I get the point about overdoing it with sealants and shields, but honestly, I’ve seen the opposite too. After that windstorm last winter, I checked out a place where the only thing that kept water out was a full-coverage ice and water shield—flashing was half-baked, but the shield held up. Not saying it’s a fix for bad design, but sometimes in wild weather, that extra layer buys you time. Mold’s a risk, sure, but a soaked attic’s worse in my book. Sometimes you gotta pick your poison, especially when storms are getting nastier every year.
Mold’s a risk, sure, but a soaked attic’s worse in my book. Sometimes you gotta pick your poison, especially when storms are getting nastier every year.
I hear you on that. Last fall, we had what felt like a sideways rain for two days straight, and I swear my roof was just holding on for dear life. I’d been a little lazy about redoing the flashing around the chimney (rookie mistake), but the ice and water shield I put down a couple years ago saved my bacon. The attic stayed dry, even though I found a shingle or two in the yard later.
I get the worry about trapping moisture and mold, but honestly, if water’s pouring in, that’s a way bigger headache. At least with a good underlayment, you’ve got a fighting chance to spot the leak before it ruins everything. Not saying it’s a substitute for proper install—my neighbor skipped the drip edge and now he’s got squirrels AND leaks—but sometimes you just need that extra layer when Mother Nature gets cranky.
Anyway, I’m still figuring out if I want to try synthetic underlayment next time or just double up on what I’ve got. Hasn’t failed me yet... knock on wood.
That’s reassuring to hear your ice and water shield actually did its job. I’m still learning the ropes with all this stuff, but it’s wild how much difference those “extra” layers make when the weather gets weird. I keep hearing mixed things about synthetic underlayment—some folks swear by it, others say it’s overkill unless you’re in hurricane country. I’m in the Midwest, so we mostly get heavy rain and wind, but not the crazy coastal storms.
I totally get what you mean about picking your battles. I’d rather deal with a little mold cleanup than have to replace insulation and drywall after a major leak. My inspector was big on making sure the attic could breathe, but he also said water is always enemy number one. Guess there’s no perfect answer, just trying to stack the odds in your favor.
Still debating if I should just stick with what’s working or try something new next time... but hearing your story makes me feel a bit better about not going all-in on upgrades right away.
I’ve seen a lot of roofs in the Midwest that hold up just fine with traditional felt underlayment, especially if the shingles are installed right and there’s decent attic ventilation. Synthetic underlayment is definitely tougher and more tear-resistant, but I’ve also seen it trap moisture when the attic isn’t vented properly. Honestly, unless you’re dealing with ice dams or really long exposure before shingles go on, felt still does the job for most folks around here. I’d say don’t fix what isn’t broken, but keep an eye on your attic airflow—water always finds a way if you let it.
- Had to redo my roof last year after a nasty hailstorm.
- Went with regular felt, mostly because it was way cheaper.
- No major leaks so far, but I did notice some moisture in the attic this spring—guessing my vents aren’t pulling enough air.
- Contractor tried to upsell me on synthetic, but I couldn’t justify the extra cost for a basic ranch house.
- Midwest weather is rough, but my neighbor’s old felt roof is still holding up after 15+ years... makes me think it’s more about how it’s installed than the material.
