shortcuts just don’t cut it. Full replacement’s a pain but at least you know it’s sealed up right.
That’s been my experience too, but I’ll admit I tried to cheap out with one of those rubber collars on my last house. Looked fine until a cold snap hit and the old shingles shrank up even more—next rain, water everywhere. If the shingles are curling or brittle, it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a leaky pipe. Not worth the stress, even if you’re hoping to squeeze out another season.
If the shingles are curling or brittle, it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a leaky pipe. Not worth the stress, even if you’re hoping to squeeze out another season.
That’s a pretty accurate analogy. I’ve managed a few properties where folks tried to get creative with those slip-on rubber collars, especially when budgets were tight or winter was coming on fast. Sometimes they’ll hold for a while, but as soon as you get a hard freeze or a big temperature swing, the seal just isn’t reliable. Water finds its way in, and then you’re dealing with ceiling stains or worse—mold in the attic.
I get why people try to stretch things out, especially if the roof’s already near the end of its life. But honestly, in my experience, patching around vent boots on old, brittle shingles just leads to more headaches. Once the shingles start curling up or cracking, nothing really seals right. I’ve seen cases where someone tried to “just get through one more winter” and ended up with a repair bill twice what a proper replacement would’ve cost.
That said, I’m curious—has anyone here actually had decent luck with those retrofit boots or collars in colder climates? I’ve heard mixed things. Down south, maybe you can get away with it for a season or two, but up here in the Midwest, I haven’t seen one last through a real winter without leaking.
Also, for those who have replaced vent boots entirely—did you run into issues with matching new flashing to older shingles? Sometimes it feels like the new boot never quite sits flush unless you’re also redoing the surrounding shingles. Maybe that’s just me being picky, but I’d rather do it right once than keep patching.
Would be interested to hear if anyone’s found a middle ground that actually holds up for more than a few months. Otherwise, I’m still in the “full replacement or bust” camp when it comes to vent boots on aging roofs.
patching around vent boots on old, brittle shingles just leads to more headaches
Couldn’t agree more. I tried the “just one more season” trick with a slip-on collar last year—let’s just say my dining room ceiling paid the price. It’s tempting to cheap out when the wallet’s thin, but yeah, those old shingles don’t play nice with new boots. Honestly, sometimes biting the bullet up front hurts less in the long run (and keeps the buckets off the floor).
Honestly, sometimes biting the bullet up front hurts less in the long run (and keeps the buckets off the floor).
That’s hitting a little too close to home for me. I just bought my place last fall and figured I could get away with patching around the vent boots until spring. The shingles are probably 18 years old—definitely brittle, but I thought if I was careful, it’d hold. Well, after our first real freeze-thaw cycle, I noticed a brown spot on the bedroom ceiling. Not a full-on leak, but enough to make me question if patching was worth it.
Is there any way to swap out vent boots without disturbing those old shingles too much? Or is it basically guaranteed you’ll crack a few no matter how gentle you are? I’m trying to weigh whether it’s smarter to just do a full shingle replacement around the vents now or risk more patch jobs until I can budget for a new roof. Anyone had luck with temporary fixes that didn’t end up making things worse?
I’m right there with you—my place is only a few years older, and those old shingles are like potato chips if you even look at them wrong. I tried swapping a vent boot last winter and, despite being careful, still cracked a couple shingles. Ended up using some roof cement and a patch as a stopgap. It held, but I’m not convinced it didn’t just kick the can down the road. Honestly, I think if you’re seeing stains already, it might be smarter to replace a small section around the vent now, even if it’s not ideal. Temporary fixes on brittle shingles just seem to invite more headaches later.