“If your synthetic’s still flat after a Texas summer, you’re probably good for a while.”
That’s been my experience too—once the edges start curling, it’s just a matter of time before leaks show up. I went with recycled underlayment last year because it was supposed to last longer, but man, it was heavy and the crew definitely let me know about it. Still, after a couple big storms, no issues yet. I do wish the eco stuff was cheaper though... hard to justify the price when you’re watching every dollar. Anyone actually notice lower cooling bills after switching? I’m not sure if my attic feels cooler or if I’m just hoping it does.
“I went with recycled underlayment last year because it was supposed to last longer, but man, it was heavy and the crew definitely let me know about it.”
Had the same situation with a “green” underlayment—felt like we were dragging sandbags up there. Didn’t notice much difference in cooling bills either, honestly. Maybe a couple bucks, but nothing major. The attic does seem less stuffy, but that could just be wishful thinking.
I get what you’re saying about the weight, but I actually saw a bit more of a difference on cooling after switching to a recycled synthetic underlayment—maybe it’s just our attic layout or the fact that we added ridge vents at the same time. Cooling bills dropped about 5-8% in July and August, which isn’t huge, but adds up. Not sure I’d go through the hassle again just for that, though. The stuff really is a beast to haul up a steep roof.
I hear you on the cooling bills, but I’ve actually seen more impact from attic insulation upgrades than swapping underlayment. Maybe it’s just the way my old ranch is built, but the roof changes didn’t move the needle much until I beefed up the insulation. Dragging those rolls up a steep pitch is no joke either… still have the bruises.
Insulation really does make a difference, especially in these older homes where the attic’s basically a heat trap. I get what you mean about underlayment not moving the needle—on my place, the only time I noticed a real change from roof work was after sealing up a bunch of random attic gaps and topping up the insulation. Still, I’m not convinced underlayment’s totally useless, especially if you deal with leaks or ice dams, but for cooling bills? Insulation wins. And yeah, hauling those rolls up there… my knees still haven’t forgiven me.