I get the appeal of those white membranes for heat, but honestly, every time I see one after a hailstorm, it looks like someone took a golf club to it. I’ve patched more dings than I care to admit. Moss is cool in theory, but around here (Pacific NW), it just turns into a slippery mess and clogs the gutters. Insulation, though—I’ll give you that. When we redid my uncle’s attic, the difference was night and day. Shingles are flashy, but what’s underneath really makes or breaks it.
White membranes are a tough sell for me, especially up here. I’ve seen too many jobs where they look great after install, then the first real hailstorm leaves them looking like Swiss cheese. I get why people want them for the energy savings, but if you’re patching every year, is it really worth it? Moss is a pain too—had a client who thought it looked “natural” until he nearly wiped out cleaning his gutters. Underlayment and insulation, though, that’s where the real magic happens. Shingles are just the showy part... what’s underneath is what keeps you dry and warm.
I hear you on the white membranes—up here, hail just shreds them. I always wonder, do the energy savings actually add up if you’re patching holes every spring? Or is it just a trade-off between lower AC bills and higher repair costs? I’ve seen some folks try to double up on membrane thickness, but then you lose flexibility and it still doesn’t stop the moss from creeping in.
About moss, does anyone actually have a good way to keep it off without harsh chemicals? I get the “natural” look thing, but it’s slippery as heck and seems like it eats away at everything over time.
You mentioned underlayment and insulation being the real MVPs—totally agree. Have you tried any of the newer recycled or plant-based underlayments? I’m curious if they hold up better in wet climates or if it’s just marketing hype. Sometimes I think we focus so much on the outer layer (shingles, membranes, whatever) that we forget how much the stuff underneath matters for comfort and longevity.
Moss is a nightmare on my north-facing side—slippery and it just keeps coming back. I tried the copper strips near the ridge, and honestly, it helped a bit, but it’s not a total fix. Pressure washing worked, but I’m always worried about damaging the membrane. As for those recycled underlayments, I put down a plant-based one last year (can’t remember the brand), and so far it’s holding up, but it’s only been through one wet winter. I’m still skeptical if it’ll last as long as the old-school stuff. Energy savings are nice, but patching after every hailstorm gets old fast.
Yeah, moss is relentless on the shady sides. I’ve seen copper help, but like you said, it’s not magic—just slows the regrowth a bit. I’ve always been nervous about pressure washing too. Had a tenant do it once and it ended up peeling some of the granules right off the shingles... not fun. As for those eco underlayments, I’m curious how they’ll hold up after a few more seasons. The traditional felts seem tougher, at least in my experience, but it’s tempting to go greener if they actually last. Hail’s a headache no matter what you use though, especially with these crazy storms lately.
