Sealing your roof deck with underlayments

We have found a roofing contractor that will do a tear-off, and your old roof has been removed. The deck has been inspected for any water damage or rot, and all needed repairs have been completed. You also have all your ventilation holes cut and ready for venting! Now is the time in the project where the roofing company will begin installing underlayments, such as ice & water shield and synthetic underlayment.

What About Felt?

Some roofers still offer felt underlayments on their roofing system. This may seem like a great way to save money on materials, but it puts your roof at risk of developing leaks down the line. Synthetic underlayment, as well as ice & water shield, seal up your deck, making a watertight protective barrier.

Why synthetic underlayment is superior

As you may know, shingles are nailed into your roofs deck, approximately 4-6 nails per shingle. That is a lot of holes you are creating in your roofs deck! Synthetic underlayment was designed to address these holes! As a nail passes through the underlayment, the adhesive backing on the material seals the hole around the nail.

Ideally, your entire roof's deck will be covered with the synthetic underlayment creating a single watertight seal across the deck. However, there are areas of your roof that will experience so much water exposure and extreme temperatures that you will want to reinforce it with ice and water shield.

What is ice and water shield?

Ice and water shield is a highly durable material that acts in the same way synthetic underlayment does. It has a strong adhesive backing which fills holes as they are created.

In the winter ice that forms along the eaves of your roof can trap water against the shingles, giving it time to soak into any unprotected areas of the deck. It is recommended that you use ice and water shield on the first six feet of the roof deck coming off your eaves. It is also recommended that your roofing system include ice and water shield in any valleys on your roof. roof valleys are notorious for experiencing heavy water flow.

Seal up Your Roof From Water

If you're getting a replacement roof, it is a good idea to do all you can to make it last. Making sure your roofing system includes plenty of synthetic underlayment and ice and water shield is a great way to ensure your new roof will have a long life.