I hear you on the peel-and-stick—once it’s down, it’s basically part of the house. I had to demo a section last year (tree limb punched through), and getting that stuff off was a workout I didn’t sign up for. It does seal things up tight, but yeah, if you’re not in an area with serious ice dam issues, it feels like using a sledgehammer for a thumbtack.
Synthetics are my go-to these days, mostly because they’re lighter and honestly just easier to handle. But you nailed it about them being slick. I’ve nearly gone skating myself on a frosty morning—definitely not something you want to mess around with at 20 feet up. Some brands claim their “grip” is better, but I haven’t noticed a huge difference.
As for the hybrids, I’ve only seen them on a couple green roofing installs where moisture management was a big deal. They seemed promising—more grip than straight synthetics, supposedly better breathability—but the price tag made me wince. If they hold up longer and make repairs less of a pain, maybe they’ll catch on, but right now I’m still watching from the sidelines.
Peel-and-stick is a beast to remove, no doubt. I had to patch a section after a solar install went sideways, and it felt like I was chiseling out part of the roof itself. I get why folks use it in tough climates, but for most jobs, it’s overkill and a pain if you ever need to get back under there.
Hybrids are interesting—I’ve only used them once, on a living roof project. They handled moisture better than synthetics, but the price made me double-check the invoice. Not sure they’re worth it unless you really need that breathability. Synthetics are still my default, even if they’re a bit like walking on ice some mornings.
Peel-and-stick is brutal if you ever have to go back in, I’ll give you that. Had to replace a skylight last year and it was like peeling up old gum in the sun—just a mess. I get why people use it for ice dams, but for my regular shingle roof, I’d rather deal with something I can actually remove without swearing. Synthetics are slick, literally, but at least you don’t need a crowbar to get them up. Hybrids? Never tried them—price alone scared me off.
Had to replace a skylight last year and it was like peeling up old gum in the sun—just a mess.
Man, I feel this in my soul. I tried to patch a leak near my chimney and that peel-and-stick fought me every inch. Ended up with half of it stuck to my gloves. Synthetics are slippery as heck, but at least you don’t need a heat gun and a prayer to get them off. Hybrids look fancy, but my wallet says nope.
Peel-and-stick is like wrestling a sticky octopus, I swear. I tried it once on a patch job and ended up with more on my hands than the roof. Synthetics are easier to handle, but I always worry about them sliding around before the shingles go on—especially on steeper slopes. Hybrids look tempting, but the price tag makes me wince every time. For my old ranch house, I just stick with basic felt and cross my fingers during storm season... not perfect, but at least it doesn’t glue itself to everything in sight.
