How Important Is Roofing Felt

Before applying roofing you ll need to cover the sheathing with roofing felt also often called tar paper most local codes call for using 30 pound felt.

How important is roofing felt.

But first let s discuss why roofing underlayment is so important. Weight matters asphalt saturated heavy duty roofing. But what some may not know is there s another layer of protection directly on top of the roof deck and under the roof covering that performs a critical role in protecting your home from moisture damage. Is felt really that important and what is roofing felt anyway.

When most people think of roofs they typically think of shingles or metal roofing. It is installed directly onto the roof deck underneath all of the other roofing materials. Some roofers prefer to attach felt underlayment with 1 inch roofing nails or special nails with plastic washers but most codes allow staples which are easier to drive. Roofing felt is a layer of tar paper installed beneath the shingles to provide a backup waterproof membrane in case of leakage.

These synthetic membranes can have a much higher performance than the felt variety in severe weather conditions or can be matched to work better with specific roofing materials. There is also another form of underlayment on the market that is particularly important in the toronto region where ice snow and severe rainstorms are common. Roofing felt is comprised of a base made from natural materials such as wood cellulose or synthetic ones such as fiberglass or polyester and then coated or saturated with a protective coating such as bitumen asphalt which repels water but still allows the product to breathe. Roofing felt that provides the best shielding and allows the roofer to walk on it without ripping it is the option roofers most often choose.

Roofing underlayment is a water resistant barrier that serves as an extra layer of protection from the elements. Roofing felt offers an additional layer. For decades roofers have fitted a layer of felt over a roof s sheathing or roof deck before installing shingles. Many people have been led to believe that when roofers install roofing felt the shingles on your roof spring a leak the roofing felt will act as a waterproof preventing the water from entering your home.