the extra couple hundred bucks for synthetic seems minor compared to what you’d pay if moisture sneaks in later.
That’s been my experience too—synthetic adds a bit to the bill, but it’s nothing compared to dealing with water damage. I’m curious, though: for folks who’ve done a tear-off, did you run into any surprises once the old shingles were up? I’ve seen a few jobs where the decking was worse than expected, especially on older houses. Wondering how common that is.
Tear-offs almost always come with a surprise or two, especially on houses that are 30+ years old. I’ve managed a handful of properties where the decking looked fine from the attic, but once the shingles came off, we found rot around the eaves or old repairs that weren’t up to code. It’s not every single time, but it’s common enough that I always budget for at least a few sheets of new plywood—just in case.
One thing I’ve noticed: homes with poor attic ventilation or older felt underlayment seem to have more hidden damage. Moisture just gets trapped and eats away at the wood over time. That’s why I lean toward full tear-offs rather than just adding a new layer. It’s a pain, but you get a clean slate and can fix any issues before they turn into bigger headaches. Plus, insurance adjusters seem to appreciate the extra effort when it comes time for claims.
Synthetic underlayment is a small price to pay for peace of mind, honestly. I’ve seen too many “quick fix” jobs come back to haunt folks a few years down the line...
Had to make the same call last year on my 1980s ranch. I was tempted to just slap a second layer on, but after poking around under a few shingles, I found some soft spots near the gutters. Here’s what I did: First, I checked the attic for obvious leaks or mold (didn’t see much), then budgeted for at least three sheets of new plywood—ended up needing two. Full tear-off cost more up front, but I caught a bunch of sketchy repairs from the previous owner and swapped out the old felt for synthetic. The peace of mind is worth it, honestly, especially since our winters are rough and ice dams are a pain. If you’re on the fence, I’d say factor in your climate and how long you plan to stay in the house... sometimes the extra work now saves a lot of hassle later.
Did you end up finding any surprises once you started tearing off the old shingles? I always wonder how many folks discover hidden rot or weird patch jobs from previous owners... Seems like every roof’s got a story. Did you have to deal with any critters in the attic while you were at it?
- Pulled up the old shingles last fall—yep, found a couple of “creative” repairs from the previous owner. One spot had three layers of mismatched shingles just nailed right over a rotted patch.
- No critters, but there was a squirrel nest in the soffit a few years back. Not fun.
- Honestly, I’m always skeptical about just adding a new layer. You never really know what’s hiding underneath until you strip it all off.
- Plus, if you’re thinking about solar or a green roof down the line, you want a clean slate.
- It’s more work and waste, but at least you know what you’re dealing with.