Picture this: a bunch of underlayments (felt, synthetic, peel-and-stick, maybe even some wild card like cork) all lined up at the starting line on a roof. The weather throws everything at them—scorching sun, sideways rain, hail, you name it. Which one’s still hanging on when the others have given up? I’ve had felt basically melt after a few summers, but my neighbor swears by synthetic. Anyone have a story where an underlayment outlasted expectations… or failed spectacularly?
Felt’s always been the weak link in my experience, especially on steeper roofs where the sun just bakes it. I’ve seen synthetic hang on for months after a project stalled—one job, we had a freak hailstorm and the synthetic barely looked scuffed, while the old felt on the shed next door turned to mush. Peel-and-stick is a beast too, but it’s not cheap. I’m still waiting to see cork in the wild... seems like a gamble in our climate. Anyone else notice synthetic getting slick when wet, though? Makes inspections interesting.
Synthetic definitely wins the endurance game in my book, but yeah, it’s like an ice rink when there’s morning dew or after a rain. I nearly took a slide off my garage last fall—lesson learned, sneakers don’t cut it. I’m curious if anyone’s tried those “walkable” synthetics? Supposedly grippier, but I haven’t seen much difference. Felt just can’t handle the sun here (Texas), but at least you don’t need cleats to walk on it.
I get what you’re saying about synthetics being slick—especially first thing in the morning or after a storm. I’ve tried a few of those “walkable” synthetics, and honestly, the grip is only marginally better. If you’re on a steep pitch, it’s still dicey. I’ve seen some crews use those foam-soled boots, which help a bit, but nothing’s perfect.
One thing I’d toss out there: not all synthetics are created equal. Some of the heavier-weight ones (like the 60+ mil stuff) have a bit more texture, but they’re pricier and not always stocked locally. I’ve also noticed that some brands get almost gummy in the Texas heat, which helps with traction but can be a pain to roll out.
Felt definitely wins for walkability, but like you said, it just doesn’t last under the sun here. I’ve seen it start curling up in less than a week in August. For me, it’s a trade-off—if I know the roof’s going to be exposed for more than a couple days, I’ll put up with the slippery synthetics just for the peace of mind that they’ll hold up until the shingles go on.
I get what you’re saying about synthetics being slick—especially first thing in the morning or after a storm. I’ve tried a few of those “walkable” synthetics, and honestly, the grip is on...
That’s a good point about the heavier synthetics getting gummy in the heat—seen that myself after a hailstorm last spring. We had a section of synthetic (I think it was 50 mil, not the thickest) exposed for almost three weeks while insurance sorted things out. It held up fine, but walking on it after a rain was like stepping onto a slip-n-slide. The crew ended up laying down some old towels just to get traction.
Felt’s walkability is nice, but I’ve watched it basically disintegrate after a couple of storms, especially if there’s any pooling water. One time, a section literally tore off in the wind before we could get shingles down. Peel-and-stick is a whole different animal—pricey, but I’ve seen it survive hail and baking sun for months. Only downside is, once it’s down, good luck getting it back up without a fight.
If I had to bet on which one would limp across the finish line last, felt’s probably out first, then lighter synthetics. Peel-and-stick or the thickest synthetics seem to hang on the longest, at least in Texas weather.
