Roof Underlayment: How It Prevents Leaks And Damage To Your Roof
According to recent roofing industry data, roof replacements comprise about 90% of market volume and value. These statistics are unsurprising, considering many homes built throughout North America were built long ago and require new roofing, including roof underlayment.
Your roofing system has many layers that protect your home from leaks and damage. The team at Tag & Stick answers this question by sharing what you need to know about roof underlayment.
How To Tell if Your Roof Underlayment Is Old Or Damaged
Unfortunately, a failed roof underlayment is a fairly common problem that can lead to many serious issues. Since most roofs have a ten to twenty-year lifespan, your current home will likely need an underlayment or roof replacement in the coming years.
Signs of a damaged underlayment include the following:
- Attic leaks: Poorly installed or damaged underlayment can cause your attic to experience leaks through the roof deck. A sagging roof deck is also a sign of roof underlayment damage.
- Light peaking through the attic: Although rare, your roof underlayment might be so damaged that you notice light peeking into your attic. If this is the case, you will need a roofing contractor to determine the extent of the damage.
- Costly energy bills: The roof underlayment adds extra insulation to your home. If your home’s underlayment fails, it could increase your heating and cooling costs.
How Roof Underlayment Prevents Leaks And Damage
Here are a few ways you can expect your underlayment to keep your roof safe:
It Provides Weather Protection
Your roof shingles are the first defense against various weather conditions. Shingles overlap, this makes them susceptible to becoming loosened by strong winds, which makes them vulnerable to water intrusion and blowing off.
Fortunately, if a major weather event transpires and your shingles break away, your roof underlayment will keep rain and debris from penetrating the roof deck and entering your house.
It Provides A Moisture Barrier
Your shingles don’t need to blow off to prove ineffective during severe weather conditions. Often, wind-driven rain can become trapped under your roof’s shingles, exposing your deck and the interior of your home to leaks, rot, mold, and moisture damage.
Luckily, if your shingles fail as the first line of defense, your roofing underlayment provides an extra layer of protection before your home can be damaged.
Common Causes Of Roof Underlayment Failure
As a homeowner, these are a few of the causes of roof underlayment failure you should be aware of:
- Delayed roof repairs: Underlayment is a roofing material known for its resilience, and does an excellent job of preventing leaks and roof damage. However, it’s not a substitute for a fully functioning roof. Often, delaying roof repairs can lead to an increased risk of your roofing and underlayment failing.
- Low-quality roofing materials: In most instances, it pays to invest in high-quality roofing materials. Your roof will be exposed to daily wear and tear, so if low-quality roofing materials are used, it will fail much more quickly.
Roofing Underlayment Experts In South Florida
At Tag & Stick, we offer a unique self-adhering roof underlayment proven to work on any roof. This mechanically attachable underlayment has been used in the roofing industry for over 25 years.
Learn more about this modern one-step application roof underlayment, and other high-quality roofing materials we offer, by contacting Tag & Stick at (954) 255-3107.