On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 23:17:36 -0500, "Keith"
scribbled this interesting note:

My roof is 10 years old and seems to be in good shape except for the vent
boots. I noticed that the rubber part of the boots has cracked.

This is a pet peeve of mine. This kind of vent flashing, at least
where we live and work, usually fail within about five years. The
flashings that have the neoprene seal always fail. Every time.
Eventually. Why? Because sunshine deteriorates that seal. It cracks.
Then you have a leak.

What should be used? Easy question and an easy answer. Buy better
materials. Lead plumbing vent flashings have been used for more years
than I care to count. Sure, they cost more, but sunshine will not make
them fail. Properly installed this kind of flashing will outlast your
roof by decades.

I had a guy
to give me an estimate on replacing the boots. I have 4 vent boots(two 3"
and two 1.5"). The guy told me it would be around 250.00 labor and I needed
the boots, 2 bundles of shingles and some silicon seal. He said it would
take one whole day for this job.

I'd not let this fellow near any job of ours. First he wants to
replace your flashings with more of the variety that will fail again.
Nothing like job security!:~) It will not take two bundles of
shingles. At most it would take half of one bundle. Silicone is far
from the optimum choice for sealer on roofs...it usually will not
adhere to asphalt shingles. Roof cement or a urethane based sealer are
far superior choices. I won't comment on his labor charge. He wants to
use inferior materials, is over-estimating how many shingles it will
take, so I think his opinion of the value of his time speaks for
itself.

I'm just wanting some opinions on this. I guess I didn't think it was that
big of a job. I realize that one must pull up a few shingles to replace the
boots. What really got me wondering was the fact that the guy said he would
need two bundles of shingles.

Thanks

It isn't that big of a job and I think that $250.00 isn't too terribly
much to pay if the job is done well and carefully. The fellow you have
spoken with sounds more like a semi-qualified handyman than a
craftsman. I know which I'd prefer to have on my house...


--
John Willis
(Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)