Yeah, that's a solid point about installation and airflow. When we redid our roof a few years ago, I was tempted to splurge on the pricier underlayment...but our contractor actually talked me out of it. He basically said, "Look, good enough is good enough if you do everything else right." And honestly, I think he was spot-on. We made sure the attic ventilation was properly set up, and so far (knock on wood) no issues.
Makes me wonder though—do you guys think these warranty claims are intentionally optimistic to boost sales? It feels like manufacturers know most homeowners won't ever follow up on the warranty anyway. Curious if anyone here has actually successfully claimed on an underlayment warranty...?
I've always been a bit skeptical about those warranties myself. Manufacturers definitely know most homeowners won't jump through all the hoops to claim them. A friend of mine actually tried once—he had meticulous records, photos, the whole nine yards—but after months of back-and-forth emails and paperwork, he just gave up. Seems like proper installation and ventilation matter way more than whatever fancy warranty they're pushing...
- Totally agree about the warranty hassle.
- Bought my first house last year, and the underlayment started looking sketchy after just 5 years (previous owner installed).
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Exactly this. Warranty or not, shortcuts in installation seem to bite you sooner or later."Seems like proper installation and ventilation matter way more than whatever fancy warranty they're pushing..."
I've inspected plenty of roofs where the underlayment was toast way before its warranty expired. Honestly, warranties seem more like marketing tools than actual guarantees... I've found that even mid-tier materials hold up surprisingly well if they're installed correctly and there's proper attic ventilation.
"Warranty or not, shortcuts in installation seem to bite you sooner or later."
Exactly. A solid install job makes a huge difference—seen it firsthand too many times. Curious, did you notice any ventilation issues in your attic space when you moved in?
When we moved in, the attic ventilation was a joke—just a couple of tiny vents that barely did anything. No wonder the underlayment was cooked way before its time. After adding proper ridge and soffit vents, things improved dramatically. Honestly, warranties always felt like smoke and mirrors to me... good installation and airflow seem to matter way more than whatever fancy promises manufacturers slap on their packaging.
