At least the ice and water shield in the valleys has saved me from a few angry calls after storms... worth every penny there.
I’m with you on that—ice and water shield is like insurance for my peace of mind. I tried felt once and it turned into a soggy mess after a surprise rain. Still not sure if synthetics are really “new and improved” or just new and expensive, but I’ll admit, not having to redo things is nice. Anyone else notice some of them feel almost too slippery to walk on?
I get what you mean about synthetics—some of them really do feel slick, especially on a steeper pitch. I had a crew refuse to walk on one brand last year because they said it was like ice under their boots. That wasn’t great for keeping the job moving, so I’ve been more careful about what I order since then. The trade-off is they hold up way better if you get caught with a sudden downpour mid-job, which happens more than I’d like around here.
On the cost side, I’m still torn. They’re pricier up front but I haven’t had to deal with any callbacks for leaks or wrinkling like I did with felt—especially when it sat exposed for a few days. That’s worth something in my book, especially since tenants don’t care if it’s “just the underlayment” when water’s coming through the ceiling.
Curious if anyone’s actually seen long-term issues with synthetics breaking down? Most of mine have only been on roofs 5-7 years now so it’s hard to say if they’ll last as long as advertised. Also, has anyone tried those “walkable” versions some brands are pushing? Wondering if that’s marketing or if they really make much difference in practice.
I manage a mix of asphalt shingle and low-slope roofs, mostly in an area that gets pretty wild freeze-thaw cycles and some big wind gusts. The ice and water shield in valleys has saved me more than once from major headaches—no question there. But for the rest of the roof, I’m still figuring out where to draw the line between cost and durability.
Anyone seen insurance companies push back on synthetic underlayments or are they pretty much industry standard now? Just trying to avoid any surprises when it comes time for claims after a storm...
- Totally get where you’re coming from on the slick synthetics—had a couple of close calls myself, especially when there’s morning dew.
- The upfront cost stings, but I’ve noticed fewer headaches with leaks and callbacks too. That peace of mind is worth a lot, especially if you’re juggling multiple properties.
- Haven’t seen any breakdowns yet, even after some wild weather swings. Most of mine are 6 years in and still look solid when I peek under repairs.
- Tried one “walkable” brand last fall—definitely less slippery, but not miracle stuff. Still gotta watch your step, but it helped on steeper pitches.
- Insurance hasn’t batted an eye here (Midwest), but I always keep the product docs handy just in case.
- Sounds like you’re making smart calls balancing cost and durability. It’s not easy, but you’re ahead of the curve compared to folks still using old-school felt everywhere.
- Totally get where you’re coming from on the slick synthetics—had a couple of close calls myself, especially when there’s morning dew. - The upfront cost stings, but I’ve noticed fewer hea...
That “walkable” brand you mentioned—tried it myself on a 7/12 pitch, and yeah, it’s better but still not foolproof. I do like the peace of mind with synthetics, even if the price hurts up front. For me, the real win is not having to worry every time we get a heavy rain or big temp swing. Old felt just didn’t cut it here (Northeast) with all the freeze/thaw cycles. No issues with insurance either, but I keep all my install docs just in case.
For me, the real win is not having to worry every time we get a heavy rain or big temp swing.
Totally agree with this. I used to stress every time the forecast called for a downpour—old felt just didn’t hold up in our New England winters. The synthetic stuff isn’t perfect (I’ve slipped a couple times too), but it’s been way more reliable. Pricey, yeah, but I’d rather pay once than patch leaks every spring. Keeping install docs is smart... insurance can be picky.
