When breaking down the roof replacement cost with a homeowner, we often get asked about a component called “roof boot”. While it sounds like some kind of footwear, it certainly isn’t. It is, however, an important component of both residential and commercial roofing systems. In today’s post, Howard Roofing & Home Improvements shares a look at this small yet essential roofing component.
Roof boots are a type of roof flashing, which protects vulnerable parts of the roof from water infiltration. The most common types are strips of metal that are installed on roof valleys, at the roof’s edge, and where the roof meets a wall, dormer or chimney stack. Caulking or similar type of sealant are not sufficient for these areas, therefore something more solid is needed, hence the flashing.
Roof boots are cone-shaped components that are typically made of metal, rubber, plastic or a combination of all three. Like the other types of flashing we described above, roof boots protect a particular type of vulnerable spot on a roofing system: areas penetrated by vent pipes.
Unlike chimney stacks or dormers, vent pipes are cylindrical in shape, therefore standard flashing wouldn’t fit. They consist of a flat base and a cone-shaped top, which is trimmed to fit the pipe. Roof boots are made with sloped bases to match the roofing slope. Your roofing contractor will need to determine the roof slope prior to ordering roof boots.
Roof boots are installed along with the shingles, as the flat base is meant to overlap the shingle below it. After cutting the tip of the cone, the roof boot is fitted from the top off the pipe and slid down to the base. Caulk will be applied under and over to prevent moisture infiltration and corrosion on the nailheads. The roofing installer will then trim the shingles that overlap the cone to create a clean fit. Like other types of flashing, roof boots can be replaced without affecting most other parts of the roof.
Howard Roofing & Home Improvements is your leading provider of residential roofing services. Give us a call at (636) 296-1057. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in St. Louis, MO, and surrounding communities.