I’d love to use greener stuff, but not if it’s gonna fall apart after one Texas summer.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’m in central Texas and just went through my first summer as a homeowner, so I’ve been obsessing over this exact thing. The heat here is brutal—like, you can fry an egg on the driveway by noon. We had our roof redone last year (asphalt shingles) and I really wanted something eco-friendly under there, but honestly, most of the contractors just kinda shrugged when I brought up recycled or plant-based options. One guy even said, “You want to be green or you want it to last?” which felt a little harsh, but... yeah.
I did a ton of research anyway and found one brand of recycled-fiber felt that looked promising. The reviews online were all over the place, though. Some folks said it held up fine for a season or two, others mentioned it curling or getting weirdly brittle after a couple months of sun. I couldn’t find anyone local who’d actually used it long-term, which made me nervous.
In the end, I chickened out and went with a synthetic because I was terrified of leaks. Now I’m watching my neighbor’s house—he went with one of those “eco” felts last spring. It seemed okay during the first few storms, but now (after this last heatwave) I noticed some edges poking up under his shingles. Not sure if that’s installer error or just the material giving up.
Honestly, I WANT these greener options to work. But until someone in my area can point to a roof that’s survived three Texas summers without issues, I’m probably sticking with what’s tried and true—even if it makes me feel a little guilty about the landfill situation.
If you do end up trying one of those newer underlayments, would love to hear how it goes for you down the line. It feels like we’re all kind of guinea pigs on this stuff...
It’s wild how much the sun just eats through stuff here. I actually tried a “green” underlayment on my shed as a test run (figured if it failed, at least it wasn’t over my living room). After one summer, parts looked kinda crispy and started curling up at the edges. Not the confidence boost I hoped for. Maybe the tech will catch up, but for now, I’m with you—too risky for the main house.
After one summer, parts looked kinda crispy and started curling up at the edges.
That’s exactly what I’ve seen on a few inspections—these “eco” underlayments just don’t seem to handle UV like the old-school felts or synthetics. Curious if you noticed any difference in how the fasteners held up? Sometimes the underlayment fails but the staples or nails are still solid, which is odd. Wondering if anyone’s had better luck with the higher-end synthetics, or is it just a matter of time in this sun?
I’ve seen the same thing—edges curling, but the nails or cap staples are still in there tight. It’s weird. I tried one of those “premium” synthetic rolls on my shed last year, and honestly, it didn’t hold up much better. Maybe it’s just our brutal sun? Anyone ever try doubling up layers, or is that just a waste?
Doubling up layers always sounded good in theory, but in practice? I tried it once on a little lean-to I built for firewood. Used two layers of the cheap felt, thinking it’d be twice as tough. All I got was more curling at the edges and a lot more hassle with the nails. Didn’t seem to help with leaks either—water still found its way in at the seams after a couple seasons. Maybe if you’re in a colder climate it’d make sense, but here (central Texas), the sun just bakes everything. Doesn’t matter if it’s “premium” or bargain bin, that UV finds a way.
I’ve also noticed those synthetics get brittle after a year or two. They go on nice and flat, but then you come back and they’re curling up like potato chips. The staples are still holding, but the material itself just shrinks or something. I’m starting to think the only real answer is to get the shingles or metal on as soon as possible and not trust any underlayment to last more than a few months exposed.
If you’re dealing with a shed or something you don’t mind redoing every few years, maybe it’s not a big deal. But for my main roof? I’d rather spend the money on better shingles and just use whatever underlayment is cheapest, since none of them seem to win the “marathon” around here.
Funny thing—my neighbor swears by old-school 30# felt, says he’s never had an issue. But he’s also got a ton of shade from big oaks, so maybe that’s the trick. If you’ve got full sun all day, I don’t think doubling up does much except lighten your wallet.
Anyway, just my two cents. If anyone’s actually had luck with layering, I’d be curious, but I’m not holding my breath...
