finally found an underlayment that lasts - what's your experience?

I’ve had the same thing happen with peel-and-stick - looked great at first, but after a couple of freeze-thaw cycles, it started to get brittle and even pulled away in spots. My house is in the Midwest, so we get wild temperature swings. I’m curious, has anyone tried those newer synthetic underlayments? I keep hearing they’re supposed to hold up better, but I’m a little skeptical after seeing so many “weatherproof” things fail over time.

- Same deal here - peel-and-stick looked solid for a year, then winter hit and it started curling at the edges. Midwest weather just wrecks that stuff.
- We tried synthetic underlayment (I think it was GAF Deck-Armor?) on a garage last fall. It’s held up way better through snow and rain, but it’s only been one season, so hard to say long-term.
- One thing I noticed: it’s way lighter and easier to roll out than felt. Didn’t tear as easy either.
- Only downside so far is it’s a bit slippery if you’re up there working, especially with morning dew. Just something to watch out for...

Only downside so far is it’s a bit slippery if you’re up there working, especially with morning dew. Just something to watch out for...

That slipperiness caught me off guard, too - almost lost my footing last spring. I’ve started wearing those grippy shoe covers when I’m up there, especially after a frost. For anyone in the Midwest, synthetic’s definitely got the edge over peel-and-stick once the freeze-thaw cycles kick in. Just make sure to overlap seams tight and use cap nails, not just staples - learned that one the hard way after a windstorm peeled back a corner.

That’s a good point about the cap nails - seen too many jobs where folks just used staples, and it never ends well once a gusty storm rolls through. Those seams can be tricky, too. I’ve always told people, overlap like you’re expecting sideways rain, not just a drizzle. Midwest weather doesn’t play around.

The slipperiness is no joke either. I’ve had a couple close calls myself, especially on those cold mornings when you think it’s just dew but it’s actually a thin layer of ice. Grippy shoe covers help, but sometimes I still get nervous up there. Ever tried those foam kneepads? They’re not just for comfort - sometimes they give a little extra traction if you’re kneeling to set nails.

Synthetic underlayment has been a game-changer for me, especially with the wild swings in temperature we get here in Indiana. I used to swear by felt, but after seeing how synthetic holds up after a few freeze-thaw cycles, I’m not going back. Still, I’ve heard from some old-timers that felt “breathes” better and is less slippery when wet. Not sure I buy it, but maybe it depends on the brand or thickness?

One thing I do wonder about - how’s everyone dealing with underlayment noise? On windy days, I sometimes hear a bit of flapping even if everything’s nailed down tight. Maybe it’s just my roof pitch or the way the wind hits my house, but it makes me double-check every time.

Anyway, glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s had a few surprises up there. Roofing’s one of those things where you learn something new every season... usually the hard way.

I’m with you on synthetic - felt just doesn’t hold up the same way in Midwest weather. I’ve noticed the noise too, especially on steeper pitches. Sometimes it’s just the wind angle, but I’ve started using more cap nails along the edges and that seems to help a bit. Never thought about kneepads for traction, but now I’m curious... anything that keeps me from sliding off is worth a shot.