I hear ya on durability. When we moved into our place, the previous owner had just redone the insulation—thought we were set. But first big storm, we had leaks popping up everywhere. Ended up biting the bullet and upgrading to architectural shingles, and honestly, best decision ever. Like you said:
"Comfort's great, but durability matters too...especially if you're in an area prone to rough weather."
Couldn't agree more—peace of mind is worth every penny.
But first big storm, we had leaks popping up everywhere. Ended up biting the bullet and upgrading to architectural shingles, and honestly, best decision ever.
Architectural shingles are definitely a solid upgrade—seen plenty of roofs hold up way better with them during inspections. But don't overlook proper flashing and ventilation either; those details can make or break your roof's lifespan, especially in storm-prone areas. Peace of mind comes from the whole system, not just shingles.
Totally agree on ventilation—seen way too many roofs fail early because of moisture buildup. Curious though, did you also upgrade your underlayment when you switched shingles? That can make a surprising difference too...
Good point about the underlayment—I didn't upgrade mine when I redid my shingles, mostly because of budget. Haven't had issues yet, but now you've got me wondering if I missed out on some extra protection. Do you think premium underlayment is worth the extra cost if ventilation is already solid? Or is it more of a nice-to-have kinda thing...?
"Do you think premium underlayment is worth the extra cost if ventilation is already solid? Or is it more of a nice-to-have kinda thing...?"
I hear ya—budget always makes these decisions tricky. When I managed a group of townhomes a couple years back, we had a similar debate during roofing replacements. One owner insisted on premium underlayment, swearing it was the best decision he'd ever made, while another went basic and never had an issue. Honestly, both roofs held up fine through storms and heavy snow.
But here's the kicker: when we did have leaks (just twice over several years), they were almost always from flashing issues or installation errors, not really the underlayment itself. Good ventilation and proper installation seem to be the real MVPs here. So while premium underlayment definitely won't hurt—and might give you peace of mind—I wouldn't lose sleep if you skipped it. If your ventilation's already solid, you're probably in good shape. Just my two cents...
