Pressure washing shingles always makes me nervous too—seems like it does more harm than good most times. About those eco underlayments, do they actually hold up in heavy rain or hail? I’ve seen some tear pretty quick, but maybe the newer ones are better. Anyone actually had one last more than a couple seasons?
Pressure washing shingles just feels risky, right? I’ve seen more granules come off than dirt sometimes. As for those eco underlayments, I get where you’re coming from—some of the early ones really didn’t hold up, especially in places with wild weather swings. I tried a recycled-fiber underlayment on my shed roof a few years back (I’m in the Midwest, so we get our share of hail and heavy rain), and honestly, it surprised me. No leaks yet, and it’s been through two winters and a couple nasty storms.
That said, I’ve heard mixed things from neighbors—one guy had his tear up after a single hailstorm, but he said it was a thinner brand. Maybe the newer or thicker versions are better? It seems like there’s a lot of variation depending on the specific product and how careful you are during install. Anyone else notice that some brands just seem to handle the elements better? I’m still cautiously optimistic about them, but I totally get being skeptical if you’ve seen them fail before.
Pressure washing shingles always makes me nervous too. I’ve seen more granules in the gutters after someone tried it than I’d like to admit. As for those eco underlayments, I’ve managed a few properties where we tried them out—some held up, some didn’t. The thicker ones seem to last longer, but install really matters. If you don’t get the overlap right, even the best product won’t save you from Midwest weather. It’s a bit of a gamble, honestly.
- Definitely agree on the pressure washing—every time I’ve seen it done, there’s a ton of granule loss. That’s basically speeding up the aging process for your shingles, especially if they’re already a few years old.
- On the underlayment, I’ve noticed install quality is almost more important than which product you pick. Saw one crew overlap the seams by barely an inch, and water got in during the first big rain. Another job, same material but with a solid 6-inch overlap and careful taping, held up through two nasty winters.
- The “eco” options are interesting, but I’ve found they can be hit or miss. Some of those recycled-fiber types seemed to wick moisture if there was any gap in coverage. The heavier synthetic ones do better, but they’re not cheap and can be tricky to lay flat on steeper roofs.
- Midwest weather is brutal—freeze/thaw cycles just find every tiny mistake. Even the best products can’t totally compensate for sloppy work or shortcuts.
- One thing I’d add: manufacturer warranties often get voided if installation isn’t by the book. Had a property where the owner tried to save money with a handyman, and when there was a leak, the shingle company wouldn’t cover it because the underlayment wasn’t installed to spec.
- For anyone dealing with older roofs, sometimes adding another layer of underlayment during a re-roof can help, but only if local codes allow it. Otherwise, you risk trapping moisture between layers.
- Never had luck with “quick fix” sprays or coatings for leaks either—they might buy you a season, but usually just make things messier down the line.
- And yeah, shingles really do go on like fish scales. It’s kind of wild how something so basic works so well... until someone rushes it or tries to cut corners.
Even the best products can’t totally compensate for sloppy work or shortcuts.
That’s been my experience too. I tried to “save time” once by using the peel-and-stick underlayment with minimal overlap. Regretted it after the first spring thaw—water found a way in. Lesson learned, don’t skimp on overlap or details.
