I did make sure to overlap and staple it pretty thoroughly, though.
That’s a fair point—climate really does make a difference. I’ve seen felt underlayment last a good while in milder areas, especially when it’s installed carefully like you mentioned. The budget factor is real, too. Sometimes, as you said, “the ‘cheap’ option works out if you’re careful with installation.” I’ve managed a few properties where we went with felt for similar reasons and haven’t had issues yet. Synthetic is great, but it’s not always necessary depending on the situation.
I’ve seen felt hold up fine here in the Midwest, especially if it’s overlapped right and you’re not dealing with tons of wind-driven rain. Did a tear-off last fall where the old felt was still doing its job after 18 years. Not perfect, but it worked. Synthetic’s nice, but sometimes felt’s good enough if you’re on top of the install.
Did a tear-off last fall where the old felt was still doing its job after 18 years. Not perfect, but it worked.
I've run into similar situations—old felt surprisingly intact after a couple decades, even in spots where you’d expect more rot. But I do wonder about ventilation and deck condition under double layers. Sometimes that second layer hides soft decking or trapped moisture you’d miss otherwise. Anyone else catch problems only after a full tear-off?
Title: Full Tear-Off Surprises
I’ve seen more than a few roofs where the old felt looked decent, but once we pulled everything off, the deck told a different story. Had one last year—looked fine from the attic, but under two layers, half the plywood was mushy around the valleys. It’s easy to miss that stuff if you just go over the top. I get why folks want to save money with a second layer, but sometimes you’re just covering up headaches for later. Not saying it’s always a disaster, but I’m always a little wary when I see double layers... you never really know what’s hiding underneath.
Double layers always make me nervous, too. I’ve seen a few “quick fix” jobs where the second layer just trapped moisture and made things worse—especially in humid spots or after a heavy rain season. I get the appeal for saving cash upfront, but if you’re thinking long-term (and especially if you care about energy efficiency or using recycled materials), full tear-off is usually worth it. Plus, you can actually see what’s going on with the decking and insulation. Not always the cheapest route, but less risk of nasty surprises down the road.
