I’ve seen it tear up or wrinkle under heavy rain, especially if the installer rushed it.
That’s exactly what I keep running into after big storms—felt just doesn’t have much forgiveness if the weather turns or the crew’s in a hurry. I get why some folks stick with it for budget jobs, but honestly, I’ve seen too many leaks start from a little wrinkle or a spot where the felt just didn’t hold. Synthetics aren’t bulletproof (I’ve seen some cheap ones rip too), but they buy you time if the shingles can’t go on right away.
One thing I’m still not totally sold on is how slick some of those synthetics get when wet. Had a guy nearly slide off a steep roof last spring—definitely something to watch for. But for storm-prone areas, I’d rather pay a bit more and not worry every time the forecast looks ugly.
Anyone else notice that felt seems to dry out and crack faster on south-facing slopes? Maybe it’s just our sun down here, but it’s another reason I lean synthetic these days.
I get the appeal of synthetics, especially with unpredictable weather, but I’ve actually seen some of the older felt jobs hold up surprisingly well—provided they were installed right and covered quickly. The key seems to be the crew taking their time, which I know isn’t always realistic. I do agree about the sun baking felt on south slopes, though. Around here, I’ve noticed some synthetics get brittle after a few years too, especially the thinner ones. It’s kind of a toss-up—sometimes the “old school” stuff outlasts the new if it’s put down with care.
You nailed it—installation makes all the difference. I’ve seen felt last a decade or more when the crew actually takes their time, especially if it’s not left exposed too long. But yeah, once that sun hits it on a south-facing slope, it’s toast in no time. Synthetics are supposed to be the answer, but I’ve had to replace some after just a few years because they got brittle and tore up in a windstorm. The thinner stuff is especially bad for that.
Honestly, I think a lot of folks get sold on “newer is better,” but if you’ve got a crew that cares, old-school felt can still hold its own. Around here (midwest), storms are brutal, so I lean toward heavier synthetics, but even then, nothing’s bulletproof. It’s always a gamble with the weather and how fast you can get shingles on. Good to hear someone else sees the value in doing things right, not just fast.
- Totally agree, the crew makes or breaks it.
- I went with felt last time just because it was cheaper, but made sure they covered it quick—no issues so far, even after a couple nasty storms.
- Looked at synthetics, but the thinner rolls felt flimsy and the price jump for the “good” stuff was tough to justify.
- Midwest weather’s wild, so I’m always nervous about wind.
- Honestly, I’d rather pay a bit more for careful install than fancy materials.
- Anyone else notice warranties don’t mean much if the install’s rushed?
- 100% on install over materials. Seen too many “premium” underlayments fail just because the crew rushed or didn’t overlap right.
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— yeah, learned that the hard way. Warranty looked great on paper, but they blamed “improper install” when a leak showed up two years later.“warranties don’t mean much if the install’s rushed?”
- Midwest winds are brutal... I’ve had felt hold up fine, but always get nervous if storms roll in before shingles go on.
- Tried a synthetic once—felt lighter and easier to roll out, but I kept checking seams after every storm. Maybe I’m just paranoid?
- At this point, I’d rather pay a little more for someone who actually cares about the details.