The Importance of the Roof’s Underlayment

The underlayment is one of the major components of your home’s roof. This component is made of a waterproof material, usually felt, rubber or fiberglass-reinforced mats and is found right underneath the roof’s visible surface. What makes the underlayment so important? The leading roofers in the area say there’s more than one answer.

The Final Barrier

If the roof’s top surface is the home’s first line of defense against the elements but the underlayment serves as the last. The underlayment is located directly over the deck, trusses and other parts of the roofing system that are not designed to withstand the harsh weather.

Water Protection

The main purpose of an underlayment is to form a waterproof barrier for the rest of the roof. Roofing experts say that while the topmost layer is designed to shed off rainwater and snow, some of the moisture can still leak through the seams or gaps between each shingle. An underlayment stops the water from spreading further, preventing damage.

Wind Protection

The underlayment also helps minimize wind damage. Without the underlayment, a roof with a missing shingle will allow wind to get in and create negative pressure inside the structure. This pressure can push parts of the roof from underneath. With an underlayment, missing shingles will only reveal a sealed-off surface so the wind can’t do as much damage.

Proper Installation

Any roof repair contractor will tell you that the underlayment will only work as well as expected if installed right. Even small mistakes during installation can compromise its ability to serve as a waterproof barrier for the rest of the roof. This is why we strongly recommend having certified experts to have the underlayment installed according to manufacturer specifications.

Have a roof with a high quality underlayment installed by our team. Homecraft® Inc. is the leading home exterior contractor in Newark, Middleton and Bear, DE. Call us at (302) 703-1109 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.