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.
That’s been my gripe with synthetic too. Some brands are almost like plastic tarps—super slick, especially on a hot day. Did you notice any difference in how it handled moisture during install? I’ve seen felt soak up rain and wrinkle, but not sure if the cheaper synthetics do any better.
I’ve run into the same thing with some synthetics—especially the bargain bin stuff. A few brands are so slick you feel like you’re ice skating up there, and it’s even worse on a steep pitch or when the sun’s beating down. I get why folks still like felt for grip, even if it’s a pain when it wrinkles.
On moisture, I’ve noticed felt definitely soaks up water and then you get those waves and bubbles as it dries out. That’s a headache if you’re trying to keep things flat for shingles. The cheaper synthetics don’t absorb water, but I’ve seen some puddle up and then you get little pools sitting until the sun dries them off. The higher-end synthetics seem to shed rain better and stay tight, but yeah, price is a factor.
For installs that get rained on mid-project, I’d rather deal with a good synthetic than felt, just because it doesn’t turn into mush or fall apart. On the other hand, I’ve seen some of the really thin synthetics tear if you’re moving ladders or dragging bundles around—felt usually holds up better in that situation. It’s kind of a tradeoff.
Curious if anyone’s had issues with synthetic underlayment getting brittle over time? I’ve peeled back old roofs before and some of those early synthetics basically turned to potato chips after a decade in the sun. Wondering if the newer stuff holds up any better long-term, especially in hotter climates.
I get the point about cheap synthetics being slippery—had a buddy nearly take a tumble on one of those “ice rink” brands last summer. But I’m not totally sold on the idea that higher-end synthetics are always worth the extra cash, especially for folks like me trying to keep costs down.
“The higher-end synthetics seem to shed rain better and stay tight, but yeah, price is a factor.”
That’s my hang-up. I’ve used felt on a couple of smaller projects and yeah, it wrinkles if it gets wet, but it’s cheap and easy to replace if something goes wrong. The synthetic stuff I can afford is usually the thinner kind, and I’ve had it tear just from moving a ladder, like you mentioned.
As for long-term durability, I’ve seen both felt and synthetic look pretty rough after 10-15 years, especially in hot weather. Not sure if the newer synthetics are really that much better—manufacturers always claim their latest version is “UV stable,” but who knows until it’s been up there a decade or more?
Is it really worth paying double or triple for premium synthetic if you’re just planning to re-roof in 15-20 years anyway? That’s where I get stuck.
Is it really worth paying double or triple for premium synthetic if you’re just planning to re-roof in 15-20 years anyway?
I’ve wondered the same thing, honestly. On my uncle’s place, we used basic felt under some old three-tabs and yeah, it wrinkled after a heavy rain but flattened out once the shingles went on. He got 18 years out of that roof before any issues. I’ve seen the “UV stable” synthetics get brittle and tear up here in Texas sun too, so I’m not convinced they’re always worth the markup unless you need a long exposure window or have a super low slope. For most regular jobs, felt seems fine if you’re watching your budget.
I get where you’re coming from. I went with felt on my place last year because the price difference was wild, and I figured if it lasted 15-20 years, that’s good enough for me. Haven’t had any issues so far. Sometimes simple just works.