I get what you’re saying about synthetic—it’s definitely bailed me out when weather threw a wrench in the schedule. We had a job last spring where rain came out of nowhere and the shingles were delayed a whole week. The synthetic underlayment didn’t even budge, no leaks, no bubbling, nothing. If that had been felt, I’m pretty sure we’d have been dealing with water stains or worse.
That said, I’ve heard some old-timers say felt “breathes” better and can handle a bit of moisture without trapping it underneath. Not sure I buy it, but maybe there’s something to it for certain roofs or climates? Around here (midwest), the wind just shreds felt if you leave it exposed too long. Anyone ever tried one of those hybrid underlayments—like the self-adhered ones? Wondering if they’re worth the extra cost or just overkill unless you’re doing metal or low-slope roofs...
Had a crew use the self-adhered stuff on a flat section over my office last year—pricey, but it was like sticking down a giant roll of duct tape. Zero leaks, even after a week of storms. Only downside: if you mess up the placement, good luck peeling it back up. Has anyone run into issues with it in hot weather? I’m always worried about things turning gooey when the sun’s baking.
Only downside: if you mess up the placement, good luck peeling it back up.
That’s exactly what I was worried about when I looked at self-adhered for my shed roof—felt like a one-shot deal, and I’m not the most precise DIYer. Price tag put me off, too. As for hot weather, I live in Texas and had neighbors say the stuff gets tackier but hasn’t melted or oozed (yet). Still, I always wonder if it’ll start creeping down the walls by August...
Yeah, that “one shot” thing with self-adhered underlayment makes me nervous too. I’ve heard stories about folks getting it stuck crooked and then basically having to cut it off and start over. The heat here (I’m in Oklahoma) definitely makes it stickier, but I haven’t seen any actual melting or dripping either—just gets a bit soft on the hottest days. Have you looked into synthetic underlayments? They’re lighter and seem a little more forgiving if you need to reposition, though maybe not as bulletproof as the peel-and-stick stuff.
I get the appeal of synthetics—they’re definitely lighter and easier to handle, especially if you’re working solo or in the heat. But I’ve actually had better luck with the peel-and-stick, even with the “one shot” risk. On a couple of our properties, the self-adhered stuff held up way better during those crazy spring storms we get here. The trick for us was to have two people on the install and take it slow. It’s a pain if you mess up, but the peace of mind during tornado season is worth it for me. Synthetic’s great for quick jobs, but I’m not convinced it’ll outlast the heavy-duty peel-and-stick in our climate.