That’s the way to do it, honestly. Up here in Minnesota, I see a lot of folks get anxious about those boots after a rough winter, but unless you’re spotting cracks or leaks, there’s really no point in swapping them out every few months. EPDM holds up better than people think, especially if you give it a quick check while you’re already on the roof. Five years is solid—I’d call that a win in this climate. Folks sometimes create more problems poking around too much, anyway.
- Seen a lot of boots last 8-10 years here, even with our freeze/thaw cycles.
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— I agree, but I’ve caught a few that looked fine from the ground but had tiny splits up close.“unless you’re spotting cracks or leaks, there’s really no point in swapping them out every few months.”
- Quick tip: I always check the underside in the attic for staining after winter. Sometimes water sneaks in before you see it topside.
- Had one client swap boots every other year “just in case”—ended up damaging shingles more than anything. Sometimes less is more.
- Not sure I’d call it “no point” to swap unless there’s a leak.
“unless you’re spotting cracks or leaks, there’s really no point in swapping them out every few months.”
- Had a boot that looked perfect from the ground but was crumbling when I touched it—caught it during spring cleaning, so I’m a little paranoid now.
- I get the “less is more” thing, but if you’ve got a lot of tree debris or crazy temp swings like here (MN), sometimes those boots just don’t last.
- Curious if anyone’s tried those all-metal ones? Wondering if they’re worth the extra cost or just overkill for a typical asphalt roof.
- I do agree about shingle damage from overdoing it—learned that the hard way with a pry bar...
I’ve wondered about those all-metal boots too—seems like they’d last forever, but I’m not sure if they’re really necessary unless you’re dealing with constant critter issues or something. Has anyone noticed if they actually help with ice dam problems, or is that just marketing? I’ve got a ton of shade and debris from big maples, so I’m always second-guessing how often to check things up there...
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Has anyone noticed if they actually help with ice dam problems, or is that just marketing?
- All-metal boots are tough, but honestly, they’re not magic against ice dams.
- Ice dams are more about attic insulation and ventilation than what’s covering your vent pipes.
- Critters? Yeah, metal helps. Squirrels hate ‘em.
- With all that shade and debris, I’d just check after big storms or in spring/fall.
- Don’t stress swapping boots every season—unless you’re collecting them like sneakers...