Table of Contents
History of Roofing
Roofs have been around for centuries. Since cavemen lived in caves, people have tried to protect their living spaces from the elements. Sod and vegetation were one of the first types of roofs. In those early times, they were adequate but didn’t keep out pesky vermin or water.
The history of roofing is ancient, with the first documented roof being thatched in England around 735 AD. Wood shingles were introduced 300 years later, and to prevent spreading fires, King John issued a law in London that citizens were to replace their thatch and reed roof coverings with clay tiles.
Although ancient civilizations are thought to have used mud and straw as roofing materials, King John of England issued the first building codes. In 1292, this law required that all city houses meet specific standards, such as installing clay or slate tiles on a pitched roof.
English settlers introduced wood shingles in the 12th century. It wasn’t until 100 years later that concrete roof tiles were invented. When first introduced in the early 1900s, the practice was to add a pigment to resemble clay roofing tiles.
The evolution of the industry is relatively young compared to other trades. Asphalt became available in the 19th century. Due to its mass production capabilities and reasonable price, it quickly became a popular product.
The choice of roofing material is subject in the construction field that many people find confusing. Many types of roofing exist, each with its benefits and drawbacks, but all in a way improve the building’s curb appeal. The history of roofing shows that the benefits of asphalt were discovered very early on in its use.
What is Roofing?
Buildings’ roofs protect them from damage and maintain them structurally sound. A roof’s primary purpose is to keep the following:
- Rain
- Snow
- Other bad weather elements
- Out of a building
- Provide
- Shelter
- Forms of Insulation
- People
- Fixtures
- Appliances
Roofing is the visible building’s top that enhances the building’s curb appeal. It provides protection for the building’s interior and the people living inside. It protects your building interior from solar radiation, rainfall, snowfall, windstorms, ice storms, falling trees, and other environmental hazards. Some roof materials include:
- Asphalt Shingles
- Metal Panels
- Clay Tiles
- Concrete Tiles
Strong and solid roofing is critical for every building. It offers the best defense against harsh weather conditions, including:
- Rainfall
- Snowfall
- Windstorms
- Sun UV Radiation
Roofs provide protection for buildings or other constructions by serving as the top layer. Its primary function is to safeguard against environmental elements.
A roof is the covering that protects a building from above. A roofing contractor usually construct roof shingles in various forms—flat, pitched, vaulted, domed, or in combinations—as dictated by technical, economic, and aesthetic considerations. Probably the earliest roofs man constructed were thatched roofs made of straw, leaves, branches, or reeds. Rainwater could drain off of them because they were set at a slope. Conical roofs are one good example of this type and are still widely used today in areas like Africa that rely on local natural materials for building shelter. With the invention of brick and cut stone for building purposes, the primary roof surface forms of the dome and vault appeared.
Defining a roof, what it does, and why it’s essential for your safety is the first step.
Afterwards, we’ll discuss the different types of roofs and why choosing the right style is so important.
Lastly, we’ll provide a few tips on protecting your roof from different cold weather conditions. The rooftop aims to provide a comfortable living experience during the rainy, snowy, and hot seasons.
What Roofing Does
Roofs are generally constructed to protect the occupants and their possessions from the elements. They can also provide extra insulation, retaining heat in the winter or cool air in the summer. Certain commercial roofing materials, especially those of fibrous origin, offer strong forms of insulation that can help reduce energy costs.
Architects design roofing systems to meet building codes with a variety of different needs. Most roof surfaces will primarily provide excellent weather protection people and possessions from the elements, but there will always be some purposeful variation. Buildings may have flat roofs as extensions or incorporated into their design as integrated structures. A pitched roof, on the other hand, serves to channel water away from the building and protect against leaks and wind damage.
A new roof will provide your home with the protection it deserves. A roof surface can provide several benefits to your home, including:
- Keeping it warm in the winter
- Cool in the summer
- Protecting it from:
- adding value to your home
- Decreasing energy costs
- Increasing the comfort of your home
A roof:
- Protects your home from the elements
- It’s vital to have one properly:
- Installed
- Maintained
Besides keeping your home:
- Warm in the winter
- Cool in the summer
- A roof also protects you from:
- Rain
- Snow
- Wind
A roof surface can also provide a place to hang your artwork, store things in the attic, and safeguard you from earthquakes by keeping things away from falling inside your home.
Why Roofing Matters
Many homeowners only realize that a form of roofing matters once their roof shingles needs to be replaced. Regular inspections are crucial to ensuring the integrity of your cool roof. Some of the most common problems with roofs include:
- Cracked and Leaking Shingles
- Standing Water
- Missing Tiles or Shingles
- Damaged Flashings Around Vents and Chimneys
- Broken Ventilation Pipes
- More Severe Issues Like:
- Mold Growth Due to Moisture Buildup
- Damaged Flashing Around Gutters
Roofing types can vary from one house to another, as can they from one person to another. Your cool roof will also depend on where you live, especially if you experience harsh weather conditions or high winds every year. There are so many different types of roofs that it is vital to hire a professional roofing contractor who knows how to properly install them.
Home construction is incomplete without a sturdy roof. It provides:
- A Layer of Extra Insulation
- Protects Your Home From the:
- Sun’s Heat
- Noise
- Protects From The Elements
If you need to protect your flat roof, you may ask yourself why. The simple answer is that shelters last less time than they used to and can cost much money to replace. That’s why it’s crucial to let a professional roofer check your roof regularly and to have it repaired or replaced if it needs repair.
A cool roof should last around 25 years in excellent condition, but if it is not protected, it can last between 10 and 30 years. On the other hand, it can last between 5 to 10 years if it needs repair.
What is Roofing Felt Used For? | Innercity Roofers Company
Your home’s roofing system protects you and your loved ones from all the elements:
- Snowfall
- Rainfall
- Scorching Sunshine
- Windstorm Damage
- Other Forms of Extreme Weather
They also protect all our belongings—everything we house in our homes, from furniture to books to appliances like the TV and washer/dryer.
In a genuine sense, slate roofs allow us to live our lives inside. A form of roofing is a relevant aspect of our lives, and we must understand it better. You probably didn’t know that your sloped roof consists of more than just shingles. In fact, the underlying layer beneath your shingles, known as roofing felt, roofing paper, or underlayment, plays a significant role in the proper function of your domestic roof.
Roofing felt is an essential part of the roofing system installed in homes. As a barrier between the shingles and the underlying structure of your home, the felt paper serves as a protective layer. Weather-related damage can be prevented by protecting it from moisture, mold, and other types of decay.
Without an adequately sealed layer of roofing felt beneath the shingles, your roof would be vulnerable to water damage and other dangerous entities that could cause extensive problems for your property. Roofing felt gives us extra protection for our low-slope roofs against all sorts of obstructions, making it possible to preserve the interior and exterior integrity of our homes.
It’s important to remember that while roofing felt is usually found to spread between two layers of shingle material, it can also be helpful when it comes to replacing just one shingle on its own. Specialty roof adhesive can be used on any area where individual tiles have been removed or added with additional materials such as tar paper or roll roofs installed under the new tiles before they are laid down.
This will reduce any potential shifts in position due to heavy winds or hail storms that could cause further damage. The Innercity Roofers Company knows how crucial your domestic roof maintenance is and how utilizing products like roofing felt can help alleviate many homeowners’ issues.
What is Roofing Felt?
It acts as a barrier between the effects of weather elements and your entire roof deck by preventing water from getting in. It’s installed directly onto the roof decking. Roofing felt paper is made from a natural base layer of materials, primarily wood cellulose or polyester/fiberglass. As soon as it has been established, it is coated with a protective layer of asphalt called bitumen.
Is roofing felt waterproof? Not entirely. This layering process makes the underlayment water-resistant but does not completely waterproof it.
Water-resistant roofing felt acts as a barrier between your domestic roof decking and the elements by protecting it from water damage. It is applied directly onto the deck, usually with tar or asphalt, to provide an additional layer of protection from external conditions.
The choice of roofing material is generally made of wood cellulose or polyester/fiberglass as its base layer. This natural foundation is coated with bitumen, an asphalt sealant that provides an additional protective waterproof coating.
It’s important to note that while roofing felt can provide exceptional protection against the elements and specific amounts of moisture, it isn’t wholly waterproof by itself. So while it will help protect your entire roof deck from water damage, such as minor leaks and excess moisture, you may need additional roofing materials like shingle Roof Felt or flashing to ensure your investment remains in top condition for years to come. A synthetic roof underlayment provides an exceptional protection level.
What is Roof Felt Used For?
The roofing felt underlay is not always considered a necessary component of your roofing system, yet, it acts as a moisture barrier from rain and other types of weather. The first line of defense against the elements is the roof’s shingles, but they can’t always keep everything out.
In contrast to asphalt shingles, these are not sealed at the corners and overlap one another. It is possible for water to seep into your home through weak areas on your roof structure if a strong wind is blowing during a rainstorm. A house’s shingles will also become brittle as they age, making them less effective at protecting your home. That’s why another layer of protection from roofing felt underneath is vital.
Those who live in snow and ice-prone areas should consider installing the roofing felt, which prevents roof decks from becoming saturated with water after ice dams form. Without roofing felt, water buildup would seriously damage a concrete tile roof, especially for low-pitch roof coverings.
Roofing felt, also known as tar paper, is a layer of protective material used in different roofing system types. It is a moisture barrier between the effects of weather elements outside and your home’s interior. This can help to prevent leaking during heavy rain and protection against ice dams during winter months.
The primary benefit of adding roofing felt is that it prevents water from seeping into your home due to any imperfections in your shingles or if they become brittle and less able to protect your house over time. Roofing felt also helps bridge the gaps between overlapping shingles.
This further protects against possible water damage through existing weak spots in the roof and helps secure everything down more firmly overall. All these minor issues caught early prevent more significant problems later on, which cost much more money, making roof felt an intelligent investment for homeowners.
Different Types of Roofing Felt
As it happens, there are a few different roofing waterproof roofing underlayment options you can consider, some of which aren’t even made of felt. Some are easier to install than others.
The often referenced as standard black felt roofing paper, traditional, asphalt-saturated, and most commonly used in residential housing projects, comes with the following:
- Two Levels of Thickness:
- 15 lb and 30 lb
- Combination Wood Structural Panel
- Underlayment
The panels have a moisture-resistant barrier built in and are made from the wood structural sheathing. Providing a two-in-one solution, it is becoming increasingly popular.
Synthetic: Synthetic roof underlayment offers better water resistance than standard felt underlays and is UV-, insect-, and rot/fungus-resistant as well. This option is a little more pricy than traditional felt.
Peel-and-Stick Materials: This type of roof waterproof roofing underlayment has a peel-and-stick back that allows for painless roofing felt installation. These are more commonly used in areas that have a limited amount of precipitation or snowfall.
Roofing Felt: 15 lb vs. 30 lb
Two different grades of roofing felt have been used throughout the history of roofing. These two are classified by:
- Weight:
- 15 pounds per hundred square feet
- 30 pounds per hundred square feet
- The 15 lb felt was typically used on lighter projects
- The 30 lb felt was put on more heavy-duty tasks
While the actual weights of the felt types have changed, the categories and their benefits remain the same. Both present slight problems since they can tear quickly, though you will have more difficulty with that in the 15 lb over the 30 lb. The heavier weight is typically used in areas with inclement weather.
Roofing felt is used to provide a layer of protection between the shingles and the decking on a roof.
Both types of roofing felts present slight problems because they can tear pretty easily; yet, you will have more difficulty with tears from using 15 lb roofing felt than from using 30 lb roofing felt. This is why it’s relevant to consider each type’s different benefits and drawbacks when selecting which one is best for your project. Ultimately, this decision should be based on the nature of your project and where it is being placed for maximum results that won’t compromise or put your home or building at risk.
Our roofers have experience with various kinds of roofs, like:
- Church Roofs
- Green Roofs
- Hip Roofs
- Mansard Roofs
- Metal Roofs
- Sheet Metal
- Solar Shingles
- Slate Roofs
- Gabled Roofs
- Glass Roof
- Asbestos Roofs
- Concrete Roof Tiles
- Conventional Roofs
- Flat Roof Membrane
- Modern Roofs
- Commercial Roofing
- Copper Roofing
- Corrugated Steel
What Are The Types of Roofing Underlayment?
There are three main types of roof underlayment used under roof materials and available for homeowners looking to install or replace their roofs:
- Asphalt-Saturated Felt
- Non-Bitumen Synthetic Underlayment
- Rubberized Asphalt Underlayment
- Built-Up Roof Membranes
Asphalt-saturated felt, and synthetic underlayment are water-resistant. Rubberized asphalt underlayment is waterproof.
Roofing underlayment provides an extra layer of protection between the roof deck and the standard roofing material in any roofing system.
Asphalt-saturated felt is one of the most traditional types of roofing underlayment, made from organic materials such as cellulose fibers and asphalt paper coated. As a result of its water resistance and excellent moisture resistance, this underlayment provides excellent protection against moisture, but it may not withstand extreme weather conditions very well.
In contrast, non-bitumen synthetic roofing underlayment, or “synthetic underlayment,” is made from polypropylene or polyester reinforced with fiberglass. It is more durable than traditional felt and provides better resistance to UV light and high building temperatures. Synthetic underlayment also comes in different grades, depending on the expected exposure level to weather elements during installation.
Finally, rubberized asphalt underlayment is a modern alternative offering a higher degree of waterproofing than other roofing underpayments. This blend of asphalts, synthetic rubber polymers, and fillers is often called ice and water shield or peel-and-stick rubberized asphalt membrane underlayment. With this combination of materials, a rugged yet flexible surface that is impervious to water and wind is created.
Roofing professionals commonly use three types of underlayment when it comes to roofing. These include:
- Asphalt-Saturated Felt
- Non-Bitumen Synthetic Underlayment
- Rubberized Asphalt Underlayment
Asphalt-saturated felt is a tried and tested material that has been in use for many years. It is made from organic or fiberglass material treated with asphalt to create a water-resistant barrier between the roof deck and the shingles. The felt paper comes in rolls and is easy to cut and install. However, it is susceptible to tearing when exposed to wind, compromising its effectiveness.
Non-bitumen synthetic underlayment, on the other hand, is a newer option that offers several advantages over traditional felt paper. Made from polymers or fiberglass coated with a blend of polypropylene or polyester fabric, synthetic underlayment provides better resistance against tearing and wrinkling during installation. It’s also lighter than felt paper and less prone to absorbing moisture, making it less prone to mold growth. Rubberized asphalt underlayment is another option that provides superior waterproofing performance by adding rubber polymers to the mix. This type of underlayment can be used in high-stress areas such as valleys and eaves that receive the most moisture damage.
Get Your Asphalt Roofing Felt Installed with Innercity Roofers Company
Contact us at Innercity Roofers Co. with any questions regarding roofing felt! If you have an HOA to get approval from, we can ensure we comply with your new roof. We’re roofing experts with many years of experience, and we extend our offer to help.
Are you planning a roof over your head and want to install asphalt roofing felt? Look no further, as Innercity Roofers Company is here to help. They are experienced professionals in the industry who offer residential and commercial services for all your roofing needs.
With their quality installation and products, you can be confident that your roof will sustain any weather conditions – giving you peace of mind for years to come. And if you have an HOA (Home Owner Association) involved in your roofing process, Innercity Roofers Co. has you taken care of there, too; they will make sure they’re compliant with all regulations, so you don’t have to worry about getting into legal trouble.
At Innercity Roofers Company, we also provide comprehensive customer service-including consulting every step of the way and answering any questions or concerns regarding anything asphalt roofing related. So what’re you waiting for? Contact us today and get on the road toward getting a well-crafted roof structure with our respected company.
