What kinds of roofing boots are there for plumbing pipes?
Short answer. Roof pipe boots come as neoprene or rubber collars on a metal or plastic base, all rubber or silicone boots, soft lead boots, and split retrofit boots. They are sized to the pipe (commonly 1.5 to 4 inches), and the rubber collar usually fails long before the shingles, which makes cracked boots one of the most common leak sources.
The main types
- Neoprene collar with aluminum or galvanized base: the standard builder boot. The rubber dries and cracks under UV, often well before the shingles wear out.
- Thermoplastic base with rubber collar: similar, will not rust.
- Silicone or EPDM boots: premium rubber that holds up longer in sun and heat.
- Lead boots: soft lead that is rolled down into the pipe. Long lived, but squirrels in Georgia love to chew them.
- Split or retrofit boots: wrap around a pipe without removing anything, handy for repairs.
- Boot repair sleeves: a new collar that slides over a cracked one as a stopgap.
Sizing
Measure the pipe's outside diameter. Common plumbing vents are 1.5, 2, 3 and 4 inches. Many boots fit a range, but a snug collar is what keeps water out.
How they should be installed
The upper half of the base slides under the shingles above, and the lower half lies on top of the shingles below, so water always runs over the flange, never behind it. Nails go under the overlapping shingles. Caulk is a backup, not the seal.
Signs of failure
Cracks around the collar, a gap between collar and pipe, water stains around the pipe in the attic, or a ceiling spot near a bathroom. See pipe boot leaks and common roof leak causes.