Haha, your felt underlayment story brings back some vivid memories. A few years ago, I was helping a friend reroof his garage after a pretty nasty storm. We decided to go old-school with felt because, well, it was cheaper and readily available at the local hardware store. Big mistake.
We had just rolled out a fresh layer when a sudden gust of wind came out of nowhere. Before we knew it, we were sprinting down the block, chasing after what looked like a giant black kite. Felt tears so easily, especially once it starts flapping around. By the time we caught up to it, half the roll was shredded and tangled in someone's bushes. Lesson learned: never underestimate wind gusts, even on a seemingly calm day.
Since then, I've switched almost exclusively to synthetic underlayments for storm repairs. They're pricier upfront, but the durability and ease of installation more than make up for it. I've seen synthetic hold up impressively well even after weeks of exposure to sun, rain, and wind. Felt, on the other hand, tends to degrade quickly once exposed—especially if you get delayed by weather or scheduling conflicts.
That said, I wouldn't completely dismiss felt. In certain situations, like temporary repairs or quick patch-ups, it can still be handy. But for anything long-term or exposed to the elements, synthetic is definitely the safer bet. Glad to see I'm not alone in learning roofing lessons the hard way... seems like it's practically a rite of passage!
"They're pricier upfront, but the durability and ease of installation more than make up for it."
I agree synthetic underlayments have their advantages, but from a budget standpoint, felt still has its place. I've found that careful installation—like using cap nails instead of staples and securing edges promptly—can significantly reduce tearing issues. Sure, it's not perfect, but with proper handling, felt can perform adequately for shorter-term projects or when funds are tight. Just my two cents...
Good points all around. I've worked with both synthetic and felt underlayments, and I'd say each has its place depending on the project specifics. You're right about felt—if installed carefully, it can hold up surprisingly well, especially for shorter-term or budget-conscious jobs. I've seen felt last longer than expected when the installers took their time, used cap nails properly spaced, and didn't leave it exposed too long before shingling.
But honestly, synthetic underlayments have saved me a lot of headaches, especially on jobs where weather delays are common. Last year, we had a roofing project delayed by unexpected rainstorms. The felt we'd put down initially started buckling and tearing after just a couple of days exposed to wind and rain. We ended up having to redo sections, costing extra labor and materials. On another job around the same time, we used a synthetic underlayment, and even after being exposed for almost two weeks due to scheduling issues, it stayed intact and watertight. That alone made me appreciate the extra upfront cost.
Still, I wouldn't dismiss felt entirely. For smaller roofs or quick-turnaround projects with predictable weather, it's still perfectly fine. Plus, some older roofers I know swear by it—they've been using it for decades and see no reason to switch now. They argue that synthetics haven't been around long enough to truly prove their longevity claims. I guess time will tell.
In the end, I'd say choosing between synthetic and felt really comes down to balancing your project's timeline, budget, and weather exposure risks. There's no one-size-fits-all solution here...
Haha, wish I'd read this thread last month. Just replaced my porch roof and went with felt to save some cash. Two surprise thunderstorms later, I was outside stapling plastic tarp at midnight...
"synthetic underlayments have saved me a lot of headaches"
Lesson learned, next time it's synthetic all the way!
I've heard good things about synthetic too, but honestly, is it always worth the extra cost? I've had felt underlayment on my shed roof for almost 8 years now—still holding up fine despite some rough storms. Maybe installation or roof pitch makes more of a difference than we think? Not knocking synthetic at all, just wondering if sometimes we're paying more for peace of mind rather than actual performance...
