Man, curling shingles are the worst. I tried installing a vent last fall on my uncle’s place—shingles were about 17 years old and honestly felt like stale potato chips. Every time I thought I had one lifted just enough, it’d split or just refuse to settle back down. Ended up using a lot more flashing than I planned, and yeah, it looked a little Frankenstein-ish, but at least it survived the spring thaw without leaks. Midwest roofs are like a box of surprises once the snow melts... never quite know what you’re gonna get.
That “stale potato chip” feeling is way too familiar. I had a place a couple years back—roof was pushing 20 years, and just walking up there felt like stepping on a tray of crackers. Tried to patch in a satellite dish and every shingle I touched either cracked or just wouldn’t flex back down. Ended up with a patchwork of caulk and flashing that honestly looked like a raccoon had a go at it.
I always wonder if there’s a magic age where shingles just give up the ghost for good. Around here (central Illinois), anything over 15 years seems to be a gamble, especially after a couple rough winters. I’ve started telling folks if they’re thinking about adding vents or solar fans, might as well budget for a few bundles of replacement shingles, just in case. Sometimes you get lucky and they’ll lay flat again, but more often than not, it’s like trying to glue potato chips together.
Curious if anyone’s had better luck with those newer synthetic shingles? I keep hearing they last longer, but I haven’t seen enough installs to know if they’re worth the extra cost.
That “potato chip” analogy is spot-on—once shingles get past a certain age, especially here in the Midwest, they just lose all flexibility. I’ve seen it plenty: try to do even a minor install or repair and you wind up with more broken pieces than you started with. The freeze-thaw cycles don’t do them any favors. Around 15 years is about where I start seeing consistent issues, too, though sometimes you’ll get a few more years if the roof’s been shaded or the original materials were decent.
About those synthetic shingles—I’ve had a chance to look at a couple installs over the last five years. They’re definitely not cheap, but there are some upsides. The big one is their resistance to cracking and curling; they stay flexible much longer than standard asphalt. I helped a neighbor put in a solar attic fan on his DaVinci synthetic roof last summer. Cutting into those was almost like working with thick rubber mats, and there wasn’t any of that brittle chipping you get with old asphalt. The downside is, they’re heavier and can be trickier to lay flat if your decking isn’t perfectly even.
Cost-wise, you’re probably looking at double or more compared to architectural asphalt. But the warranty is usually 40-50 years, and from what I’ve seen so far, they seem to hold up to hail and UV better. Still, it’s hard to say how they’ll look after 25+ years since most installs are pretty recent.
If you’re dealing with an older roof and thinking about cutting in vents or fans, I’d agree—just budget for shingle replacement around the work area. Sometimes you can get away with heating them up gently on a sunny day to coax a little flex back, but once they’ve gone brittle... not much you can do except patch and pray.
One thing I wish more people would consider: if your roof’s already near end-of-life and you want to add anything major (solar panels, fans, etc.), it might make sense to combine projects and re-roof first. Saves you from doubling up on labor costs—or worse, having to undo fresh work when the roof finally gives out.
Not sure synthetic is worth it for every house, but if you plan on staying put awhile—or want to avoid this “potato chip” problem down the line—it’s something to look at. Just be ready for sticker shock up front.
That “potato chip” thing is no joke. I tried to swap out a vent on my 18-year-old roof last fall and it was a mess—shingles just snapped if I even looked at them wrong. Ended up patching with whatever extras I could find in the garage. I hear you on the synthetic stuff being pricey, but honestly, after that experience, I’m tempted for next time. The upfront cost stings, but not having to deal with brittle shingles again sounds worth it if you’re planning to stay put.
Man, I can relate to that “potato chip” roof situation way too well. Mine’s about 17 years old and it’s basically a crunchy mess up there—just walking on it feels like I’m risking shingle confetti. I tried swapping out a bathroom vent last summer, and I swear, every time my hammer touched the roof, another piece cracked off. Ended up patching with a weird mix of leftover shingles, some of which didn’t even match.
I used to think synthetic was just marketing hype, but after that little adventure? I’m starting to see the appeal. Yeah, it’s pricey upfront, but if it means not crawling around on a roof that falls apart under your feet… maybe worth budgeting for it next time. I guess if you’re planning to sell soon, it’s harder to justify, but if you’re sticking around, avoiding those sketchy patch jobs sounds pretty good.
That said, the only thing that gives me pause is how hot those synthetic shingles can get in the sun—at least down here in Texas. Not sure if that’s just me overthinking it though.
