I get the appeal of synthetic, especially with how unpredictable contractors can be. I was skeptical about paying more, but after seeing how felt basically turned into mush during a rainy week, I’m leaning synthetic too. Still not sure it’s worth double the price, but the peace of mind is hard to put a number on. Maybe depends on your weather—felt might be fine if you’re in a drier spot?
Had a similar debate last year when we had to re-roof one of our duplexes. I was leaning toward felt because it’s what I’d always used, but after a surprise storm hit mid-project, the felt just didn’t hold up—got soggy and tore in spots. Ended up paying extra for synthetic on the next job. It stung a bit cost-wise, but not having to worry about rain delays or leaks was worth it for me. If you’re in a dry area, maybe felt’s fine, but anywhere with unpredictable weather... I’d lean synthetic, even if I grumble about the price.
We went with felt when we first moved in, mostly because it was cheaper and I figured it’d be fine for our mild winters. Regretted it after a windy rainstorm—had to patch up a few spots. If I had to do it again, I’d probably just pay extra for synthetic and skip the hassle.
Had a similar situation about five years back—went with felt on a low-slope roof, mostly because it was what the builder recommended and it kept the initial costs down. First year was fine, but after a couple of wind-driven rainstorms, I noticed water stains in the attic. Turns out, some of the felt had torn near the eaves where the wind gets under the shingles. Ended up patching it with more felt, but it never really sealed right after that.
Here’s what I learned: 1) Felt just doesn’t hold up well if there’s any chance of wind uplift or driving rain, especially on lower slopes. 2) Synthetic underlayment is lighter, lays flatter, and in my experience, doesn’t wrinkle up or tear nearly as easily. It costs more upfront, but I’d say it paid for itself in peace of mind (and fewer attic stains).
If you’re in a spot with even occasional storms, synthetic is just less hassle long-term. Only thing I’d double-check is whether your shingle manufacturer requires a specific type for warranty reasons—some are picky about that.
I hear you on the felt—my last place had a similar issue. I went with felt because it was cheaper and seemed like the standard, but after a couple of years (and some heavy spring winds), I started seeing those telltale brown stains in the ceiling corners. Turns out, the felt had shifted and torn near the ridge, probably from wind getting under the shingles just like you described.
Switched to synthetic on my current house, and honestly, it’s been way less hassle. It’s lighter, easier to install (even for someone not super handy), and I haven’t noticed any wrinkling or tearing even after a few nasty storms. The upfront cost was maybe $200 more for my roof size, but considering what I spent patching leaks before, it’s worth it.
Only thing I’d add is that not all synthetics are created equal—some of the really cheap stuff can be slippery or hard to nail down. Also, if you’re trying to keep costs down, sometimes local supply houses have sales on better brands if you’re not in a rush... just something to watch for.