the whole boot is a pain, but I’ve noticed it’s way less hassle in the long run. Did one last fall, and it’s still bone dry up there.
- Kinda makes me wonder if all those “quick fixes” are just wishful thinking. Like, yeah, it’s cheaper and faster, but then you’re back up there every spring.
- Only thing that bugs me is how awkward it is getting the old boot off without messing up the shingles. Anyone else end up with a couple torn tabs?
- I get why people try to patch first—nobody wants to spend a Saturday wrestling with flashing. But after seeing how much time I wasted re-patching, I’m leaning toward just swapping them out when they start to crack.
- Maybe there’s some magic sealant out there that actually survives Midwest winters... haven’t found it yet though.
Kinda makes me wonder if all those “quick fixes” are just wishful thinking. Like, yeah, it’s cheaper and faster, but then you’re back up there every spring.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had decent luck with patching—at least for a couple seasons at a time. I use that black neoprene tape and a high-grade sealant (forget the brand, but it’s not the cheapest one), and as long as I check it before winter hits, it holds up okay. Full boot replacement is definitely more permanent, but if the budget’s tight or you’re not ready to mess with shingles, patching isn’t always a waste. Just gotta keep an eye on it and be realistic about how long it’ll last.
