“Sometimes you get lucky with basic felt and standard nailing, but luck isn’t much of a strategy when you’re dealing with 70 mph winds.”
That’s the part that really hits home for me. I used to think as long as the shingles looked good from the street, I was set. Then we had a tropical storm roll through last year—nothing catastrophic, but enough to test things. My neighbor’s roof (same builder, same age) leaked in three spots, while mine stayed dry. The only difference? I’d paid extra for ice & water shield in the valleys and around the chimney. At the time, I grumbled about the cost, but now I’m glad I did.
I get why people hesitate on upgrades, though. It’s tough to justify spending more on stuff you’ll never see... until you’re up there with a bucket during a downpour. Still, I wouldn’t call it all luck—sometimes those “invisible” details are the only thing standing between you and a soaked living room.
“It’s tough to justify spending more on stuff you’ll never see... until you’re up there with a bucket during a downpour.”
That line made me laugh because I was literally that person last fall. First big storm in our new place, and I’m running around with towels, trying to figure out where the water’s coming from. Turns out, the previous owners had skipped the ice & water shield in the valleys—guess they figured it wasn’t worth it either. Lesson learned, and now I’m budgeting for those “invisible” upgrades.
I totally get why people hesitate, though. When you’re already stretched thin from buying a house, it’s hard to fork over more for something you hope never gets tested. But after seeing how quickly things can go sideways, I’m starting to think those little extras are more like insurance than luxury.
Funny thing is, my neighbor across the street went all-in on metal roofing and barely noticed the storm at all. Meanwhile, I’m googling “how to patch a roof leak” at 2am. Sometimes it feels like luck, but most of the time it’s just what you put into it up front.
“I’m starting to think those little extras are more like insurance than luxury.”
That’s exactly it. Most people don’t realize how critical those “invisible” layers are until they’re mopping up water at 2am. I’ve seen too many folks skip the ice & water shield or proper flashing, thinking it’s just upsell. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what keeps you dry when things get rough. Metal roofing is great, but even with asphalt, those underlayments make a massive difference—especially in places with wild weather swings. You’re making the right call budgeting for upgrades now, even if it stings a bit.
That’s what pushed me to spring for the ice & water shield, even though it was a stretch. I kept hearing stories about “hidden” leaks starting small and turning into real headaches. Has anyone had luck with synthetic underlayment versus traditional felt in humid climates?
I totally get where you’re coming from—those “hidden” leaks are what freaked me out too. I went with synthetic underlayment instead of felt when we redid our roof last year (we’re in coastal Georgia, so super humid). Honestly, it’s held up way better than the old felt ever did. No weird moisture issues so far, and it seemed easier for the crew to install. The upfront cost was a bit more, but peace of mind is worth it for me. I know some folks swear by felt, but after seeing how quickly it can wrinkle or tear in humidity, I’m glad I made the switch.
