Still looking for something that holds up to ice, wind, and sun without costing a fortune or turning into a slip-n-slide. If the recycled-fiber holds up, I might give it a shot on my next inspection list. Always open to new ideas, but I’m a little skeptical until I see it last a few seasons.
That “slip-n-slide” feeling is spot on—synthetics can get downright treacherous in cold weather. I’ve had crews refuse to walk certain brands after an early morning frost. It’s not just the steeper pitches either; even a 4/12 can be sketchy if the surface is too slick.
Recycled-fiber underlayment is pretty new in my area (upper Midwest), so I haven’t seen much real-world data yet. My main concern is similar to what was mentioned—moisture retention. If it wicks water or holds onto it under an ice dam, that could be a long-term problem. Anyone actually cut back a section after a winter and checked for mold or delamination? I’d be curious if the recycled content changes how it handles freeze/thaw cycles compared to traditional felt.
I’ve also noticed that install time with some of these “eco” products can creep up, especially if you’re dealing with odd seams or the rolls aren’t as consistent as synthetics. The labor cost adds up fast if you’re sending crews back to patch torn spots or deal with fastener pull-through. Has anyone tracked whether the recycled stuff actually saves money in the long run, or does it just shift the expense from materials to labor?
Doubling up with synthetic over felt seems like overkill unless you’re dealing with really brutal conditions. I tried it once on a north-facing roof with constant drifting snow, and honestly, it didn’t seem to make much difference except for adding weight and time.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned: how do these newer underlayments handle UV exposure if they get left uncovered for longer than planned? Synthetics usually claim 90 days or more, but I’ve seen some start to degrade after just a couple weeks of direct sun in July.
If anyone’s got photos of recycled-fiber underlayment after a full season—especially under ice dams—I’d love to see them. Hard data’s tough to come by when most of us only see our own jobsites.
I get the concern about moisture with recycled-fiber, but I’m not convinced it’s any worse than traditional felt—at least not from what I’ve seen on my own garage roof. We had a brutal freeze-thaw last winter and I checked under a couple shingles this spring. No mold, no weird smells, nothing soft or delaminating. It’s not a huge sample size, but honestly, I’d rather risk trying something eco-friendly than keep using synthetics that turn into an ice rink every time we get a cold snap. Maybe I just got lucky, but I’d say don’t write off the recycled stuff until you’ve seen it up close.
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honestly, I’d rather risk trying something eco-friendly than keep using synthetics that turn into an ice rink every time we get a cold snap
Can’t blame you there—synthetics on my shed roof last year were slipperier than my grandma’s linoleum.
- I’ve noticed recycled-fiber holds up better than expected after hail. No soggy mess, just a few dents.
- One thing: double-check the install if you’re in a wind tunnel like me. Had a corner peel up, but that’s probably just my luck with storms...
- Mold? Nada so far, even after a spring that felt like living inside a car wash.
- Still, I keep a roll of old-school felt handy, just in case I jinx it.
Had a similar adventure with the “eco” stuff last fall. My neighbor swore by it, so I figured, why not? Anything’s better than the blue tarp look I had going after the last windstorm. I went with recycled-fiber underlayment under asphalt shingles—figured it’d be mush after our usual freeze-thaw circus, but it’s actually holding up. Took a beating from hail in March, just like you said, but no leaks or weird smells. I did have to chase down a corner that tried to make a break for it during one of those sideways-rain days. Ended up stapling it down like my life depended on it.
I’m still a little paranoid about mold, but so far, nothing growing except the moss on the north side (which is just a given around here). I keep some felt in the garage too, mostly out of habit. Old habits die hard, I guess. If this stuff makes it through another winter, I might finally retire the felt for good... or at least stop hoarding it like it’s gold.
I keep some felt in the garage too, mostly out of habit. Old habits die hard, I guess.
I hear you on the felt stash—mine’s gathering dust next to the snow shovels I never use. Switched to recycled underlayment a couple years ago and honestly, it’s been more resilient than I expected. Freeze-thaw cycles used to chew through my old setup, but this stuff’s hanging tough. Mold was my biggest worry too, but as long as things stay ventilated, it seems fine. Moss on the north side? That’s just part of the ecosystem at this point...
