Underlayment: What Can It Do for Your Roofing System?

The overall stability of your roof heavily depends on your underlayment. However, many homeowners don’t know the purpose of underlayment since it’s usually not visible on the surface. As a result, some roofing problems could arise due to hidden underlayment issues that are left unnoticed.  

In this article, Polk Contracting, Inc. — a reliable roofing and insurance restoration contractor — discusses the purpose of underlayment and its three main types. 

What Is Underlayment?

Underlayment is a water-resistant material that stops water from seeping through the entire roofing system. Since underlayment is installed under all the other roofing materials, it mainly functions as an extra layer of protection from water damage and other weather-related problems. 

Main Types of Underlayment

Asphalt-Saturated. Before synthetic materials became a popular option, asphalt-saturated felt has been commonly used in underlayments. Nowadays, asphalt-saturated underlayments remain a reliable choice because of their flexibility and excellent water resistance. They’re also the most affordable underlayment type that you can easily find in your local hardware. For more expert advice on whether or not this option is for you, get in touch with your roofing contractor.

Non-Bitumen Synthetic. This underlayment type is always highly recommended by roofing contractors. Non-bitumen synthetic underlayment has all the great qualities of asphalt-saturated but with improved water resistance. It can be also applied on your entire roof, making it a more practical choice for homeowners.

Rubberized Asphalt. Know as the premium underlayment, rubberized asphalt has all of the significant features of the two mentioned above. The only difference is that this underlayment type contains a higher percentage of asphalt and rubber polymer, making it the best option for waterproofing. However, rubberized asphalt underlayments come with higher price tags. If you want high-quality underlayment, this is the best choice for you and your residential roofing service provider.

As one of the area’s top roofing and siding contractors, Polk Contracting can provide you with exceptional solutions to all your home improvement needs. With our quality products from the most trusted brands and our skilled, professional crew, we’ll make sure your project is completed to quality specifications. Call us today at (410) 994-2801 or fill out this contact form to schedule your evaluation. We proudly serve homeowners in all of Harford, Cecil and Baltimore Counties.