Problems With Synthetic Roof Underlayment

A poor quality asphalt saturated felt roof underlayment is at high risk of failure.

Problems with synthetic roof underlayment.

An attempt at saving the company money at the expense of the homeowner usually. Synthetic roofing underlayments use cap nails or staples for the installation. What this means is the fasteners can t be sealed properly. Greed is usually the root of most business related flaws.

As of publication you can purchase a 72 foot roll of 30 pound roofing felt for around 15. A 66 foot roll of synthetic underlayment. Is synthetic roofing underlayment waterproof. Specifically if the underlayment absorbs moisture this will damage the roof deck.

Some of the major benefits to synthetic underlayment are that it is. More commonly seen than simply not installing the underlay roofing companies will inflate certain costs above their value including underlay costs. Although companies who manufacture synthetic underlayment may also manufacture similar looking housewrap housewrap does not meet roofing underlayment requirements. This is because peel and stick underlayments are designed to be a permanent installation so when reinstalling over top of this type of underlayment the major concern is covering over holes left by the fasteners that held down the original roof.

But why do we recommend felt. So even though the underlayment is water resistant you can t really call it waterproof. If you check the tile roofing institute s materials needed for installing a tile roof the most common type in arizona you ll see a list a variety of felt underlayment options not synthetic. It is essential to use an underlayment that is astm d226 and astm d4869 compliant which are less likely to absorb water.

In the weeks following hurricane katrina grace construction products residential business director larry shapiro says he began to hear from distributors that pros were ordering his company s synthetic underlayments rather than the standard protective blue tarps to cover damaged roofs. Housewrap installed as underlayment is a defective installation. One of the main barriers to using synthetic underlayment for roofing contractors is the cost is higher per square foot than traditional felt. However companies such as interwrap have recently introduced new products that offer great durability and competitive prices.

The tarps just get thrown away afterwards shapiro notes. But synthetic underlayments which he says can remain exposed to sun and rain for up to six months without wrinkling or tearing allowed workers.