That’s interesting—when you said,
it really hit home. I had the same thing happen here in Oklahoma, and it was only about 12 years old. I went with synthetic too, mostly for the same reasons you mentioned (weather delays, durability). I do wonder if the synthetic will get brittle or break down in the heat over time, but so far it’s holding up. Hard to say if it’ll outlast felt by a huge margin, but at least it doesn’t turn to dust after a decade in the sun. Texas summers are brutal on roofs, no doubt.“the felt underlayment on the older part of the roof was pretty much toast—crumbled apart when we pulled the shingles,”
I get why everyone’s jumping on the synthetic bandwagon, but I’m not totally convinced it’s the clear winner long-term, especially in places with crazy heat like Texas or Oklahoma. The stuff definitely holds up better than felt when you’re working on it—no tearing, doesn’t soak up water if you get caught in a storm mid-job. But I’ve seen a couple of older synthetic installs where the material started curling up at the edges or got weirdly brittle after a decade or so. Maybe it’s the brand or just bad luck, but it makes me wonder if it’s as bulletproof as people say.
Felt isn’t perfect, but at least you know what to expect—yeah, it’ll break down eventually, but it’s been around forever and it’s predictable. Synthetic’s still kind of new in the grand scheme. I guess time will tell if it really beats felt by a mile or just by a few years. Either way, Texas sun is gonna wreck whatever you put up there sooner or later...
I’m in North Texas and went with felt last time just because it was cheaper, but now I’m starting to wonder if I should’ve spent the extra for synthetic. My neighbor’s roof got redone two years before mine with synthetic, and his still looks fine, but it’s only been about 8 years total. I do worry about the sun breaking down anything up there—my old felt lasted maybe 16 years before I had to patch a few spots. For me, it came down to price and what my roofer was comfortable with. If synthetic lasts longer, great, but I’d hate to pay more upfront just to have it curl up or get brittle like you mentioned.
I’m in DFW too and had the same debate last year. Ended up with synthetic because my roofer swore it’d hold up better in our heat, but honestly, I still wonder if it’s worth the extra cost. Anyone else notice synthetic gets super slick when wet? That made me nervous during install.
Anyone else notice synthetic gets super slick when wet? That made me nervous during install.
That’s a legit concern. I was on a crew last summer in Arlington, and the first rain after we rolled out the synthetic, it was like walking on ice. The grip is way worse than felt, no question. We started using those slip-resistant shoe covers, but even then, you’ve gotta be careful. If you’re DIY-ing or just up there checking things out, it’s something to think about.
As for how it holds up in DFW heat—synthetic definitely doesn’t wrinkle or break down as fast as felt when it’s baking in the sun all day. Felt can get brittle and tear if you leave it exposed too long, especially if there’s a delay with shingle delivery or weather stalls the job. I’ve seen felt basically melt into the decking after a week of 100+ temps.
But yeah, the price difference is real. Synthetic can run double or more what 30# felt costs per roll. The trade-off is you’re getting something that’s lighter to haul up (seriously, your back will thank you), and it usually comes in wider rolls so you cover more area faster.
One thing to watch for: not all synthetics are created equal. Some of the cheaper brands don’t seem much tougher than heavy-duty plastic sheeting, and they can tear around fasteners if you’re not careful. The higher-end stuff has better UV resistance and doesn’t rip as easily.
If I had to pick for DFW specifically, I’d lean synthetic for longevity, but only if you’re not worried about the budget. For a quick patch or a rental property where cost matters more than lifespan, felt still works fine—just don’t leave it uncovered for long.
And yeah, always check the traction before stepping out after rain... learned that one the hard way.
