I hear you on the nerves—torch-down jobs always make me sweat a bit, even after all these years. I’ve seen crews who really know what they’re doing, but accidents can still happen. Had a neighbor’s shed go up in smoke once because a guy missed a tiny ember under the eaves... not pretty. Self-adhered is definitely easier on the blood pressure, especially if you’ve got wood decking or anything flammable close by.
It does cost more up front, but I’ve noticed fewer callbacks for leaks and repairs with self-adhered compared to torch-down. Plus, you don’t get that lingering burnt smell that sometimes hangs around after a torch job. Only thing I’d say is, make sure whoever installs it knows their stuff—seen a few botched self-adhered jobs where seams weren’t rolled tight enough and water found its way in anyway.
At the end of the day, peace of mind counts for something. Not everyone wants to babysit a fire crew on their own roof.
