RE: Cedar Roof Underlayment
Hello,
I made a decision about 18 months ago to transition our underlayment use to synthetic. Went through a lot of different brands and types to find the right ones. Depending on the roof covering (tile, shingles, metal) we might use either Grace, RoofTop Guard II, or JM DuraBase. Each have their advantages, but price was not one of them (in southern CA, about $15.00 a square). Went out to do some price checking a few days ago, and found that 30 lb felt now goes for $23.59 a roll (or $11.80 a square). To me, that was the final piece of the puzzle, as to why it was a good decision to get away from organic. As long as asphalt is the primary component, the price will continue to increase for the foreseeable future. My guess is that within 3-6 months, organic and synthetic felts will be price-equal. And when you take in the fact that you can throw 3 10-square rolls in your truck, and felt in a house in an hour or so, the labor savings seals the deal for me.