If you’ve got trees close by, you’re probably going to be up there now and then no matter what you use.
That’s the truth. I swear my maples have it out for me—every time I think I’ve trimmed enough, another branch finds its way onto the roof. But here’s where I’ll push back a bit: I actually found synthetic way easier to patch than felt, but maybe that’s just my luck or the brand I ended up with? When a limb punched through last year, I just overlapped a new piece and stuck it down with some roof tape. It sealed up tighter than anything I ever managed with felt, which always seemed to curl up on me or get weirdly brittle after baking in the sun.
I do get what you mean about those “zipper” tears, though. The first time I saw one, I thought some raccoon had gotten creative. But for me, felt always shredded worse in wind—like, whole sheets would just flap up and turn into confetti if the shingles went missing. Maybe it’s our wild temperature swings (I’m in Missouri), but felt never lasted more than a couple seasons before it started looking rough.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned much: weight. Synthetic is so much lighter to haul up a ladder. After wrangling those 30lb felt rolls in August heat, I’ll take the plastic stuff any day. Not sure if that matters for most folks, but my knees appreciate it.
Honestly, both have their headaches. But if we’re talking long-term, my synthetic patches are still holding up after three years of Midwest storms. That’s better than any felt patch job I managed before. Maybe it depends on the brand or how much tree drama you’ve got going on... But for me, synthetic’s been less hassle overall—even if it does tear weird sometimes.
You nailed it about the weight—synthetic is a game changer for hauling up ladders, especially solo. I’ve had similar luck with patching too. If you overlap and tape it right, it really does seal tight. Felt always seemed to get brittle or just tear apart after a couple seasons here (I’m in Kansas, so not far from your weather). I will say, I’ve seen some synthetics that don’t handle UV well if left exposed too long, but under shingles they’ve held up better for me than felt ever did. Your experience lines up with what I’ve seen.
I will say, I’ve seen some synthetics that don’t handle UV well if left exposed too long, but under shingles they’ve held up better for me than felt ever did.
That’s a key point—UV exposure is pretty much the Achilles’ heel for a lot of synthetics. I always tell folks if you’re not getting shingles on within a week or two, you’re pushing your luck with some brands. That said, once covered, I’ve had synthetic last through brutal Kansas summers and wild freeze-thaw cycles. Felt just can’t compete with that longevity in my experience, especially when you factor in wind-driven rain. Only downside I’ve hit is some synthetics get slippery when dusty or wet—definitely something to watch for on steeper pitches.
That’s pretty much what I landed on too—once it’s covered, the synthetics just seem to outlast felt around here. I was nervous about the cost at first, but after a couple nasty windstorms, the extra upfront money felt worth it. I will say, if you’re doing any work yourself, that slippery surface is no joke... had a close call on a dusty day. But yeah, for longevity and peace of mind under shingles, synthetic’s been solid in my book.
Yeah, that slipperiness is no joke—almost slid off my shed roof last fall when I stepped on some synthetic with a bit of frost on it. I’ll admit, I hesitated on the cost too, but after patching up felt after every big wind, I figured the extra money up front might save me headaches (and trips up the ladder) later. Still, if you’re on a really tight budget or doing a quick fix, old-school felt’s not totally out of the picture. Just depends how long you want it to last, I guess.