I went with synthetic too, mostly because I kept hearing horror stories about felt just falling apart after a few years, especially with all the rain we get here. The price did make me hesitate, but I figured it’s not something I want to mess with again anytime soon. Has anyone noticed if synthetic makes the attic hotter? I’ve heard mixed things and honestly can’t tell if it’s just my imagination or what.
I get where you’re coming from on the price—synthetic definitely made me pause, but after seeing how fast felt can go downhill in wet climates, I figured it was worth the extra up front. As for attic temps, I haven’t noticed much difference myself. The insulation and ventilation seem to play a bigger role than the underlayment material. Maybe if your attic’s already borderline hot, it could tip things a bit, but in my case, it’s been a non-issue.
- I totally get the sticker shock with synthetic. My first reaction was, “wait, how much per roll?” But after seeing how quickly felt can get soggy here (PNW, so rain is just a way of life), I bit the bullet. No regrets so far.
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Couldn’t agree more. I obsessed over attic temps before my last reroof, but honestly, swapping out the old R19 for R38 and adding a ridge vent made a way bigger difference than what’s under the shingles.“The insulation and ventilation seem to play a bigger role than the underlayment material.”
- One thing I did notice: synthetic is way less of a pain to walk on, especially if you’re doing any DIY work. Felt turns into a slip’n’slide if there’s any dew. Not exactly OSHA-approved...
- Only downside for me: synthetic doesn’t “heal” around nails like felt does. Not a huge deal if you’re careful, but worth mentioning.
- For anyone in a dry climate, I could see felt being just fine. Out here, though, I’d rather spend a little more up front than deal with leaks every couple years.
- Just my two cents—your mileage may vary depending on where you live and how old your house is.
I get the appeal of synthetic, especially in soggy climates, but I still think felt gets dismissed too quickly. I’ve seen 30-year-old felt hold up just fine under old shingles, even after a few nail pops and minor leaks. The “self-healing” thing isn’t just marketing—if you’re dealing with a lot of fasteners or repairs down the road, that flexibility can matter. Synthetic’s great for walkability, sure, but if you’re not up there much after install, does it really matter? Just feels like we sometimes overcomplicate things when the basics still work.
Just feels like we sometimes overcomplicate things when the basics still work.
I get what you’re saying, but I keep hearing about synthetic being “tear-proof” and lasting longer if there’s a delay before shingles go on. Has anyone actually had felt fail because of weather exposure before the roof was finished? Or is that just a rare thing?
