I’ve looked into those plant-based options, but I’m skeptical. The specs always sound good on paper, but I haven’t seen any long-term data from folks in harsher climates. Has anyone actually put one through a full winter or a big storm? Curious if they hold up or just end up as compost.
I've been managing a few buildings in the Midwest, and I totally get the skepticism. On paper, those plant-based underlayments sound like a win—eco-friendly, supposedly tough, all that. But when it comes to standing up to ice storms and the kind of wind we get out here, I'm still not convinced they’re ready to beat out the old-school synthetics or even traditional felt.
Last winter, we tried one of those “green” underlayments on a small storage shed as a test run. It faced two solid snowstorms and a lot of freeze-thaw cycles. Honestly? It held up better than I expected—no leaks or visible breakdown so far. But that's just one season, and it wasn’t a huge roof. I wouldn’t bet the farm on it for a bigger building or anything with a low pitch where water sits longer.
One thing I noticed: installation was trickier in the cold. The material stiffened up, which made it tough to get flat around corners and vents. Our crew grumbled about it more than once. Also, we had to be careful not to tear it with sharper tools—felt is more forgiving that way.
As for storms... We haven’t had any full-on tornadoes hit that shed (thank god), but we did have some 50mph gusts and heavy rain. The plant-based stuff stayed put, but again, that's with proper nailing pattern and no big trees dropping branches on it.
If you’re thinking about using it on something bigger or in rougher weather, maybe see if you can get some warranty info that actually covers wind and water damage long-term. Most of these new products sound great for marketing but the real-world track record just isn’t there yet—at least not where I am.
Personally, if it’s a roof that matters, I still lean toward synthetic underlayment. Costs a bit more but I know what to expect after ten years of freeze-thaw cycles and hail. But hey, if someone’s got proof these plant-based ones can handle a decade in Minnesota or upstate NY...I’d love to hear about it too.
That’s pretty much my take too—those plant-based underlayments sound great in theory, but I’m not ready to trust them on anything bigger than a shed just yet. I tried one on a detached garage last year, and while it didn’t leak, the install was a pain once the temps dropped. The crew kept saying it felt like wrestling cardboard around the vent pipes. I’m all for eco-friendly options, but if it slows down the job or risks a tear, that’s a problem.
I do like that you mentioned the nailing pattern—seems like with these newer materials, you really can’t cut corners. Synthetics have bailed me out more than once after a hailstorm, so I’m still leaning that way for anything I actually care about. Maybe in a few years, if the plant-based stuff proves itself through a couple of Midwest winters, I’ll reconsider. For now, I’m with you—if it’s a roof that matters, I want something with a track record.
That’s fair—plant-based underlayments are still kind of the new kid on the block, and I get being cautious. I had a similar experience last fall with one of the “eco” brands on a small cabin up north. It was late October, temps dipping into the 30s, and that stuff got stiff as a board. We were trying to wrap it around a dormer and it felt like folding a pizza box in half. Ended up with a couple of creases I wasn’t thrilled about, but no leaks so far (knock on wood).
I’m with you that synthetics have earned their stripes, especially in places where the weather just doesn’t cut you any slack. My neighbor’s place took a beating in that hailstorm two years ago—shingles shredded, but the synthetic held up until they could get a crew out. That probably saved them a ton of hassle.
Still, I keep rooting for the plant-based stuff to catch up. The idea of something that’ll break down in a landfill instead of sitting there forever is hard to ignore. But yeah, if it slows down the install or makes things riskier, it’s tough to justify on a big job. Maybe once they figure out how to keep it flexible in the cold and less prone to tearing, I’ll try it on my own house. For now, I’m sticking with what works for anything I can’t afford to redo.
Funny thing is, my cousin out west swears by one of those new bio-based felts—says it handles the dry heat better than synthetics. Makes me wonder if some of these materials just aren’t ready for Midwest freeze-thaw cycles yet. Either way, I’m watching from the sidelines for now... but I wouldn’t mind seeing these green options cross the finish line a little faster.
Funny thing is, my cousin out west swears by one of those new bio-based felts—says it handles the dry heat better than synthetics.
That’s wild, because I’ve only seen the plant-based stuff get super brittle when it gets cold here (Minnesota). It’s like, “sure, it’s green, but can it survive January?” I’m with you on the landfill thing—makes you want to root for the eco-options. But man, if it’s a pain to install or starts tearing, I’m not risking that on a big job. Maybe in a few years they’ll figure out the right formula for Midwest winters. For now, synthetics just feel safer.
