[Erijo]

Hi, we were in ace hardware today and saw a product called
"boot guard". It is supposed to go over the roof vent and prevent leaks. Apparently squirrels like to eat thru this vent hence the cover to protect them. Depending on size, they are 25-50 dollars each and most roofs have 3 of these vents. My question is, is this product necessary? Thanks.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Erijo

Hi, we were in ace hardware today and saw a product called
"boot guard". It is supposed to go over the roof vent and prevent leaks. Apparently squirrels like to eat thru this vent hence the cover to protect them. Depending on size, they are 25-50 dollars each and most roofs have 3 of these vents. My question is, is this product necessary? Thanks.

Do you see squirrels on your roof?

[Jim Wilson]

Ace Hardware is a really great supplier and this is absotutely no reflection on them ... but ... I can tell you one thing for sure ... if you do ANYTHING concerning repairs to your roof (including vents) be certain you have a licensed and insured roofing contractor do it for you! Risking a leak or having work done by any person not qualified is just plain ... askiing for trouble!!

[JoelJohnson]

I need a roofer, any suggestion?

[BS Beef]

It's just for your plumbing vents. Called soil boots or pipe jacks. It's a nice product and looks nice but in my opinion it's a specialty product. The only purpose it would serve would be if you have squirrels eating the cover over your pipes. The most common problem with squirrels is they eat the lead cover. I would guess you don't have lead. The only other possible use would be aesthetics.

[jimbo2012]

Ours are lead, what can eat thru that?

[mrfixit]

Try here....These are for Vent-stacks.
...................Vent-stacks create a path for air release to allow
your drains to work properly,and toilet to flush easily.
.
.>>>>>> Roof Vent Boot Guard

Not only will squirrels eat thru the lead boot.......
......birds will also sit on edge of the roof vent for your toilet....
( on cold days) and get gassed by the fumes emitted.
If you are lucky they will die and fall off onto your roof.
...if you are UN-lucky the bird will fall INTO the vent stack
and plug it up with carcass.....this will keep your toilet and sinks
from draining properly...and ..be costly to remove the carcass.

If you have trees OVERhanging your roof ( especially palm trees)
snakes and mice and the rats without the fuzzy tail can enter your
home thru the vent and INTO your toilet.

Heck, I have seen squirrels IN toilets INside homes.

The MORAL of the STORY....
........>>>>>........GET RID OF BIRDFEEDERS.........<<<<<........

...birds spill the seeds....
.......mice/rats and squirrels eat the seeds off the ground.......
............Snakes show up to eat the mice etc....
.................Preadator Hawks and Eagles show up to eats the Snakes.....
.....................the preadator Birds spot snack size neighbor Dog.......
...............................and on goes the cycle of nature.


Here is an IDEA.....Get rid of the Birdfeeders.

[jimbo2012]

Wow! I stand corrected, I never knew they eat thru lead.

[DangeloInspections]

As MrFixIt stated, Down here most of the plumbing vents on your roof are lined with a lead flashing. When folks allow palm tree fronds or other tree branches to overhang or come close to your roof, squirrels can climb on your roof and chew on the lead flashing. In time, this puts holes in and around this flashing and eventually most all of the flashing can be gone.

Drive around the older homes here in The Villages and look at the vents. Many times you will see portions of the white PVC pipe exposed on these lead flashings.

This allows rain water to get into the space between the PVC pipe and the lead flashing. This rain water can then get into your attic and down into your interior walls causing water and mold damage. Pests can also then enter your attic.

To protect these lead flashings, some folks will install the plastic vent covers, commonly found at ACE Hardware, etc. They are secured by thumbscrews. One must be very careful when installing these that the thumbscrew has a washer type end on them so they do not puncture the lead flashing. It should be snug enough to stay on, but NOT puncture the lead flashing.....if you puncture the lead flashing you will cause the very problem you are trying to prevent.

Here is a picture of typical squirrel damage I commonly see....



I should add that if you already HAVE this damage, adding these squirrel guards will NOT prevent moisture from entering your home. Any gaps made already by the squirrels need to be sealed FIRST. If the damage is bad enough a new lead flashing may be needed to be installed by a qualified roofer. Only then can the guards be installed to prevent further damage.

I should also add that if you have an older roof that has the older aluminum ridge vents, the foam end covers need to be checked. I typically find about half of them missing. Squirrels, rats, bats, etc can then very easily enter your attic of these are missing.

As long as they are installed as stated above, you should have no problems. The squirrel guards come in different colors and sizes.

Hope that helps!

Frank D'Angelo, ACI