"Even the best materials can't compensate for sloppy workmanship."
This hits home for me. When we replaced our roof a few years back, I went with peel-and-stick because a buddy swore by it. The product itself was great, but my first installer rushed the job—corners peeling up, wrinkles everywhere. Ended up hiring someone else to redo half of it properly. Lesson learned: good materials are only half the battle...installation and ventilation matter just as much.
Peel-and-stick can be solid, but honestly, I've seen it fail in extreme weather even with decent installs. It's great for ease and convenience, but if you're in an area prone to heavy storms or high winds, synthetic underlayments with proper fasteners tend to hold up better long-term. Installation quality definitely matters, but sometimes the material itself has limitations that workmanship alone can't overcome...just something to consider.
I've mostly worked with peel-and-stick so far, and haven't seen major issues yet...but now I'm curious—do synthetic underlayments really hold up that much better in extreme conditions, or is it more about the fasteners and install methods used?
I've used both peel-and-stick and synthetic underlayments on different projects. Honestly, synthetic does seem tougher overall—especially in heavy rain or high heat—but it's not magic. I've seen synthetics fail pretty badly when installed carelessly or with poor fasteners. Proper installation methods and quality fasteners make a huge difference, maybe even more than the material itself. So yeah, synthetic has advantages, but don't underestimate good workmanship...that's usually the deciding factor in extreme conditions.
Haha, learned that lesson the hard way. Went with synthetic thinking it'd save me from my usual DIY disasters. But turns out, even fancy underlayment won't forgive sloppy stapling...my roof looked like a sad parachute after one storm. Lesson: good install beats expensive materials every time.
