search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Roofing Project Profiles

Quarrix® Pipe Boot Helps Wildlife Control Service Provider ‘Tame’ Rooftop Squirrel Infestation

Pipe Boot
Pipe Boot
Pipe Boot
Pipe Boot
November 10, 2017

The Scenario

People in the greater Minneapolis area call Keith Markun at Beast Nuisance Wildlife Solutions when they have an unwelcomed varmint, animal, bird or bat inhabiting their home or apartment building — and they want the aforementioned intruder gone for good.  His highly-skilled Beast Wildlife team is compiled of trained wildlife control specialists who not only humanely remove the identified intruders, but are also asked to repair damage and protect areas from future invasions.

One of the most common and consistent year-round problems Markun’s team handles is squirrel infestation. Squirrels are known to relentlessly chew their way into a home via roof pipe jacks and boot covers that have lead tops, corroded or cracked over time. These rooftop pipes and venting covers that include lead entices squirrels to gnaw at them, eventually providing interior access for these pests once whittled away – and thus causing costly roof damage from rain, frost and snow common to the harsh climate of the upper Midwest. 

To initially combat these pesky trespassers, the Beast Wildlife team would fabricate customized metal mesh cages to surround each roof-top venting pipe to keep the squirrels away from the lead tops – an endeavor that proved extremely cumbersome and costly, involved many hours of labor and left an unsightly roofline for homeowners once installed.  “In short, creating a cage to completely enclose the roof vent pipe was a pain,” explains Markun.
“Each one took a long time to make and therefore very costly for both us and the homeowner but was the only solution that we would guarantee against squirrels gnawing on the lead tops and invasions – and I must admit – they looked rather bulky on a rooftop.”   

The Solution

Then Markun learned about a Minneapolis-based manufacturer of high-quality roofing called Quarrix and one of their flagship products – Pipe Boot.

Pipe Boot offers roofing, plumbing and remodeling contractors (and now wildlife control specialists) a lead-free solution that is durable yet easy-to-install way to elegantly camouflage, cover and protect plumbing vent pipes – while also withstanding freezing temperatures and pesky varmints.  It is made of all-steel construction and engineered to withstand frigid temperatures and frost damage via a patented design that allows air space to circulate properly, while still resisting freezing.  Additionally, installation is quite easy as Pipe Boot simply slides over the existing venting pipe, nails into place, and then twist the top to form a weather-tight seal, no specialty tools needed…just place it, twist it and done.  The telescoping sleeve allows for varying pipe heights, pipe widths and roof pitches. It comes in four color options and is paintable to coordinate with any roof color so vent pipes are cleverly camouflaged reducing unwanted sight-lines. 

“I actually met Keith at a local roofing tradeshow and after hearing about what they were doing to permanently deter squirrels from gnawing on lead-based roofing vents – suggested he try Quarrix’s Pipe Boot as a much easier-to-install solution and so he could focus more on serving his customers and less on customizing roof-top cages,” said Amanda Williams, marketing manager at Quarrix.  “Pipe Boot is also 100 percent lead-free with a protective coating so it won’t attract squirrels nor deteriorate from the harsh weather we have here in Minnesota – so homeowners can count on having a beautiful and long-lasting roof without issue from snow, sleet or even squirrel.”

The Result

Since being introduced to Pipe Boot, Keith’s team has installed them on numerous homes with no issues nor call backs to-date.  “Quarrix’s lead-free Pipe Boot is definitely much faster and cheaper to install, not to mention blend quite well with the existing roof coloring – and best of all – I can guarantee my customers from future animal invasion,” added Markun.

Pipe Boot is available via Quarrix authorized wholesale distributors throughout the United States, Canada and Internationally.  For more information, visit www.Quarrix.com.
 

KEYWORDS: pipes

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Sustainable Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • solar-panel-installation

    New Rooftop Solar Provider Enters the Market: IKEA

    See More
  • Pipe Boot

    Pipe Boot

    See More
  • GAF_Pivot_AFTER-INSTALLED

    GAF Master Flow Pivot Pipe Boot Flashing 3- and 4-inch Models

    See More
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing