Ever tried those all-silicone boots? I’ve seen some folks claim they hold up better with the constant freeze-thaw, but I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra cost. What kind of roof pitch are you dealing with, by the way? Sometimes that makes a difference with how fast things break down.
Ever tried those all-silicone boots? I’ve seen some folks claim they hold up better with the constant freeze-thaw, but I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra cost.
I’ve actually swapped to all-silicone boots on the back half of my roof last year—mostly out of frustration after the third split rubber boot in five winters. My roof’s a 7/12 pitch, so water runs off pretty quick, but we get wild temperature swings here (northern Illinois), and the old rubber ones just couldn’t keep up.
Honestly, the silicone ones do seem to handle the freeze-thaw better. No cracks yet, and they still look flexible. But yeah, they’re not cheap. I paid almost double compared to standard rubber. If you’re dealing with a low slope or spots where snow piles up, I’d say the upgrade is worth considering. On steeper roofs, maybe less so, unless you’re tired of climbing up there every spring.
Funny thing—I thought the “lifetime” label was just marketing fluff, but so far, they’re holding up better than anything else I’ve tried. Still, if your boots are easy to swap and you don’t mind the hassle, sticking with rubber isn’t the worst option either.
- Swapped to silicone boots on my main vent stack three years back (central Indiana, so not too different from you weather-wise). Paid a premium, but honestly, haven’t touched them since—rubber ones were splitting every couple winters before that.
- Noticed the install was a bit trickier—silicone felt stiffer in the cold, and getting a good seal around the flashing took some patience.
- Price is a killer though. If I had more than two stacks, I’d think twice about doubling up just for peace of mind.
- For low-slope or spots where snow lingers, I’d say silicone pays off long-term. Steep roofs shed water fast enough that even if the rubber cracks, it’s less likely to leak right away... but still annoying to keep swapping.
- “Lifetime” warranty makes me laugh—nothing on a roof lasts forever in Midwest freeze-thaw cycles. But so far, no regrets.
Curious if anyone’s tried those hybrid boots with a metal base and silicone collar? Wondering if they’re any easier to install or hold up better than full silicone.
Curious if anyone’s tried those hybrid boots with a metal base and silicone collar? Wondering if they’re any easier to install or hold up better than full silicone.
I’ve actually put in a couple of those hybrids on some duplexes I manage—mostly because the roofer talked me into it after we had two rubber boots split in the same winter. Central Illinois here, so pretty much the same freeze-thaw circus you’re dealing with. The install was a little less fussy than full silicone, at least for us. The metal base seemed to sit flatter on the shingles, which helped when things weren’t perfectly level (which is... most roofs I see). The silicone collar was still stiff in the cold, but not as bad as the all-silicone ones I’ve wrangled before.
Durability-wise, it’s only been about 18 months, but so far no leaks or visible cracking. I do like that if the collar ever does go bad, you can sometimes just swap that part out instead of yanking up the whole boot and risking shingle damage. That said, price-wise they’re right up there with full silicone—definitely not a budget fix if you’ve got a bunch of stacks.
I hear you on the “lifetime” warranty thing. Midwest weather laughs at warranties. I’ve seen “lifetime” ridge vents curl up after five years when we get those wild temp swings.
One thing I’d add: on low-slope roofs where snow piles up, hybrids seem to handle ice damming better than straight rubber or even some silicones. Maybe it’s just luck so far, but I haven’t had any water back up under them yet.
If you’re only dealing with one or two stacks and don’t mind paying extra for less hassle down the road, hybrids are worth considering. But yeah, if you’re managing a whole row of units like me... it adds up fast. Still beats climbing up there every other spring to patch splits though.
I’ve got a couple of those hybrids on my own place (asphalt shingles, northern Indiana), and honestly, I’m with you—install was smoother than the all-silicone ones I’ve fought with before. Haven’t had to mess with them since, which is a win in my book. Price stings a bit, but not having to patch leaks every spring is worth it for my sanity. Midwest weather really does chew up those “lifetime” products... I’ve learned not to trust the label.