What is roofing underlayerment, and why do you need it?
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Your roof protects your home from the elements. Pretty basic stuff, right? Less obvious are the parts that go into the whole roof system. Maybe you’ve never heard of roofing underlayment. It’s doing a lot of work for you every day.
What is roofing underlayment?
Roofing underlayment is a water-resistant or waterproof barrier material that is installed directly onto your roof deck. It is applied under all other roofing materials as an added layer of protection from severe weather.
There are three main types of roofing underlayment:
Asphalt-saturated felt
Non-bitumen synthetic underlayment. This is also known as “synthetic underlayment.”
Rubberized asphalt underlayment
Asphalt-saturated felt and synthetic underlayment are water-resistant. Rubberized asphalt underlayment is waterproof.
Asphalt-saturated felt
Asphalt-saturated felt was the go-to roofing underlayment until about 15 years ago. That’s when synthetic products started gaining in popularity.
Commonly referred to as “felt paper” or “tar paper,” common roofing felt is made of varying blends of cellulose (natural plant fibers), polyester, bitumen or asphalt.
