Yeah, I’ve run into that too—especially with lower slopes where water just doesn’t shed as fast. Even with composites, if the flashing detail isn’t tight around penetrations or valleys, you’re asking for trouble. I always double up on underlayment in those areas and use ice & water shield, even if it’s not code. It’s a bit more upfront, but it saves headaches down the line. Funny enough, I’ve seen more issues from rushed installs than from the material itself.
That’s interesting—do you find the ice & water shield makes a big difference in milder climates too, or is it more of a peace-of-mind thing? I’m in the southeast, so we get heavy rain but not much snow. I doubled up on underlayment around my skylights, but sometimes I wonder if I’m just being paranoid...
I get where you’re coming from—sometimes it feels like overkill, but with those crazy downpours we get, I’d rather have the extra layer. I did the same thing around my vents and skylights. Maybe it’s a bit much, but I sleep better when it’s pouring outside.
That extra layer around the tricky spots—vents, skylights, chimneys—makes a world of difference, especially with composite tiles. I’ve done a few roofs over the years (asphalt, then metal, now composite), and honestly, I’d rather be a little over-prepared than deal with water stains or worse, hidden rot. Composite tiles are great for shedding water, but if you’ve got any weird angles or older flashing, water will find its way in eventually.
Here’s what’s worked for me: after stripping the old shingles, I always run a self-adhesive membrane (like Ice & Water Shield) at least three feet up from the eaves and wrap it around anything that sticks out of the roof. Then I overlap that with synthetic underlayment everywhere else. Some folks say it’s overkill, but after seeing what a single missed seam can do during a thunderstorm... yeah, I’ll take the extra hour or two.
One thing I noticed with composite tiles—they’re lighter than clay or concrete, but they can still shift a bit if you don’t get the fasteners right. Around skylights, I double-check that the flashing is tucked under both the membrane and the tile. It’s a pain to redo later if you miss something.
I get why some people think it’s too much, but in my area (Midwest), we get those sideways rains and ice dams. The peace of mind is worth it. Plus, composite tiles seem to hold up better than asphalt in hail, but they’re not invincible. I had one spot where wind-driven rain got under a poorly sealed vent last year—ended up with a small leak in the attic. Lesson learned: more layers, better sleep.
If you’re already going through all that effort, might as well do it right the first time. It’s not just about keeping dry—it’s about not having to climb up there again for another decade or two.
I get the urge to go all-in with layers, but honestly, I wonder if it’s always necessary. My place is only a few years old, and the builder just used standard underlayment with composite tiles—no fancy membranes except at the valleys. We had a couple of wild storms last spring, and everything held up fine. Maybe it’s different if your roof’s got a lot of weird angles or older flashing, but for a simple roof, I’m not sure the extra cost and time are always worth it. Guess it depends on how much risk you’re willing to take.