Roofing Felt Paper Vs Synthetic

Felt paper and synthetic.

Roofing felt paper vs synthetic.

In our industry there are two main varieties of underlayment. Synthetic roof underlayment vs. The underlayment provides a secondary weather barrier against wind driven rain and snow. Synthetic felt is better at protecting your roof in the event of blow offs or wind driven rain as it is not as prone to the same problems as felt paper.

Of course it is a bit more technical than that but this is the basic idea behind how felt works. Additionally synthetic materials can withstand uv exposure much longer than felt paper so if progress needed to halt on a roof before the shingles were laid the material will not be damaged. Synthetic or felt roofing underlayment which is better. 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.

Felt paper also referred to as tar paper was the standard underlayment material in roofing for decades. Roofing felt offers an additional layer. Weighs 7 5 to 12 5 pounds per roofing square 30 felt. It will keep your roof dry even when water flows backward and in driving rain.

Weighs 16 to 27 pounds per roofing square. Anywhere from 40 100 grams per square meter. Generally speaking roofing felt is a felt paper that is soaked in asphalt and other water resistant compounds to produce a membrane. Fast forward 170 years and roofing felt is still the most popular roofing material now used as an underlayment being installed today.

For these reasons nj roofing contractors increasingly use these synthetic materials instead of traditional felt. Prospectors during the california gold rush covered the roofs of their temporary shacks with roofing felt also known as felt paper or tar paper. For example interwrap s rhinoroof can be exposed to uv rays for up to 60 days without any potential damage. While felt is weighed by pounds per roofing square 100 square feet synthetics are rated by grams per square meter gsm.

Asphalt felt and synthetic underlayments are products installed under all the roofing materials and directly on a roof deck. Felt is commonly sold in either 15 or 30 rolls measuring 36 inches wide. In contrast to regular roof felt synthetic underlayment is typically fabricated from man made polypropylene and polymer substances that are lightweight highly water resistant and very durable. When most people think of roofs they typically think of shingles or metal roofing.

What is roofing felt. For decades roofers have fitted a layer of felt over a roof s sheathing or roof deck before installing shingles.