Totally agree about attic ventilation—seen way too many roofs with premium underlayments fail early because moisture got trapped. But honestly, sometimes it's just luck...or lack thereof. Guidelines help, sure, but real life loves throwing curveballs that lab tests never see coming.
I've definitely seen moisture issues cause early underlayment failures, but honestly, I wouldn't chalk it up to luck too quickly. Had a homeowner once who insisted on premium synthetic underlayment but skimped on ventilation upgrades. Sure enough, within three years, he had mold and soft spots everywhere. Lab tests might miss some curveballs, true...but in my experience, most failures come down to cutting corners somewhere along the line rather than just bad luck.
"most failures come down to cutting corners somewhere along the line rather than just bad luck."
Fair point, but sometimes even doing everything by the book doesn't guarantee longevity. I once meticulously installed premium synthetic underlayment, upgraded ventilation, and even added extra flashing—basically went full overkill mode. Still, after five years, I found myself battling moisture issues. Sometimes the house itself or local climate quirks throw curveballs that no amount of prep can fully dodge... Murphy's law strikes again, I suppose.
"Sometimes the house itself or local climate quirks throw curveballs that no amount of prep can fully dodge..."
Haha, ain't that the truth. Roofing feels like 50% skill, 50% luck, and 100% praying the weather gods are in a good mood. I've seen jobs done textbook-perfect still end up with weird moisture issues because the house decided to be stubborn or the climate went rogue. Don't beat yourself up—sounds like you did everything humanly possible. Murphy's law is basically our industry's unofficial mascot at this point...
Honestly, makes me wonder if those lifespan ratings are just marketing fluff... My underlayment started acting sketchy way before the warranty claimed it would. Maybe it's just bad luck, or do these things never live up to their promises?
