Funny you mention attic vents—I used to think they were just another upsell from roofers until I managed a place with chronic ice dam issues. Turns out, poor ventilation will really mess with your roof, especially in the Midwest. I’ve seen everything from frost on the rafters to actual water dripping down the walls in February. Not fun.
I get the temptation with all the “eco” options, but honestly, after one winter of patching up someone else’s experiment, I’m a little jaded. I stick with what’s proven, but I do like the synthetic underlayment too—seems to hold up way better than old-school felt, especially if you end up with a few weeks of exposed decking waiting for contractors.
Still, I’m always curious if anyone’s found a new shingle or system that actually survives our freeze/thaw cycles. The “boring and reliable” stuff is fine, but I wouldn’t mind a roof that looks good and doesn’t need attention every spring... if that unicorn exists.
I stick with what’s proven, but I do like the synthetic underlayment too—seems to hold up way better than old-school felt, especially if you end up with a few weeks of exposed decking waiting for contractors.
Couldn’t agree more on synthetic underlayment. I’ve seen felt turn into mush after a couple Midwest storms, but synthetics just shrug it off. As for shingles that actually survive freeze/thaw, I wish I had a magic answer. I’ve had decent luck with CertainTeed’s heavier lines, but even those need a solid install and good ventilation or you’re back to patching ice dam damage. “Boring and reliable” is underrated, honestly... but yeah, a unicorn roof would be nice.
I get the love for synthetic, but I still think felt has its place, especially on smaller jobs or sheds where the budget’s tight.
Couldn’t agree more there—sometimes simple just works, even if it’s not fancy. For freeze/thaw, I’ve had mixed results with CertainTeed too. Ever tried Malarkey? Their stuff’s pricey but seems to handle our crazy temp swings a bit better.“Boring and reliable” is underrated, honestly...
Malarkey’s been on my radar, but I haven’t actually put it down yet—just seen it on a couple jobs. Heard good things about how their shingles flex in the cold, which is a big deal here when it’s freeze/thaw every other day. I get what you’re saying about felt, too. On little backyard sheds or quick repairs, it’s hard to beat for the price and you know exactly what you’re getting. Synthetic’s nice, but sometimes it feels like overkill for a simple job. If you do go Malarkey, I’d be curious how it holds up after a couple winters.
Heard good things about how their shingles flex in the cold, which is a big deal here when it’s freeze/thaw every other day.
That’s exactly what caught my eye about Malarkey too. I’m in a spot where the weather can’t make up its mind—sunny one day, ice the next. My neighbor actually put Malarkey on his garage last year and he’s been raving about how it handled the first winter, no curling or cracking at all. I’m still stuck with the original builder-grade shingles, and they’re already looking rough after just a few cold snaps.
I get the appeal of felt for small jobs. Did a quick patch on my old shed with it and, honestly, for what it cost, it’s hard to complain. But for the main house, I’m leaning synthetic just for the peace of mind. Maybe overkill, but after that one time the wind peeled half my underlayment up... I’m a little gun-shy.
If I do go Malarkey, I’ll try to remember to update after a couple winters. Curious if it lives up to the hype long-term, or if it’s just one of those “looks good at first” deals.
