- Good call on skipping the double TU-35.
- Peel-and-stick really does seem to handle heat cycles better, especially if you’re in a spot with wild temps.
- I’ve seen felt just disintegrate after a decade, so you probably dodged a bullet there.
- Roof drama is the worst... sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra cost.
If underlayments had a race, I’m pretty sure my old felt would be limping along at the back, dropping bits as it goes. I went with peel-and-stick after hearing too many horror stories about felt just… giving up after a few years. My neighbor’s roof looked like it was shedding a layer of black snow last summer—no thanks. Step one for me: avoid anything that’s going to melt or flake in our wild Midwest heat swings. Step two: try not to have a panic attack every time the wind picks up. Peace of mind definitely costs extra, but I’ll take it over another surprise leak in the attic any day.
Yeah, felt doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence once you’ve seen it curl up and flake off after a couple of wild summers. I switched to synthetic underlayment on my last go—way less mess and it actually stayed put during those “sideways rain” storms. It cost more upfront, but at least I’m not chasing rogue bits of black fuzz around the yard every spring.
Yeah, the price jump for synthetic made me hesitate at first, but after one bad windstorm tore half my old felt loose, it felt worth it. Out of curiosity, did you notice any difference in attic temps or moisture after switching over? I’ve heard some folks say synthetics breathe less, but I’m not sure if that’s just hype.
I switched to synthetic last fall after a few leaks with the old felt, and I was pretty nervous about the whole “breathability” thing too. I actually tracked attic temps for a couple weeks before and after—nothing dramatic changed, maybe a degree or two on hot days, but honestly, insulation and venting seemed to matter way more. Didn’t notice any extra moisture either, but I do have ridge vents and decent soffit airflow. If you’ve got good ventilation, I don’t think the underlayment makes a huge difference there.
