Synthetic Underlayment Just Makes Sense

What Is Synthetic Underlayment

Synthetic Underlayment is extremely important to your New Roofing System’s weather defenses. Water, while life giving, can be life draining once it is on your roof. You see water:

• Seeks to infiltrate every opening on your roof

• Rots wood

• Puddles in low lying areas

• Can tear if there is enough force behind it’s movement whether:

• Running downhill

• Being blown by wind

• Turns to ice if cold enough

-Weighs down weak structures

-Expands every crack it moves into

-Can destroy material it is sliding or flowing over

So, water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet, but if you don’t protect your roof against water, it will wear away your material, cause rot, and can freeze up which causes even more concerns. Most importantly, IT WILL COST YOU MONEY!

Types of Roof Underlayment

When it comes to underlayment on a roof, there are several choices you can make.

Felt

-15 & 30lb

Synthetic

-Regular

-Higher quality

Let’s look at each of these individually.

FELT

Felt Underlayment is a mat base that is saturated and treated with tar so that it forms a pliable waterproof surface. There are 2 basic types of Felt Underlayment.

15lb Felt

This number is a reflection of weight per square. A 10’ x 10’ section of felt underlayment

used to weigh 15 pounds. Improved tech and application now can make that figure as low

as 7.5

30lb Felt

Obviously, this number represented the heavier felt which offered more protection due to

it’s double thickness. Once 30lbs a square these days can weigh as little as 16lbs with the

same amount of protection against the wind and water.

Since the mid-90s, felt underlayment has been a staple of most roofing systems. It is still available and has many benefits.

• It serves its number one function in that it’s water resistant

• It is less expensive than synthetic underlayment

• It was the most commonly used underlayment and as such is readily available

• It costs less than synthetic material

On the flip side, and like anything in the construction world, felt underlayment also has its disadvantages.

• It has a much shorter longevity than synthetic underlayment

• It can bubble in heat and can become brittle after the heat and cold of climates with all the seasons

• It sometimes requires and additional layer of material called a slip sheet

• It is flammable

So felt is a viable albeit, less and less used form of Roofing System Underlayment.

SYNTHETIC UNDERLAYMENT

Synthetic Underlayment is a material that is produced by polyethylene or polypropylene being interlaced with woven or spun strands. It comes in multiple thicknesses and materials.

1. It is water resistant

2. It last longer than felt underlayment

3. It holds up under extreme weather conditions

4. It retains and reflects less heat

5. It is lighter weight but tougher material

6. It is walkable and doesn’t wrinkle

7. It is recyclable

So what are the disadvantages of synthetic underlayment?

1. It is more expensive than felt

As you can see synthetic underlayment has very few disadvantages. It makes the most sense for your New Roofing System and offers so many pluses that in today’s world there is little reason to go with any other kind of material.

That Covers Underlayment

One thing is for sure synthetic underlayment is a must have for the modern-day New Roof. So whether installing a roof replacement or putting on a new roofing system, check out more about Synthetic Underlayment.

If you want to talk to a roofing contractor that can answer your questions directly, call True Line Roofing and set up a Complimentary Inspection 270.978.0239