Synthetic’s definitely got its place, but I’ve seen more than a few jobs where it didn’t make much difference in the long run—especially if the shingles went on within a day or two. Around here (Midwest), felt’s held up fine as long as the crew didn’t leave it exposed too long. I get the appeal of synthetic for weather delays, but if you’re tight on budget and have a reliable schedule, felt can still be a safe bet. Just make sure whoever’s installing isn’t rushing—most issues I see come from corners cut during install, not the underlayment itself.
I’m with you—felt’s worked for us too, especially since our contractor kept things moving. We had a few days of rain in the forecast and still didn’t have issues. The savings helped us upgrade to better shingles. If you trust your crew, felt’s not a bad call.
Felt definitely seems to be the go-to for a lot of folks, but I’ve always wondered about the long-term trade-offs. I get that it’s cheaper up front and if you’ve got a reliable crew who doesn’t leave things exposed, it can work out fine. But what about situations where the job drags on or there’s unexpected weather? I’ve seen a couple of projects where felt got torn up by wind or started to wrinkle after a few days of rain, and then you’re dealing with extra labor to fix it before shingles even go on.
Has anyone here actually had issues with felt underlayment down the line—like leaks or warranty headaches? Or is that mostly just contractor scare talk to upsell synthetics? I’m not totally sold on synthetic either, since it’s pricier and sometimes feels like overkill for a basic asphalt shingle roof. But if it really does buy you more time in case of delays, maybe it’s worth budgeting for.
Also curious if anyone’s insurance company ever weighed in on underlayment type. I had one client whose adjuster nitpicked every detail after a hail claim, including what was under the shingles. Not sure if that’s common or just bad luck.
For those who went with felt and upgraded shingles—did you notice any difference in noise during storms? One tenant swore their new roof was louder than the old one, but I’m not sure if that was just the shingle style or something to do with what’s underneath.
Budgeting for these projects always feels like a moving target... every time I think I’ve got it figured out, there’s some new wrinkle (pun intended).
I’ve seen a couple of projects where felt got torn up by wind or started to wrinkle after a few days of rain, and then you’re dealing with extra labor to fix it before shingles even go on.
That’s the main headache I’ve run into with felt. Around here, if the weather’s unpredictable or you’re juggling multiple jobs, it can get messy fast. Have you ever tried using a hybrid approach—like felt on most of the roof but synthetic on the edges or valleys where leaks are more likely? I’m curious if anyone’s insurance ever flagged that as an issue, or if it’s just a “do what works” situation.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen insurance get a little weird about mixing underlayments. One inspector flagged it on a buddy’s job, said it “wasn’t manufacturer spec,” even though it made total sense for that roof. Personally, I’d rather just go full synthetic if I’m worried about weather. It’s pricier up front but way less hassle if a storm rolls in before shingles. Maybe it’s just my luck, but every time I try to cut corners with felt, something goes sideways...