Funny thing, I’ve seen both sides of this debate play out on job sites. Pulled up felt that looked like wet tissue paper after a few years under a leaky valley—definitely not inspiring confidence. But then again, I’ve also seen synthetic that got left exposed for too long and basically turned into brittle plastic strips you could snap in half. Anyone else ever had to chase those down the street on a windy day? Not my favorite memory.
I do like how synthetic sheds water, especially here where we get those surprise summer storms. But yeah, it’s slicker than snot when it’s wet—had a guy nearly do the splits last year. We try to get shingles on quick, but sometimes weather just doesn’t cooperate. Has anyone found a synthetic brand that actually holds up to UV for more than a couple weeks? Or is it all just marketing fluff?
Honestly, I still use felt on smaller jobs or when budget’s tight, but for bigger roofs or anything with a low pitch, synthetic seems worth the extra bucks... as long as you don’t leave it naked too long.
UV breakdown on synthetic is a real thing—seen it go chalky and brittle after just a couple weeks in direct sun, especially with the cheaper brands. For jobs where I can’t guarantee shingles will go on fast, I stick with higher-end synthetics like Titanium or Deck-Armor. They claim 60-90 days UV resistance, and honestly, they do seem to last longer before getting crispy. Still, wouldn’t trust any of them past a month if you’re in a hot climate. For quick turnarounds though, felt’s fine and actually less slippery when wet... but yeah, not much water protection if it rains before you’re dried in.
- Had to make this call on my own place last year.
- North Texas, so sun’s brutal and storms hit hard.
- Tried felt on a shed—held up for a week, then a downpour soaked right through. Not great if you get delayed.
- Used synthetic (the pricier stuff, not bargain rolls) for the house roof. Sat exposed for almost 3 weeks in August. No chalking or tearing, but edges curled a bit.
- Agree with you—cheap synthetics get crispy fast. The better ones seem to handle sun way better than felt, but I wouldn’t push it past a month either.
- Felt’s less slippery, which is nice if you’re up there, but water just goes right through if it rains before shingles are on.
- If you’re in a spot where weather’s unpredictable or crews get delayed, I’d say spend a little more for the good synthetic.
- For quick jobs, felt’s fine and easier on the wallet.
- Just depends how fast you can get dried in and how much sun you’re dealing with.
Felt’s less slippery, which is nice if you’re up there, but water just goes right through if it rains before shingles are on.
That’s the tradeoff I always run into—felt’s definitely grippier underfoot, but man, it just doesn’t buy you much time if rain sneaks in. I’ve seen even the heavier 30# stuff go soggy after a couple storms. Anyone ever try those “hybrid” underlayments? Supposed to blend the grip of felt with the durability of synthetics, but I haven’t used them yet. Curious if they actually hold up or just marketing hype.
Supposed to blend the grip of felt with the durability of synthetics, but I haven’t used them yet. Curious if they actually hold up or just marketing hype.
You’re not wrong about felt going soggy—seen it plenty, especially if you get a surprise storm before shingles are down. The hybrids are interesting. I’ve used GAF Tiger Paw and a couple others. They’re definitely grippier than most synthetics, but still not quite as “sticky” as felt when it’s dry. Durability-wise, they hold up better in rain and wind, but they cost more. If you’re working solo or on steep pitches, that extra grip can be worth it. Just depends how much weather exposure you expect before finishing up.