Honestly, it’s wild how fast a small leak can turn into a full-on headache. I’ve seen folks try to save money with patch jobs, but if you’re already noticing sagging or soft decking, you’re probably past the point of quick fixes. What’s worked best for me is tackling it step by step: first, pull back a section of shingles around the worst spot and check the decking. If it’s spongy or blackened, that’s your sign—time for a tear-off. Plan on replacing any rotten wood before new underlayment and shingles go down. It sounds like a lot, but catching it early really does save you from gutting half your ceiling down the road.
That’s a solid approach, especially the part about checking the decking before deciding how far to go. I’ve seen people skip that step and just slap new shingles on top, only to have the same leak reappear months later—definitely not worth the hassle. Out of curiosity, has anyone here tried using synthetic underlayments instead of traditional felt? I’ve read mixed things about their performance, particularly in climates with big temperature swings. Some contractors swear by them for durability and moisture resistance, but I wonder if there are downsides I’m missing. Also, when you’re replacing sections of decking, do you prefer plywood or OSB? I’ve noticed some roofers have strong opinions on that, but I’m not sure if it really makes a difference in the long run...
Title: Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof
- Ran into this last year on a project—synthetic underlayment held up way better than felt during a week of unexpected rain. Didn’t wrinkle or tear.
- Only downside I’ve seen is it can get slippery to walk on, especially in the heat.
- For decking, I lean plywood. OSB’s fine, but I’ve seen it swell at the edges after a few wet seasons. Plywood just seems to last longer in my experience.
I hear you on plywood lasting longer—my old place had OSB and it turned into a wavy mess after just a few years of heavy rain. Ended up patching it more often than I’d like. When we finally bit the bullet and went with plywood, it was pricier upfront but honestly, peace of mind is worth something too. I did go with regular felt though, just because the synthetic was out of my price range at the time. Sometimes you just have to balance dreams and budgets, right? Hang in there—it’s a big job but totally doable.
Honestly, I think you made the right call with plywood, even if it stings a bit at checkout. OSB just doesn’t hold up in wet climates—seen too many mushy panels pulled off roofs around here. I get what you mean about the felt too. Synthetic is nice, but regular felt’s been doing the job for decades. Sometimes the “latest and greatest” isn’t always necessary, especially when you’re already stretching the budget.
Curious if you looked into any recycled or FSC-certified plywood options? I’ve been trying to go that route when possible, but sometimes the price difference is just too much. Also, did you notice any difference in how the regular felt handled installation compared to synthetic? I’ve heard some folks say synthetic is easier to work with, but I’ve only ever used the old-school stuff myself.
Balancing cost and durability is always a headache... but at least you won’t be patching every rainy season now.