Chalking every course sounds smart, especially if you’re working solo or have to stop mid-way. I’ve always wondered though—does anyone use those shingle alignment gauges, or are they just a gimmick? I’ve only ever eyeballed it and nudged things as needed, like you mentioned, but sometimes I feel like I’m overthinking it. Also, curious if anyone’s tried the peel-and-stick underlayments—worth the extra cost for DIYers, or nah?
I get what you mean about overthinking—lining up shingles can feel like a guessing game sometimes. I’ve tried those alignment gauges a couple times after a hailstorm repair, and honestly, they’re not bad for keeping things straight if you’re solo, but I still end up double-checking by eye. As for peel-and-stick underlayments, they’re pricey but I’ve seen them hold up way better after big storms, especially on low slopes. If you’re in a spot with wild weather, it might be worth the splurge. Otherwise, regular felt’s worked fine for me on most jobs.
Funny you mention the alignment gauges—I tried one after a windstorm last year, and it helped, but I still found myself squinting down the row and nudging things by hand. Old habits, I guess. I’ve been on the fence about peel-and-stick underlayment too. We get some nasty freeze-thaw cycles here, and I’ve seen regular felt wrinkle up after a rough winter. Have you noticed any difference in attic temps or moisture with the peel-and-stick? That’s my main worry with the “upgrade.”
I hear you on the old habits—sometimes I trust my eyeball more than any gadget. As for peel-and-stick, I’ve used it on a couple properties now. Haven’t noticed attic temps changing much, but it does seem to keep the moisture down compared to felt, especially after ice storms. Only thing is, if you ever need to pull up a shingle for repairs, that stuff really sticks... kind of a pain. But overall, less wrinkling and fewer leaks for me.
Peel-and-stick’s a bit of a double-edged sword in my book. I get why folks like it—no doubt, it seals up tight and you don’t get those felt wrinkles that show through on a hot day. I’ve put it down on a handful of jobs, and yeah, it’s a beast to pull up if you ever have to do a repair. Had one where a squirrel chewed through the decking and getting the shingles off without tearing the underlayment was... let’s just say, not fun.
I’m still not convinced it’s always worth the extra cost, especially on roofs with a decent pitch where water’s not pooling. Up here (I’m in the Midwest), ice dams are the real headache. Peel-and-stick does help with that, but I’ve seen some folks slap it everywhere when just using it along the eaves would’ve done the trick.
Guess I’m still a bit old-school—felt’s not perfect, but at least you can work with it if you need to patch something down the line. Still, hard to argue with fewer leaks. Just wish repairs weren’t such a hassle.
