Is Roofing Felt Necessary

While people are debating on whether roofing felt otherwise known are tar paper is still necessary here are a few reasons why it is still useful.

Is roofing felt necessary.

Felt otherwise known as underpayment is required when. Roofing felt also known as tar paper provides a protective underlayment over the roof deck and beneath the shingles. There are three main types of roofing underlayment. The felt will help prevent the squeaks you are concerned about.

It provides a smooth unbroken surface for the application of shingles. Fifteen pound or heavier felt underlayment is required by code in some areas. The roof deck should be sound and level before laying the underlayment. It also offers fire resistance required for home construction.

Roofing felt is a layer of tar paper installed beneath the shingles to provide a backup waterproof membrane in case of leakage. The felt paper will reduce or eliminate the squeaks caused by the friction of wood rubbing on wood. While roofers workers are up fixing the shingles to the roof the roofing felt creates a safer layer for them to work on helping to make it less likely that they could slip. The extra step is well worth the expense and the time.

This is also known as synthetic underlayment. It is applied under all other roofing materials as an added layer of protection from severe weather. Roofing felt may be necessary for use with your shingles to meet a class a fire rating when shingles are evaluated for their fire ratings it is done on a small test deck with the roofing felt underlayment in place without this underlayment the shingles alone may not meet the class a fire requirements. The felt is punctured by thousands of roofing nails as the shingles are installed and is thus not a waterproof membrane.

Felt is asphalt infused synthetic or wood composite paper that repels water. Wood floors will naturally contract and expand due to temperature changes and humidity. In any case roofing felt alone is can not make a roof waterproof. The reason why drip edge should be installed below the underlayment along the eaves of the roof is so that water does not get under the drip edge.

When installing anything on a roof you need to follow the water rule the water rule means you consider where water will run when it s on the roof.