NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I’m loving the focus on what’s under the shingles—honestly, I wish more folks thought about that before picking colors. Here’s my two cents: after dealing with a leaky roof in my last place, I realized how much the attic space matters for the whole vibe of your home. If you’re redoing insulation, try mineral wool—it’s fire-resistant and muffles sound like a dream. And if you’re into aesthetics, don’t sleep on metal roofs. They come in wild colors now and can totally change your curb appeal...plus, rain sounds amazing on them (unless you hate that). Just make sure your contractor isn’t cutting corners on flashing or ventilation—those details are where leaks love to sneak back in.
Just make sure your contractor isn’t cutting corners on flashing or ventilation—those details are where leaks love to sneak back in.
Couldn’t agree more—flashing and ventilation are where things go sideways fast if you don’t keep an eye on them. One thing I’d add: if you’re already opening things up, take a look at your roof decking. In my last project, we found a couple of soft spots that would’ve been a nightmare if left alone. Also, if you’re considering metal roofs, check the warranty and ask about noise-reducing underlayments. Some folks love the rain sound, but it can get intense during storms.
That’s a good point about roof decking—caught a spot of rot under an old vent pipe once, and it was way worse than it looked from inside. Curious if anyone here has tried those new synthetic underlayments instead of felt? I keep hearing mixed things about how they handle moisture and heat, especially in older houses. Not sure if it’s worth the upgrade or just marketing hype...
Need Advice On Replacing An Old Leaky Roof
I’ve actually seen synthetic underlayments perform pretty well, but I’m not convinced they’re always better than felt, especially on older homes. Sometimes the breathability just isn’t there, and you can end up trapping moisture where you don’t want it. Felt’s not perfect, but at least it’s predictable—especially if your attic ventilation isn’t great. I’d say it depends a lot on your climate and how the rest of the roof system is set up.
I get where you’re coming from about breathability—my place is older too, and I worried about trapping moisture with synthetic. Ended up sticking with felt for that reason. It’s not flashy, but at least I know what to expect. Sometimes the tried-and-true stuff just feels safer, especially when you’re not sure how everything else in the attic’s working.
