Shingles matter, but if you skip the insulation or underlayment, you’re just putting lipstick on a pig.
That’s the truth. Had a client last winter swearing her new shingles were “defective” because her upstairs was freezing. Pulled up a corner and—surprise—there was basically newspaper for insulation and the underlayment looked like Swiss cheese. Shingles are the flashy part, but if what’s underneath is a mess, you’ll still get drafts, noise, and leaks. I always tell folks: think of shingles as the jacket, but you need a sweater underneath if you want to stay warm.
Shingles are the flashy part, but if what’s underneath is a mess, you’ll still get drafts, noise, and leaks.
Yeah, that tracks. I used to think new shingles would fix everything, but after seeing a few jobs up close, it’s wild how much the underlayment and insulation matter. Honestly, I’ve seen “premium” shingles slapped on top of a roof with gaps everywhere underneath—looked great, but the house was still cold and noisy. Shingles are important, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle.
Couldn’t agree more—shingles get all the attention, but if the sheathing’s rotted or the underlayment’s cheap, you’re just dressing up a problem. I’ve torn off some “brand new” roofs where water was already getting in because nobody bothered to fix the old decking or seal up around vents. Folks are shocked when I tell them their expensive shingles won’t stop leaks if there’s a gap underneath or ice dams forming at the eaves.
One thing I always wonder—how many people actually check what kind of underlayment is going on their roof? Around here (Midwest), we see a lot of felt paper still, but synthetics hold up better with all our freeze-thaw cycles. Curious if anyone else has noticed a difference in noise or drafts after upgrading insulation or swapping out the old stuff? Sometimes it’s not even about the shingles at all...
Curious if anyone else has noticed a difference in noise or drafts after upgrading insulation or swapping out the old stuff?
Yeah, swapped out old felt for synthetic last year and added some attic insulation at the same time. Noticed way less wind noise and the upstairs doesn’t get that weird cold draft anymore. Honestly, the underlayment made more difference than the shingles did, at least for comfort. Shingles are just the outer shell—if what’s underneath isn’t solid, you’re just asking for trouble down the line.
Shingles are just the outer shell—if what’s underneath isn’t solid, you’re just asking for trouble down the line.
I kinda doubted that at first, but after we redid the attic insulation, the drafts upstairs basically disappeared. The old shingles looked rough, but honestly, fixing what was under them mattered way more for comfort. Didn’t expect that.
