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.
Went through something similar myself a few years back. Thought I'd step up my roofing game and splurged on premium synthetic underlayment, figuring it'd buy me some extra protection. Thing is, I rushed the install because rain was coming and I was short on time. Big mistake. First decent gust of wind and I had flapping sheets everywhere—neighbors probably thought I was signaling aircraft or something...
Anyway, ended up redoing the whole thing and learned pretty quick that even the best materials don't mean squat without proper installation. Next time around, I slowed down, made sure every staple was snug and evenly spaced, and took extra care around edges and overlaps. Haven't had a problem since, and we've weathered some pretty nasty storms here lately.
I do think synthetic underlayment has its perks—lighter to handle, tougher against tearing, holds up better if you can't immediately shingle—but yeah, it won't magically fix sloppy work. Honestly, I'd rather have a cheaper felt underlayment installed correctly than expensive synthetic thrown on in a hurry. The quality of the job matters way more than the price tag on the roll. Learned that one firsthand.
