ok so they aren't necessarily work boots I'm guessing. Average life span of a pair of work boots is around 3 years at most. Our work boots are factory made of course but they are still very tough. I've worked out of my current pair for nearly three years and they are just now splitting between the sidewall and the sole. And no, I don't wash with soap and buff and rinse mine. In fact all I've ever done to them is spray them with a water hose. But then again they do serve a different purpose.
Yes. They're a modest, soft-ish pair of dress boots, very dark brown. 12 or more inches up the leg, I think.
The only thing that you can do to prevent the sidewall splitting from the sole is, well, nothing.
Nothing except making sure the boots are handmade with careful attention to detail. What spit'n'polish and buffing does is repair the leather itself, not the points of connection.
You could always try your hand at sewing, if that's one of the things connecting the boot to the sole. You may want to forego a harsh hose for soapy water and elbow grease.
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