Is Roofing Tar Paper Waterproof

Roofing felt prevents the deck from being exposed to the elements before or while the shingles are being applied.

Is roofing tar paper waterproof. Lastly there are different weights of felt. The cheaper grades are not a good as the heavy expensive grades. It improves look and uniformity because your roof deck might not lie perfectly straight or flat a layer of roof paper gives an even uniform surface upon which you can install your shingles. This is a time intensive process and requires all sorts of skill.

It is used in a small percentage of built up roofs bur as underlayment with asphalt wood shake and other shingles or even gravel since tar paper itself isn t particularly wind or sun resistant. Bitumen or asphalt is distilled from petroleum and is what makes roofing felt waterproof. This 15 felt roof deck protection features quality asphalt saturation for great waterproofing to add an extra layer of protection between your shingles and your roof deck. Felt is compressed fibers of wool.

Tar paper does not offer this. Roofing felt is made of compressed polyester or fiberglass fibers. Traditional roofing felt also called tar paper or underlayment is felt saturated with bitumen also called asphalt. It is sold in rolls of various widths lengths and thicknesses 3 foot wide 0 91 m rolls 50 or 100 feet 15 or 30 m long and 15 lb 7 kg and.

Siding applied directly over tar paper creates a sandwich effect and can trap water between the siding material and the tar paper. 15 felt type construction helps provide an extra layer of protection between your shingles and your roof deck not included. Whether you re building a new house or putting a new roof on your existing house installing tar paper first helps waterproof the roof and prevent leaks. Tar paper is far less common than asphalt felt paper and is used among other things for waterproofing roofs to prevent ingress of moisture.

If you want vertical drainage with tar paper you have to add treated lumber strips on top of the tar paper. By shala munroe updated december 15 2018.