I get the nostalgia for felt, but I’ve actually had better luck with the newer synthetics, especially on some of our bigger buildings. The install is quicker and they don’t wrinkle up as much if there’s a rain delay. Price is higher, yeah, but I’ve found it saves headaches later when you’re dealing with weird weather swings. Maybe it’s just our humid summers, but felt always seems to get a little funky if it sits exposed too long.
Funny, I used to swear by felt just because that’s what everyone used when I first got into managing properties. But after a couple of nasty storms a few years back, I started noticing exactly what you’re talking about—felt just didn’t hold up if it sat out for more than a day or two, especially with all the humidity we get here. Had one job where the crew got rained out halfway through, and by the time they could get back, the felt was already curling at the edges and basically useless. Ended up having to redo that part completely.
I was skeptical about the synthetics at first—mostly because of the price tag—but they really do seem to handle our weird weather better. I’m still not sure they’re perfect for every job, but for bigger roofs or anything that might be exposed for a bit, I’d rather pay more up front than deal with the mess later. Totally get where you’re coming from on this. Sometimes “old school” just means more work down the line...
I get the appeal of synthetics, especially with how unpredictable the weather’s been lately. But I’ll admit, I’m still not totally sold on them for every situation. Maybe it’s just my stubborn streak, but I’ve had a few headaches with synthetic underlayments too—like, they’re supposed to be “walkable,” but I’ve seen a couple brands get slick as ice if there’s any dew or drizzle. Had a buddy take a nasty spill last spring because of that. Plus, I’ve noticed some of the cheaper synthetics can tear pretty easily if you’re not careful, especially around valleys or when you’re dragging bundles across the roof.
Felt’s definitely got its weaknesses—no argument there. I’ve had it turn into mush after a summer thunderstorm more times than I care to remember. But for smaller jobs or quick turnarounds, I still reach for it sometimes. It’s cheap, easy to lay down, and if you know rain’s not in the forecast, it does the trick. Maybe I’m just set in my ways, but I don’t always trust the “latest and greatest” to be worth double or triple the price, especially when some of these synthetics are basically plastic tarps with a fancy label.
I guess it depends on the job and how long you expect the underlayment to be exposed. For a big roof or if there’s any chance of delays, yeah, synthetic probably wins the race. But if you’re just patching a shed or doing a quick re-roof in decent weather, felt’s not totally out of the running yet. Maybe I’m just old school—or maybe I just like saving a few bucks where I can...
Maybe I’m just set in my ways, but I don’t always trust the “latest and greatest” to be worth double or triple the price, especially when some of these synthetics are basically plastic tarps with a fancy label.
Couldn’t agree more—sometimes it feels like you’re just paying for marketing. I’ve had similar issues with synthetic underlayments getting slick, especially early in the morning. For my garage roof last fall, I stuck with felt since I knew I’d finish in a day and the weather was clear. No regrets there. Synthetics have their place, but felt’s still got life left for quick jobs or when you want to keep costs down.
I get where you’re coming from—felt’s definitely not obsolete, especially for straightforward jobs or when you know the weather’s on your side. I’ve found synthetics can be slippery too, which is nerve-wracking if you’re up there early or it’s a bit damp. That said, for longer projects or unpredictable weather, I’ll admit synthetics have saved me a headache or two. Still, for a quick garage or shed? Hard to beat felt for the price and familiarity. Sometimes “new and improved” just means more expensive, not better.
