Yeah, I hear you on the weather roulette. I’ve had felt bubble up after a surprise storm—ended up replacing half of it before shingles even went on. Synthetics definitely hold up better, especially if there’s any chance the roof sits exposed for more than a day or two. Still, for small jobs or tight budgets, felt can make sense if you time it right and have a reliable forecast... but that’s a big “if” around here. For me, the extra upfront cost of synthetics is worth not having to redo work or worry about leaks sneaking in before the roof’s finished.
For me, the extra upfront cost of synthetics is worth not having to redo work or worry about leaks sneaking in before the roof’s finished.
I hear you on that. Around here, if you blink, the weather changes—one minute it’s sunny, next thing you know your felt’s doing its best impression of a waterbed. I’ve seen more than a few jobs where folks tried to save a buck with felt and ended up paying double after a surprise downpour. It’s like playing chicken with Mother Nature, and she usually wins.
That said, I’ve also seen some old-school felt hang in there longer than expected, especially on smaller sheds or garages where you can slap shingles on the same day. But for anything bigger? Or if you’re at the mercy of a flaky forecast? Synthetics are just less stress all around. I mean, I’ve walked roofs after a week of rain and the synthetic stuff is still sitting pretty—felt would’ve been halfway to compost by then.
Funny thing is, I still get folks who swear by felt because “that’s how we’ve always done it.” Can’t argue with tradition, but my knees aren’t getting any younger and neither is my patience for callbacks. If I can avoid crawling back up there to fix leaks or replace bubbled underlayment, I’m all for it.
Only real downside I’ve run into with synthetics is they can get slicker than snot when wet—almost lost my dignity (and my lunch) sliding down a 6/12 pitch last fall. So yeah, they last longer but watch your step if you’re up there after a rain.
At the end of the day, it’s like picking your poison: save money now and gamble with the weather, or pay a bit more for peace of mind. Around here? I’ll take peace of mind... and maybe some grippy shoes.
Yeah, those synthetic underlayments are a different beast compared to the old felt. I still remember my first time trying the synthetic stuff—felt like I was moonwalking up there after a light drizzle. Nearly took the express route off the eaves, so I hear you about the slip factor. But honestly, I’ll take a little extra caution over having to rip up half a roof because felt turned into mush after a surprise summer storm.
Where I’m at (Midwest), we get all four seasons in a week if we’re lucky. The weather’s got more mood swings than my teenager. I’ve seen felt hold up on small jobs if you’re quick and the forecast plays nice, but that’s a rare luxury. On bigger roofs, especially with a crew that can’t finish in a day, synthetics just make sense. I’ve had them sit exposed for days—even a week once when we got rained out—and they barely looked phased. Felt would have been history.
That said, price is still a thing. If you’re roofing a backyard shed or doghouse, I’d probably just roll out the felt and call it good. But for a full house? Not worth the stress or risk of leaks sneaking in. Plus, crawling back up there to fix something you already did once is my least favorite hobby... right behind cleaning gutters.
I do know a couple of folks who swear by felt, mostly because that’s what their dads and grandads used. Can’t argue with family tradition, but tech’s come a long way since then. For me, the peace of mind is worth the extra cost—and maybe investing in some shoes with actual grip for next time.
Funny how roofing turns into one of those “choose your own adventure” deals. Either way, you’re gonna get wet eventually... just depends if it’s sweat or rainwater coming through your kitchen ceiling.
- Totally get the “choose your own adventure” vibe. Roofing’s all about trade-offs.
-
Couldn’t agree more. That peace of mind when the weather turns is huge, especially in the Midwest.“On bigger roofs, especially with a crew that can’t finish in a day, synthetics just make sense.”
- Price hurts, but I’ve had to redo felt after a freak storm—never again. The extra up front for synthetics is worth not stressing every time clouds roll in.
- Slippery as heck, though. I’ve nearly pulled a Bambi myself. Grippy boots are a must.
- Old-school felt has its place, but tech’s moved on. No shame in upgrading for less hassle and fewer leaks.