When should a roof vent pipe boot be replaced, and should you hire it out?
Short answer. Replace a pipe boot when the rubber collar is cracked or pulling away from the pipe, the base is cracked or rusted, or the nails holding it are exposed and leaking; patching with sealant or a rubber sleeve is only a stopgap. Every roof replacement should include new boots, and hiring a roofer makes sense when the roof is steep, the shingles are brittle, or you are not sure the boot is the real source.
Signs it is time
- Visible cracks or splits in the rubber collar, often on the sunny side.
- A gap between the collar and the pipe.
- Stains on the ceiling or decking around the pipe after rain.
- Chewed lead boots.
- Hail cracks on plastic bases.
Stopgaps vs real fixes
- Sealant around the collar: buys a season at most and can trap water.
- Rubber repair sleeve: slides over a cracked collar and can last a while, but does nothing for a failed base or exposed nails.
- New boot: the real fix, slid under the shingles above with the nails hidden.
At roof replacement
Old boots should never be reused under new shingles. New boots, often with longer lasting collars, go on with the new roof.
DIY or hire?
A low slope, single story roof with flexible shingles is a reasonable DIY job for someone comfortable on a roof. Hire it out when:
- The roof is steep or two stories.
- The shingles are old and brittle, so lifting them will crack them.
- The stain is not right at the pipe, which suggests another source.
- Several boots are failing, which may signal the roof is near the end of its life.
See pipe boot leaks and signs you need a new roof.