Is Roof Felt The Same As Tar Paper

When most people think of roofs they typically think of shingles or metal roofing.

Is roof felt the same as tar paper.

It was easy to use durable and even had alignment lines to help with the shingle installation. Sometimes called roofing felt underlayment roofing tar paper or roll roofing this is a layer of protection installed between the roof deck and the roofing shingles. Felt paper also referred to as tar paper was the standard underlayment material in roofing for decades. 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.

Our opinion is that on new asphalt shingle tile fiber cement slate and many wood roofs most roofing contractors apply an underlayment membrane of roofing felt tar paper or fiber reinforced roofing felt. Felt paper is also code and many states have varying requirements as to its application. If water backs up under the roof as happens with ice damming water can flow up and under the. Roofing felt underlayment layers.

Tar paper also called roofing felt is used under shingles. Double layer or double coverage roofing underlayment are defined here. Roofing felt or tar paper is infused with a petroleum based solution to provide an additional layer of roof protection under shingles. Felt otherwise known as underpayment is required when.

Roofing felt is a layer of tar paper installed beneath the shingles to provide a backup waterproof membrane in case of leakage. Although tar paper has traditionally been the standard undercoating for shingles as of 2010 synthetics are becoming more popular as an underlayment. But felt paper has problems where it overlaps the sheet below and where the nails penetrate the felt. For decades roofers have fitted a layer of felt over a roof s sheathing or roof deck before installing shingles.

Synthetic underlayment started gaining popularity in the last decade. It s an asphalt saturated paper that increases the water resistance of your roof from wind driven rains or blow offs. Lighter than felt synthetic underlayment is just as easy to work with and is just as durable if not more so than felt paper. A special underlayment may be recommended by the manufacturers of specific roofing product and hybrid products.