Slippery mornings are rough, but at least it dries quick after rain.
That’s interesting—my main concern with synthetics has always been how slick they get, especially for crews working early. Have you noticed any difference in tear resistance compared to felt, particularly during install on cold mornings? I’ve seen some brands claim better durability, but I’m not totally convinced yet.
Funny you mention cold mornings—last winter I watched two guys slide around like they were auditioning for a figure skating show. Synthetic definitely gets slick, but I will say, the tear resistance is better than the old felt I remember yanking up in the wind. Still, I’ve seen a few brands that claim “never tears,” and then you catch a boot on a nail and...well, there goes that theory. I’m with you, though—still not totally sold it’s always tougher, but I do like how fast it dries.
I’ve had the same experience with “never tears”—marketing hype, mostly. I’ll take synthetic over felt for most jobs, but it’s definitely not bulletproof. Last spring, I managed to snag a corner on a ladder and ripped a chunk right out. Still, I do like how it sheds water fast after a rain, and it doesn’t turn into mush if you leave it exposed for a few days. For me, the grip is the bigger issue—if you’re working on a steep pitch, that stuff is basically an ice rink in the morning. I just throw down some roof jacks and call it good.
I hear you on the “never tears” stuff. I put down synthetic last year thinking it’d be indestructible, but it still tore when I dragged a bundle of shingles across it. It does hold up better than felt when it rains, though—no soggy mess if you get a storm mid-project. The slipperiness is no joke, especially early in the morning. I ended up using old towels for a bit more grip, which isn’t exactly OSHA-approved, but it worked for me. For the price, I’ll stick with synthetic, but I’m not buying the hype that it’s foolproof.
I ran into the same thing—synthetic’s definitely tougher than felt, but it’s not invincible. I learned to be careful dragging anything sharp or heavy across it. For the slipperiness, I started wearing those cheap grippy gloves and that helped a ton, especially on steeper pitches.
