I’d hate to pay double and still end up patching leaks after a couple summers.
I get where you’re coming from. Last year I installed one of those “lifetime” silicone boots on a ridge vent, mostly out of curiosity. It’s definitely not all silicone—usually just the collar or flashing part is, and the base is still metal. The install was straightforward, but honestly, I haven’t noticed a huge difference yet compared to the standard EPDM ones. Maybe it’ll hold up better over time, but for now, I’m not convinced it’s worth double the price unless you’ve got a really harsh climate or tricky roof angles.
I’ve swapped out a few vent boots over the years—mostly EPDM, sometimes the pricier silicone ones. Honestly, I haven’t seen a huge difference either, except maybe less cracking on the silicone after a couple freeze-thaw cycles. Still, not sure it’s worth double unless you’re in a spot with wild weather swings. My main headache’s always been finding leaks around the flashing, not the boot itself...
Yeah, leaks around the flashing are way more common in my experience too. Most of the time, folks blame the boot, but it’s really that old or poorly installed flashing letting water sneak in. I’ve seen a ton of “repairs” where someone just goops sealant all over instead of tucking the flashing right under the shingles. As for silicone vs EPDM, unless you’re in a spot with brutal sun or crazy temps, I don’t see much point in paying extra either. Biggest thing is keeping an eye out for cracked caulk and making sure those shingles sit nice and flat over the flashing—saves a lot of headaches down the road.
Most of the time, folks blame the boot, but it’s really that old or poorly installed flashing letting water sneak in.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing. First time I helped swap out a vent boot, we thought the boot was shot, but it turned out the flashing was barely tucked under the shingles at all. Water just ran right in. I get why people want to just slap on more caulk, but that never lasts. Around here (midwest), EPDM holds up fine unless you’re dealing with wild temp swings. I’d rather spend time getting the flashing right than swapping boots every couple years.
Couldn’t agree more about the caulk—people love to smear it everywhere and call it a day, but that’s just a band-aid. I’ve seen plenty of boots blamed when the real culprit was lazy flashing work or even missing nails. Up here in Minnesota, if the flashing isn’t right, you’re just asking for ice dam leaks too. Honestly, I’d rather spend an extra hour getting the layers right than come back after every spring thaw. Sometimes it’s not even the boot or flashing—it’s a combo of both, especially on older roofs where everything starts to shift a bit.
