Never had insurance push me toward synthetic, they just wanted “approved underlayment.” Personally, I’d go synthetic next time. Saw felt wrinkle up bad after a two-day rain delay—just like you said,
Synthetic’s lighter, too, which matters when you’re hauling rolls up a ladder all day. Cost stings, but I think it’s worth it for the hassle it saves.“rain got in and it bubbled.”
I hear you on the wrinkled felt. Seen it too many times—one good rain and suddenly it looks like a used tarp up there. That “bubbled” mess is no fun to fix, especially if shingles aren’t down yet. Synthetic’s got its own headaches, but it’s miles ahead for weather delays.
“Synthetic’s lighter, too, which matters when you’re hauling rolls up a ladder all day.”
That’s the real deal. My knees thank me every job I don’t have to drag 30lb rolls of felt up two stories. I used to think the cost difference was silly, but after a couple wet weeks last spring, I’m sold.
Only thing I’ll say—if your roof’s got weird angles or you’re working in high wind, synthetic can get pretty slick. I nearly took a ride off a 10/12 once... still makes me laugh thinking about it, but it wasn’t funny at the time.
Net-net: I’d take synthetic again. Less hassle, less weight, and no more felt bubbles. Pricey, but my back says it’s worth it.
“I nearly took a ride off a 10/12 once... still makes me laugh thinking about it, but it wasn’t funny at the time.”
That’s exactly my worry with synthetic on steep slopes. I had a crew last year working on a 12/12 and even with harnesses, they were sliding around more than I liked. For my own place, I went with synthetic after seeing how felt just couldn’t handle our spring storms—looked like a wet blanket after one downpour. But I do wonder if there’s a trick to getting better grip on those sharper pitches... sanded shoes maybe? Or is it just part of the deal?
- I get what you’re saying about synthetic on steep slopes, but honestly, I’ve seen felt hold up better than folks give it credit for—especially if you double-layer and use cap nails instead of staples.
- On the grip issue, I’ve had better luck with cougar paws (those roofing boots with sticky pads) than sanded soles. Not cheap, but you notice a difference.
- One thing I’d watch with synthetic: some brands get slicker than others when wet or dusty. Worth checking before you commit.
- For me, I’d still lean toward felt under metal if I was redoing my own roof, just because it’s familiar and I know how it behaves in our storms. But yeah, every setup’s got its trade-offs...
Metal over felt is a combo I've always had decent luck with too, especially in our kind of weather. That storm last spring really tested it—woke up to tree branches all over the yard, but the roof held up fine. I know some folks swear by synthetic, but like you said, not all brands are made equal. I tried a cheaper roll once on my shed and it got slick as ice after a rain. Ended up being more stress than it was worth.
Cap nails over staples makes a world of difference for felt, for sure. My neighbor skipped that step and had wind lift the whole thing before he even got the shingles down. Sometimes the old ways stick around for a reason, right?
On boots, I’ve never splurged on cougar paws, but I keep hearing they’re worth every penny. My regular work boots just don’t cut it when that slope gets dewy. Ever have trouble with the pads wearing out? That’s the only thing holding me back from trying them.
I do wonder if in a few years synthetic will catch up, but for now, felt just seems more predictable, especially when storms roll through. I guess part of it is just knowing how to fix it if something goes sideways. Have you noticed any big difference in noise with metal over felt versus synthetic? My buddy said his new synthetic underlayment made wind noise worse, but maybe that’s just his install.
It’s kind of wild how much the little details matter—nails, boots, even which side of the house gets the most sun. Makes me think there’s no real one-size-fits-all answer... just what keeps you sleeping dry at night.
