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...
Moss on the north side? That’s just part of the ecosystem at this point...
I get the “ecosystem” thing, but I’d be careful letting moss settle in too much. It’s not just cosmetic—over time, it can lift shingles and trap moisture. Had a client a while back who figured it was harmless until a leak cropped up right under a mossy patch.
On the underlayment front, I’ve actually gone a different route: self-adhered membrane. It’s pricier than recycled stuff, but for steep pitches and unpredictable weather, I’ve found it outlasts both felt and synthetics. The install’s fussier (especially if temps drop), but it bonds tight and shrugs off ice dams.
Ventilation’s huge, like you said. Still, I’d keep an eye on that recycled layer after a few more winters. Some of those materials break down faster than advertised, especially if you get wild temp swings. If you do see any soft spots or weird smells, might be worth pulling up a corner to check for hidden mold. Just my two cents—every roof’s got its quirks.
