Metal mesh behind soffit vents is a solid move—seen it work plenty of times. But honestly, squirrels are crafty little buggers...if there's even a tiny gap somewhere else, they'll find it eventually. Ridge vents paired with eave intakes are definitely effective for airflow, but I've seen some ridge vents get overwhelmed in really extreme weather—especially heavy snow or sideways rain.
One thing I'd add is to check your attic insulation regularly. Even with good ventilation, moisture can sneak in during wild storms, and damp insulation is a nightmare waiting to happen. Had a client who thought his ventilation was perfect until he found mold creeping in after a particularly nasty winter.
Curious if anyone's tried those reinforced synthetic underlayments beneath shingles? Heard mixed reviews about their durability in severe weather...
"Curious if anyone's tried those reinforced synthetic underlayments beneath shingles? Heard mixed reviews about their durability in severe weather..."
I've used reinforced synthetic underlayment on my own roof, and honestly, I'm still on the fence. It held up fine during some heavy rainstorms, but when we got hit with a nasty windstorm last spring, I noticed a few spots where it seemed to lift slightly. Didn't cause leaks or anything, but it made me wonder how it'd handle something even more intense... jury's still out for me.
I haven't personally tried the reinforced synthetic underlayments, but when we redid our roof last year, our contractor recommended sticking with traditional felt paper. His reasoning was that synthetic stuff can sometimes trap moisture underneath if it's not installed perfectly, leading to hidden issues down the line. We get some pretty intense storms here too—heavy rain, hail, wind—and so far, the felt paper has held up surprisingly well. No lifting or leaks yet (knock on wood...). Maybe it's old-school thinking, but sometimes simpler is better? Anyway, just thought I'd toss that out there as another perspective.
"Maybe it's old-school thinking, but sometimes simpler is better?"
Yeah, I get where you're coming from. When we redid our roof a couple of years ago, I went with synthetic underlayment because I'd heard good things about durability. Honestly, it's held up fine through storms and wind—but now you've got me wondering about moisture trapping... Did your contractor mention anything specific about installation techniques to avoid that issue? Makes me think I should double-check mine now, haha.
"Honestly, it's held up fine through storms and wind—but now you've got me wondering about moisture trapping..."
Had synthetic on our last place too and never had moisture issues—but our roofer was super picky about ventilation. Maybe that's the trick? Now I'm second-guessing my current setup too, lol...
