I’m with you on the skepticism—20 years sounds like a stretch, especially around here where freeze/thaw cycles are brutal. I’ve stuck with felt mostly because it’s cheap, but patching every spring is getting old. The recycled synthetic stuff sounds promising, but I keep wondering if it’s worth the upfront cost. Did you notice any difference in attic temps or moisture after switching? I’m always worried about hidden issues popping up later.
Yeah, that 20-year claim always makes me raise an eyebrow, especially in places where the weather can’t make up its mind. I tried the synthetic underlayment on a couple of smaller jobs last year, mostly because tearing up felt each spring was driving me nuts. Haven’t noticed any attic moisture issues so far, but it definitely feels like it breathes better—less musty smell after a rain, at least. Upfront cost stings, but not having to patch constantly is kind of a relief. Still, I wonder how it’ll hold up after another rough winter...
- That “20 years” thing always cracks me up. Maybe if you live somewhere with zero wind and the sun never comes out? Around here, you’re lucky if anything lasts half that.
- Used felt on my uncle’s garage last spring. By fall, it was curling up at the edges like a bad pizza. Switched to synthetic on my own shed after that—way easier to lay down, didn’t tear every time I stepped wrong.
- Noticed the same thing with the smell. Felt always made the attic musty after a storm, but the synthetic seems to dry out quicker. Not sure if it’s actually “breathing” or just not holding water like a sponge.
- Price is rough, yeah. My boss grumbled about it until he realized we weren’t patching leaks every other week. Guess it pays off if you’re not redoing the same job twice.
- Only thing I’m not sold on: gets slippery as heck when it’s wet or frosty. Nearly went skating off the roof last November. Felt’s not much better, but at least you know what you’re getting.
- Haven’t seen any weird moisture issues yet, but winter’s always the real test. If it survives the freeze-thaw circus here, I’ll be impressed.
- Still got a roll of felt in the truck for emergencies, but honestly, can’t see myself going back unless I have to. Just wish the stuff wasn’t so shiny—neighbors joked they could see my roof from space before the shingles went on...
Only thing I’m not sold on: gets slippery as heck when it’s wet or frosty. Nearly went skating off the roof last November. Felt’s not much better, but at least you know what you’re getting.
That’s exactly what I ran into last month—synthetic underlayment down, morning dew hits, and suddenly I’m tiptoeing like I’m on a sheet of ice. I get why folks stick with felt out of habit, but between the curling and that weird “wet wool” smell in the attic, I couldn’t justify it for my place. Ended up using GAF Deck-Armor on my 6/12 pitch, mostly for the breathability claims, but honestly, it was the lighter rolls that sold me. Lugging those old felt rolls up a ladder is no joke.
The price stung a bit, but after patching leaks on my last place every other year, I figured it was worth a shot. Haven’t had any issues yet, even after a couple of nasty storms this spring. Still kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop once winter hits though—freeze/thaw is brutal here (I’m in upstate NY). Curious if anyone’s actually seen synthetic fail from ice dams or trapped moisture? Or does it just hold up better than felt in that scenario?
One thing I did notice: less attic odor after rain, which is nice. Not sure if that’s just because it dries out faster or if my old house just had more leaks than I realized.
The shine is real though... My neighbor called my roof “the world’s biggest solar panel” before the shingles went on. Guess it’s only temporary but still kind of hilarious.
Anyone here tried the peel-and-stick stuff? I’ve heard it’s bombproof for valleys and eaves but haven’t seen it used across a whole roof around here. Wondering if it’s overkill or actually worth the extra cost for peace of mind.
Peel-and-stick is a beast for valleys and eaves—no question, it’s the gold standard there. But I’ve seen full-roof installs get tricky, especially on older sheathing. If your deck isn’t perfectly clean and dry, adhesion can get spotty and make repairs a pain later. Did you notice any difference in attic temps after switching to synthetic? Some folks say it breathes better, but I’ve seen mixed results depending on ventilation.
