- Agree with this:
“they hold up better in rain and wind, but they cost more.”
- Used both on my own place (asphalt shingles, Midwest weather). Synthetics lasted through a couple nasty storms before the roofers got back—felt would’ve been toast.
- Grip is decent, but I still felt safer on dry felt for short jobs.
- Price stings a bit, but not having to redo underlayment after a downpour made it worth it for me.
- If you’re worried about delays or rain, synthetics are less stress. Otherwise, old-school felt still does the job if you’re quick.
I’ve seen too many folks trust felt and regret it after a surprise storm rolls through—especially in the Midwest, where “chance of rain” means “it’s definitely going to pour.” Synthetics are pricey, yeah, but I’d rather pay up front than deal with soggy felt peeling off my roof. That said, I get the grip thing—synthetic can feel slick, especially if there’s any dew. Still, with how unpredictable the weather’s been lately, I’m not risking it with old-school felt unless the job’s tiny and the forecast is bone-dry.
I totally get the hesitation with synthetic being slippery—almost wiped out myself trying to walk on it before sunrise. But man, the price difference is real. Has anyone found a budget-friendly synthetic that actually holds up? I keep hearing about felt failing in storms, but my neighbor’s roof (with felt) survived last year’s hail just fine. Is it really just luck, or does install quality matter more than the material? I’m in central Illinois, so weather’s all over the place... not sure what’s worth the gamble.
Title: Which holds up better over time: felt or synthetic underlayment?
I hear you on the synthetic being slick—nearly ate it myself stepping onto a neighbor’s roof after a rain. That said, I’ve gotta push back a bit on the idea that install quality is everything. Sure, a good crew can make almost anything last longer, but there’s only so much you can do with certain materials when the weather goes sideways.
Here’s how I look at it, especially for central Illinois where you get those wild swings—ice one week, tornado sirens the next:
1. **Material matters**. Felt’s been around forever and it’s cheap, but it absorbs water and breaks down faster when it gets wet repeatedly. Synthetics don’t soak up moisture the same way, so if you get a leak or wind-driven rain under your shingles, synthetics won’t turn to mush as quickly.
2. **Install still counts**—but only up to a point. If someone rushes the job or doesn’t overlap layers right, even the best synthetic won’t save you from leaks. But I’ve seen felt literally tear off in big gusts where synthetic just flapped around and stayed put.
3. **Budget options exist**, but some of the super-cheap synthetics are thin as tissue paper and just as useless once they’re torn. I tried one roll from a discount supplier last year—saved $40, but it ripped during install and had to be replaced anyway.
4. **Green alternatives** are out there now too—some recycled-fiber underlayments that aren’t as slippery as plastic-based synthetics and hold up better than felt in storms. They’re not always easy to find at big box stores, but local supply yards sometimes carry them.
I wouldn’t say it’s all luck when a felt roof survives hail or wind; sometimes it’s just that the storm hit at the right angle or missed the worst spots. But over time, especially with all this freeze/thaw stuff we get in Illinois, I’ve watched felt roofs need patching way sooner than synthetic ones.
If cost is tight, maybe look for a mid-grade synthetic or ask around about those recycled options. And if you go with felt anyway, just make sure whoever installs it really knows their stuff—tight overlaps, no shortcuts.
Hope that helps clear things up a bit... roofing always feels like rolling dice no matter what you pick.
That’s really helpful, thanks. I’m in my first house and the roof’s due for new shingles soon—leaning toward synthetic after hearing about felt tearing in storms. Has anyone noticed a difference in attic temps or ventilation between the two? Wondering if that matters much.