Brief
This guide will help you discover the differences between the various types of roof underlayment, so you can select the right type for your home.
Insight
Roof underlayment fits between the roof deck and the shingles to provide additional insulation to the top of the home while also acting as a waterproof barrier to prevent moisture from entering your attic.
It is one of the most overlooked parts of your roof. In fact, most people would not be able to tell you what roofing underlayment is, despite the majority of residential roofs consisting of a roof deck, roofing underlayment, and shingles.
Similar to your shingles, the roof underlayment needs to be replaced at semi-regular intervals based on the condition of the roof. Underlayment was traditionally only available in one type known as asphalt-saturated felt, but over the years additional types have been developed.
This guide will help you discover the differences between the various types of roof underlayment, so you can select the right type for your home.
Asphalt-Saturated Felt
The classic type of roof underlayment is known as asphalt-saturated felt. It’s similar to tar paper, except that instead of tar, the waterproofing ingredient is asphalt. This style of roof underlayment has been used for decades to provide adequate moisture protection and insulation, but it just doesn’t measure up to the flexibility and durability offered by rubberized asphalt or synthetic roof underlayment.
Asphalt-saturated felt is also known as roofing felt or felt paper. As the most affordable option for roof underlayment, roofing felt remains a popular option that can improve the durability of the roof deck in order to protect against impact damage from hailstones or airborne debris, like tree branches.
It comes in two standard weights, including 15 pounds per hundred square feet (No. 15 felt) and 30 pounds per hundred square feet (No. 30 felt).
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