That’s a fair take. I’ve run into the same headache with repairs—peel-and-stick is a bear to get up cleanly, especially if you’re trying not to damage what’s underneath. It does its job almost too well sometimes. I can see why you’d stick with felt for the flexibility, especially if you’re managing older roofs where patch jobs are inevitable.
I always wonder about the cost-benefit on these newer products. Like, does the extra expense upfront really pay off in fewer leaks and less water damage long-term? Or are we just making it tougher for ourselves (and whoever comes after us) when something goes wrong? Around here, we get our share of ice dams too, but I’ve noticed some contractors go overboard and cover the whole roof in peel-and-stick—seems like overkill unless you’re dealing with a really low slope or chronic water issues.
One thing that’s tripped me up is ventilation—some of these self-adhered membranes make it harder for the roof to “breathe,” which can be a problem if you’ve got older attic spaces or questionable airflow. On one property, we had condensation issues crop up after switching to peel-and-stick everywhere. Had to go back and add more vents just to keep things balanced.
But yeah, fewer leaks is tough to argue with. The peace of mind when there’s a gnarly storm rolling through is real. I guess it comes down to how much hassle you want now versus later... and how likely it is you’ll need to do repairs before a full tear-off anyway.
You’re not alone on being old-school about felt, though. There’s something reassuring about knowing you can pull up a section without turning it into an all-day project. Still, hard not to appreciate progress—even if it comes with new headaches.
I hear you on the cost-benefit thing. I went with peel-and-stick on a small section after a nasty leak, and yeah, it’s solid—but man, getting it off later was a pain. My wallet definitely felt the “progress.” I still lean toward felt for most of my roof, just because I know I’ll be up there patching something eventually. Plus, with our old attic, I worry about trapping moisture too. Sometimes the old ways just make life easier... or at least cheaper.
Peel-and-stick is a beast to remove, I’ll give you that. I’ve seen folks tear up decking trying to get it off. Have you noticed any issues with felt wrinkling or tearing over time? Around here, the humidity can really mess with it.
I’ve definitely seen felt wrinkle up, especially in muggy summers—it’s like the stuff just can’t stay flat once the humidity gets in. But, honestly, I’m not convinced it’s always the felt’s fault. Sometimes I wonder if it’s more about how fast folks try to slap it down, or if the deck underneath is a little sketchy. I had one spot behind my chimney where the felt bunched up after a wet week, but it turned out the sheathing was warped from an old leak.
Have you tried any of those synthetic underlayments? I keep hearing they’re supposed to be less prone to wrinkling and tearing, but I’m a bit skeptical. The old-school felt is cheap and easy to patch, but maybe I’m being stubborn. Around here, with our storms and all, I’m not sure what holds up better long-term... Does anyone actually see less trouble with synthetics once they’re under shingles for a few years? Or is it all just marketing hype?
Have you tried any of those synthetic underlayments? I keep hearing they’re supposed to be less prone to wrinkling and tearing, but I’m a bit skeptical.
I’ve been watching the synthetic vs. felt debate for a while now, and honestly, I’m still not sure there’s a clear winner. Synthetics definitely don’t wrinkle up like felt when it gets humid, but I’ve seen some brands get slick as ice when wet—makes walking on a steep roof sketchy. The patching thing is real too; with felt, you just slap another piece on and call it good. Synthetics can be trickier if you get a tear.
One thing I’m curious about: has anyone noticed if synthetics actually breathe better under shingles? Some of the marketing claims they let moisture escape, but I haven’t seen much proof in real-world roofs after a few years. Around here (humid summers, cold winters), trapped moisture is what really kills the deck over time. Anyone ever pulled up shingles after five or ten years and compared how the deck looks under each type? Or is it more about how well the roof’s vented in the first place?
