Weight difference is no joke either. My knees aren’t what they used to be, and dragging felt up a steep pitch is just asking for trouble. Synthetic’s lighter, grippier, and honestly, just makes the job safer.
That’s exactly what tipped the scales for me a couple years back. We had a rehab on a 1920s duplex with one of those crazy steep roofs. The crew was cursing the old felt every day—slippery, heavy, and it started tearing at the edges after just a few days of sun. I ended up switching mid-project to synthetic, and the difference was night and day. Guys moved faster, nobody slid off (which was my biggest worry), and no one complained about carrying rolls up the ladder.
I do wish there was a better solution for recycling, though. We’re in a city that talks big about sustainability but still dumps everything from demo jobs. I get why folks stick with synthetic despite that—less patching, fewer emergency calls after storms. But I can’t help thinking we’re just kicking the can down the road on the landfill problem.
Anyway, if you’re managing multiple properties like I am, the fewer leaks and repairs you have to juggle, the better. Synthetic’s been a solid trade-off so far... even if it’s not perfect.
