Now, I feel like I’m always second-guessing—was that a wrinkle or is water getting in?
Man, this hits home. I still catch myself poking at every little ripple like it’s a crime scene. Used to be, you’d slap down tar paper and if it leaked, well, at least you knew where to look. Now with synthetics, I spend more time squinting at the roof than actually fixing anything. That said, after last winter’s ice dam circus, I can’t argue with how dry it’s stayed up there. Guess the peace of mind is worth the learning curve... most days.
Now, I feel like I’m always second-guessing—was that a wrinkle or is water getting in?
That’s the story of every roof check these days. I totally get the “crime scene” feeling—sometimes I’m up there with a flashlight and a magnifying glass, convinced every little bump is a disaster waiting to happen. But honestly, you nailed it about synthetics. They’re not as straightforward as the old tar paper, but after seeing how they hold up through freeze-thaw cycles and those surprise spring downpours, I’ve come around.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. The first time I saw synthetic underlayment wrinkle, I thought for sure water was sneaking in somewhere. Turns out, most of those little ripples are just cosmetic and don’t mean much—at least if everything else is sealed right. Still, nothing beats crawling around the attic after a storm just to double-check.
Peace of mind is huge, though. After years of patching ice dam leaks on my own place, having a dry attic all winter feels like winning the lottery... even if it means learning some new tricks along the way.
Those attic checks after a storm are basically my cardio at this point. I’ve seen my share of wrinkled synthetic underlayment too, and I agree—it’s easy to panic the first time you spot one, especially if you’re used to the old felt. I used to think every little ripple meant trouble, but after a few seasons (and a couple of unnecessary patch jobs), I realized most of it’s just the material flexing with temperature swings.
One thing I’ve noticed: if you’ve got good ventilation and the flashing’s tight, those minor wrinkles don’t seem to matter much. The only time I really worry is if I spot staining or damp insulation in the attic. That’s usually the real red flag. Otherwise, I’ve learned to live with a few cosmetic quirks up there.
Funny enough, I still keep a roll of tar paper in the truck—old habits die hard, I guess. But with the way synthetics handle ice dams and heavy rain, I’m not looking back anytime soon. Just wish they’d invent a version that doesn’t make me second-guess every shadow on the roof...
Just wish they’d invent a version that doesn’t make me second-guess every shadow on the roof...
Right there with you. Every time I see a weird line or bump, I’m halfway convinced it’s a leak until proven otherwise. I did a double take last winter—turned out to be a rogue squirrel stash, not water. Synthetic’s been solid for me, but I still miss the days when felt just looked... flat.
Funny you mention shadows—last fall I spent half a Saturday tracing what looked like a sag in the underlayment. Turned out it was just a bundle of leaves wedged under the ridge vent. I still check every odd spot, though. Synthetic’s held up, but I do miss how easy it was to spot issues with old felt... less guessing, more fixing.
