Yeah, manufacturers always seem to promise the moon, don't they? I've noticed the same thing—underlayments rarely hit their advertised lifespan. But honestly, installation quality makes a huge difference. I've seen roofs where the underlayment failed way early because someone rushed the drainage setup or skipped steps on moisture barriers. Lab tests are one thing, but real-world conditions—weather, workmanship, even material handling—can throw everything off. I'd say trust your installer more than the marketing brochures...
Good points about installation quality—I've definitely seen similar issues. But I'm curious, has anyone noticed if certain underlayment materials (synthetic vs. felt, for example) hold up better under real-world storm conditions? Seems like that could make a noticeable difference...
I've had synthetic on my roof for about 6 years now—been through some pretty nasty storms and heavy rains. Honestly, it's held up way better than the felt I had before, which tore easily. Could just be luck, but synthetic seems more durable to me...
Synthetic's definitely a step up from felt, especially if you've got storms rolling through regularly. Felt can be like tissue paper once it gets wet—seen it rip apart more times than I care to count. Sounds like you made the right call switching over...
Synthetic's definitely tougher, no argument there, but I wouldn't completely write off felt. I've had felt underlayment hold up surprisingly well—key is proper installation and good shingles on top. Had a section of roof with felt survive a nasty storm season without issue, while my neighbor's synthetic peeled back like plastic wrap. Sometimes it's less about the material itself and more about how well it's put down...
