You may not be aware of everything and all of the steps that go into replacing your roof. Having a new roof installed is a massive home improvement project and the roofing contractor you hire should be committed to giving every step in the process the attention it needs. After all, you want your new roof to look great, function properly, and most importantly, you want the roof to last for as long as possible. Having a new roof installed can come with a fairly decent sized price tag after all.

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Again, while there are several functions and benefits your roof provides for your home, the most important one has to be keeping rain and moisture out of your house. A leaky roof can lead to several large headaches for you as a homeowner and not to mention, they typically mean you will have some large repair bills ahead of you. So, ensuring your new roof will keep your home and the property inside of it, safe and dry at all times, is priority number one. But what you may not know is that shingles alone cannot guarantee a leak free roof. That is where roofing materials like roofing felt come into play.

What is roofing felt?

Roofing felt looks like black paper when rolled out over a rooftop. It is rolled out and placed before the shingles are laid. Sometimes called felt paper or underlayment, roofing felt plays an important role when replacing your roof. The roofing felt is placed between your roof deck and shingles and is designed to provide extra protection for your soon to be installed new roof.

Roofing felt is known for preventing large amounts of water from seeping into your roof and the outer walls of your home. It also performs the vital function of allowing water vapors to easily escape through the roofing materials without building up or causing water damage.

Is roofing felt a moisture barrier?

Kind of is the short answer. The long answer is roofing felt does provide some fantastic protection from moisture build-up in your home but it might be more accurate to refer to the roofing felt as a vapor barrier, rather than a moisture or water barrier.

Is felt underlayment waterproof?

Well, no, not exactly. The felt underlayment is water-resistant, not a hundred percent waterproof. However, water-resistant is still extremely important for the longevity of your roof. Meaning, installing felt underlayment is still an important step in your roof replacement process.

What happens if it rains while replacing your roof?

Rainwater leaking into your home at any time, even during the installation process, is a major concern for any homeowner. A little water can go a long way to creating a good deal of water damage. So it is more than natural to wonder what would happen if it rains while your roof is being replaced. This concern can be greater for homeowners who live in damper climates.

So, when you check out that forecast and see the rain coming your way, what does that mean for your roofing project? It can vary based on the type of rainfall expected, lightning, for example, can add more complications for your roofing team, since there are some real added safety concerns when this happens. But if there is no lightning or strong winds, and the rain starts and stops, the roofing project can proceed at a slower pace. Your roofers will likely just work on small patches of the roof at a time. Meaning only a small patch of your roof will be open at any given time and the exposure of this section will be limited.

How long does it take the roofing felt to dry?

What happens if your roofing felt gets wet before the shingles are laid? Well, you do not want to lay shingles on wet felt, so you can expect your roofing project to be put on hold for a while. A good rule of thumb your roofing contractor will likely follow is to allow the roofing felt to dry for at least 24 hours before they lay the shingles.

How long will roofing felt last?

Will roofing felt underlayment last as long as your new roof? Probably not to be honest. But it does last well over a decade with the average lifespan of roofing felt being somewhere between 12 to 20 years. After this time period, the underlayment will begin to deteriorate. This deterioration will weaken your roof’s protection against water and leaks may become more likely over time.

What is the difference between tar paper and roofing felt?

There are other options to using roofing felt but they perform basically the same functions. Roofing felt is created with asphalt, while tar paper uses tar, obviously. But both roofing felt and tar is used for the same purposes and is installed in the same way. Both roofing felt and tar paper can be expected to last 12 to 20 years but tar paper is a little less resistant to elements like sunlight and strong winds.

How much does it cost to install roofing felt?

Like other roofing materials, the cost to install roofing felt can vary depending on the type and quality. But generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $4.00  to $5.55 per square foot to have it installed. Your roofing contractor will be able to walk through selecting the right types of roofing materials for your home that will fit your needs.

Final thoughts on roofing felt moisture resistance

Taking on a massive home improvement project, like replacing your roof, is a major undertaking. You want to get the most for your time and money and you want that new roof to last as long as possible. Plus, you want to do everything you can to keep rainwater out of your home. No leaks for you! That means having an underlayment material like roofing felt is an important part of your roofing project. Be sure to talk to your roofing contractor about the type of roofing felt they offer and how it can help protect your home.