Need Advice On Replacing An Old Leaky Roof
I get the hype around synthetic underlayment, but honestly, I went with old-school felt on my place and it’s held up fine so far. Maybe it’s just luck or maybe my installer was just super detail-oriented? Sometimes the classics still work, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
I hear you on the felt. I’m in the same boat—tight budget, so I’m not about to drop extra cash unless it’s really worth it. My last place had felt for years and honestly, it did the job. Maybe it’s not as “fancy” as synthetic, but if it ain’t broke… you know? I figure as long as whoever’s putting it on actually cares, you’re probably good. Sometimes new tech is just marketing hype anyway.
Maybe it’s not as “fancy” as synthetic, but if it ain’t broke… you know?
Totally get where you’re coming from on this. There’s a lot to be said for sticking with what works, especially when every dollar counts. I’ve seen plenty of projects where folks went with felt underlayment and never had any issues for years—sometimes decades. It’s true, synthetic options are all the rage right now, but sometimes I wonder if it’s just because they sound high-tech.
One thing I’ve noticed, though: installation really does make a difference. Like you said, “as long as whoever’s putting it on actually cares,” the results are usually solid. Have you thought about how your local climate might factor in? Sometimes that can tip the scales one way or another, especially if you get a lot of heavy rain or wild temperature swings.
But honestly, there’s no shame in going with the tried-and-true if it fits your needs and budget. At the end of the day, peace of mind matters more than whatever product is trending.
TITLE: Weighing Felt vs. Synthetic for Long-Term Value
I hear the argument for sticking with felt, and I get it—if something’s worked for decades, it’s hard to justify changing it up, especially when budgets are tight. But I’ve got to push back a little here. In the last ten years or so, I’ve overseen a bunch of roof replacements on both residential and light commercial projects. What I’ve noticed is that synthetic underlayments aren’t just about being “fancy” or trendy—they’re actually solving some real problems that felt never could.
For instance, we had a stretch of really wet weather last spring, and a couple of crews had to leave roofs open longer than planned. The synthetics held up way better than the old 15# felt ever did. No wrinkling, no tearing, and they didn’t absorb water. That alone saved us from having to redo work or deal with warped decking. Sure, installation matters (it always does), but even with top-notch installers, felt just doesn’t have the same tolerance for delays or bad weather.
I’m not saying felt is useless—it’s served its purpose for ages. But when you look at labor costs and the risk of callbacks because of underlayment failures, synthetics start making more sense, especially on bigger jobs or in unpredictable climates. Upfront cost is higher, yeah... but over the life of the roof? It can pay off.
One other thing—insurance claims. Had a hailstorm hit a few years back, and the adjuster specifically noted that synthetic underlayment helped limit interior damage compared to neighboring homes with felt. That was an eye-opener.
Not trying to knock tradition here—just think sometimes “if it ain’t broke” can hold us back from better solutions. Sometimes progress is worth a shot, even if it feels like a gamble at first.
- Seen the same thing with synthetics holding up when weather turns ugly mid-project.
- Labor’s faster, too—crews aren’t fighting with wrinkles or tears.
- Curious if anyone’s had issues with synthetic getting slippery? Had one guy complain about footing, but maybe that’s just him...
- Also, for older homes with weird decking, does synthetic still seal as well around fasteners? That’s my only hesitation.
