"Went with a mid-range synthetic option after tons of research (and spreadsheet comparisons, lol), and it's held up surprisingly well."
Same here—went mid-range synthetic about 4 years ago. First-time homeowner, didn't want to overspend but also didn't trust the cheapest stuff. Quick points from my experience:
- Mid-range synthetic definitely feels worth it. No leaks or weird moisture spots yet.
- Helped my brother install budget underlayment last summer—noticed it was thinner and tore easier during install. Made me glad I spent a bit more.
- Premium seemed like overkill for my small roof, but maybe for bigger projects or harsher climates it'd make sense?
Overall, mid-range seems like the sweet spot for most DIYers...at least from what I've seen so far.
Interesting to see others landing on mid-range synthetic too. I went premium synthetic about six years ago, mostly because I got talked into it by a friend who swore by the stuff. Honestly, it's been solid—no complaints—but looking back, I'm not convinced it was worth the extra cost for my situation. My neighbor across the street went mid-range around the same time, and his roof looks just as good as mine does today.
I guess my question is: does premium really offer that much more durability or protection, or is it mostly marketing hype? Maybe if you're in an area with extreme weather conditions or planning to stay in your home long-term, premium could pay off. But for most of us average homeowners, mid-range seems to hit that sweet spot between cost and performance pretty well. Curious if anyone's had a different experience though...
"Maybe if you're in an area with extreme weather conditions or planning to stay in your home long-term, premium could pay off."
That's pretty much been my experience too. I've inspected roofs after some pretty nasty storms, and honestly, most mid-range synthetic underlayments hold up surprisingly well. A couple years back, I checked out two houses side-by-side after a hailstorm—one had premium synthetic, the other mid-range. Both roofs were about five years old. The premium one did look slightly better, fewer dings and tears...but was it enough of a difference to justify the extra cost? Eh, I'm not totally convinced.
I think you're spot on about location being key. If you're in hurricane alley or dealing with heavy snow loads every winter, premium might give you peace of mind. But for average conditions, mid-range seems to do just fine. Sounds like you've made a sensible call—no need to second-guess yourself on this one.
I worked on a roof replacement about three years ago where we used a mid-range synthetic underlayment. Just went back to inspect it after some pretty heavy rains and wind last month, and honestly, it looked almost brand new. Premium stuff might have a slight edge in extreme climates, sure, but in most cases the mid-level synthetics perform solidly enough that the upgrade doesn't seem all that necessary...at least from what I've seen.
Interesting perspective, but I'm not totally convinced premium underlayments are just for extreme climates. I've managed properties in pretty moderate areas where the mid-range stuff looked fine initially, but after 7-8 years, we started seeing some wear and minor leaks. Makes me wonder if paying a bit extra upfront for premium might actually save headaches down the road. Not dismissing your experience at all, just thinking longer-term durability might tell a different story...
