Understanding The Key Roles Of Underlayment In Residential Roofing
If you live in South Florida, you understand the importance of hurricane-proofing your home. These intense storms are par for the course for living in a beautiful, tropical location where it feels like summer all year long.
Arguably, the most important part of a home is the rooftop. It’s the largest, strongest defense against elements like wind and rain. The roof is what protects you, your family, and your possessions, so it must be strong and durable. That means choosing quality products to maintain the roof, as well as reputable roofers to apply and inspect it regularly. One key ingredient in maintaining a strong roof is a material called underlayment. It’s an innovative and effective defense against leaks and other debris from tropical storms.
Read on to learn more about the importance of underlayment in residential roofing.
What Is Roofing Underlayment?
Underlayment has always been an important function of roofing. It’s a protective layer that is secured to the roof deck to prevent leaks and moisture from getting inside the home.
Functions Of Roofing Underlayment
With its superior strength and dual method of installation , Tag & Stick roofing underlayment revolutionized residential roofing. This protective layer that prevents rain and hurricane debris from entering and damaging Florida homes is also easily removable for repairs and reroofing should it be required in the future. Homes are better protected during the abuses of hurricanes, which in turn prevents long-term damages, leaks, mold growth, and frustrating claims with homeowners insurance companies.
Benefits Of Quality Underlayment
You can improve the life of your residential roofing with an additional layer of protection. This layer is installed between the outer roof materials and the home’s interior. It’s an investment that will save you time, money, and headache for years to come.
Here’s just a few of the benefits you can expect from quality underlayment like Tag & Stick:
Improved Weather Resistance
A roof made from quality materials is better able to resist whatever damage that Florida weather throws at it. Underlayment is an extra layer of defense against heavy winds, rain, and flying debris from hurricanes, which can include anything from pieces of damaged homes to uprooted trees. When the residential roof is strong, the rest of the home’s structure is likely to remain sound.
Improved Insulation
When underlayment offers improved insulation in a home, it doesn’t just keep the property free from leaks and damages. Quality underlayment also helps keep the interior temperature consistent, which means the HVAC system doesn’t have to work so hard at keeping the home cool. As Floridians know, air conditioning is the main ingredient for comfort and sanity during the height of the summer months. Which leads to another important benefit:
Increased Savings
Reduced energy use naturally means a lower utility bill. Homeowners can keep more of their money in the bank by not having to fix the HVAC unit or damaged roofs as the years wear on. Who doesn’t love saving money?
Understanding The Installation Process
It’s good practice to have roofing materials applied and installed by professionals, the only people who are trained to safely navigate a rooftop in the first place. This is also for the long-term protection of your entire roofing system.
In a nutshell, the underlayment is attached to the roof decking using approved nails and fasteners. A second sheet is applied with the adhesive part directly over the first sheet, which is secured at the top and bottom edges with approved fasteners. Once the materials are aligned and secured properly, the self-adhered part of the underlayment can be put down by attaching it to the mechanically attached parts.
Residential Roofing Maintenance Tips
While annual inspections are a vital part of maintaining a healthy roof, you don’t have to be a roofing expert to recognize early signs of issues. You can get ahead of future damages by performing regular maintenance on your own, without getting on top of the actual roof (this should be left to the professionals).
Increase the lifespan of your roof and underlayment materials with the following steps:
- Keep trees free of low-hanging branches that may be near the roof
- Keep gutters free of leaves and other debris
- Watch for signs of moisture in your ceilings and attic, as well as sudden drafts
- Watch for sharp increases in energy bills
- Watch for signs of mold or fungal growth, as well as wet wood
- Schedule a roof inspection after a particularly rough storm
Choosing The Right Underlayment For South Florida Homes
The South Florida region is a beautiful place to live, but it’s not without risk during hurricane season. Residential roofs should be inspected after hurricane season to ensure that any damage, however minor, is promptly addressed and fixed. Having quality underlayment like Tag & Stick is a layer of protection that will keep rooftops in good health during hurricanes for years to come.
Tag & Stick is a unique product created as a solution to a problem that couldn’t be fixed using existing materials. Now, roofing materials can be removed for repairs or renovations without damage to the underlying layers. For more information, call the experts at Tag & Stick at 954-444-4843.