Giovanni Valle is a licensed architect and LEED-accredited professional and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is the author and managing editor of various digital publications, including BuilderSpace, Your Own Architect, and Interiors Place.
Underneath the shingles on your roof are where you can find the roof underlay. The underlayment is a series of overlapping pieces of material that offer additional protection to your roof. However, roof underlays can be exposed when shingles are damaged.
Roof underlays can be exposed for up to six months if the underlay is made using synthetic materials. These non-felt roof underlays have good resilience to the elements. However, they can dry out when left in the sun. Once dry, the sheets become brittle and break apart in strong wind or storms.
Continue reading this article for more detailed information about roof underlay and how it holds up against the elements. We’ll also explore the different varieties of roof underlay and which one is best suited to your home. By the end of this piece, you’ll better understand when you need to be concerned about your roof.
How Long Can Roofing Felt Be Exposed To Weather?
Roof underlayment is usually composed of synthetic materials or felt. Synthetic materials offer excellent resistance to the elements with most capable of lasting for 3 to 6 months. So, is felt underlay as durable as synthetic, or does it degrade quickly when exposed to the elements?
Roofing felt shouldn’t be exposed to the weather for more than one or two weeks. The elements easily damage roofing felt underlay despite it being somewhat waterproof. Roofing felt will also dry out in direct sunlight, which ultimately causes the material to fall apart.
Roofing felt shouldn’t be exposed to the elements for very long. Depending on your local climate, felt underway could be damaged in just a few days up to a couple of weeks. When the underlay in a roof is damaged, the entire building underneath may be vulnerable to leaks and water damages.
If you have exposed roofing felt on your property, it’s probably a wise move to hire an expert roofer to assess the damages. This ensures your roof remains robust and waterproof while protecting your home against severe leeks.
Can Roof Underlay Get Rained On?
By this stage, you’re well aware that roof underlays can be left exposed for a few weeks up to six months, depending on the material used. However, rain often accelerates damage caused by the elements. So, will water cause harm to the roof underlay, or will this have little effect on the underlayment?
Roof underlay can get rained on. However, excessive quantities of water may cause severe harm to the underlay. Underlays can withstand a reasonable amount of rain, and they are water-resistant, but they’re not entirely waterproof, which means they’re vulnerable to rain damage over time.
Roof underlays are durable and resilient, but they’re far from indestructible. If your roof underlay is made from synthetic materials, it can withstand more rain and wear than alternatives. Notably, the roof underlay also overlays, which allows water to run off the roof and away from your home. This helps the roof underway to allow rain to pass over without causing harm.
Which Is Better Felt or Synthetic Roof Underlay?
When it comes to roofing underlays, you have two main choices: synthetic or felt underlays. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. But which material is better for your roof underlay, and which variety of underlay performs better?
Synthetic underlay is better than felt underlay. Synthetic underlays are more resilient to the elements. Synthetic underlays also hold nails better and last longer than felt underlays. Synthetic underlays are also considerably lighter, which reduces the load the roof has to support.
Felt underlays typically last for ten to twenty years under the right conditions. However, synthetic underway can last for 25 years or more without needing repairs or replacements. Therefore your underway will last longer if you choose to invest in synthetic.
The one area that felt underlays are favorable is cost. Felt under keys typically cost about $5 per square foot. Whereas synthetic underlays usually cost closer to $10. Therefore, synthetic underlays are close to double the cost if felt underlays.
Synthetic underlays are better than felt underway in nearly every way except for the cost of installation. However, if you consider the cost of repairs and replacements to felt underlays, synthetic underway can work out cheaper in the long run, especially in climates with harsh weather and high winds.
Are Roof Underlays Flammable?
Roof underlays can be exposed to the elements without much concern, primarily synthetic underlays. Underlays are also water-resistant and withstand a lot of wear and tear. Although, we’ve yet to discuss how underlays react when exposed to flames.
Roof underlays are highly flammable. Roof underlays can combust rapidly and spread fire across the roof of your house. Roof underlays can be ignited with a small flame like a lit match. Therefore, roof underlays must be protected from any flames or sources of ignition.
Felt roof underlays are much more explosive than synthetic underlays. Thus, your home is more at risk of a severe fire with felt underlays installed compared to synthetic underlays. As synthetic underway aren’t as flammable and don’t burn as quickly, installing them will slow the spread of fire in your house.
All fire and flames must be kept well away from your felt roof underlays. If the underway catches fire, the roof could be devastated by a roaring blaze, mainly if the fire spreads before emergency services arrive.
Final Thoughts
Roof underlays can be exposed to the elements for as long as six months, depending on the quality of the materials used. If your roof underlay is made of felt, it may degrade in as little as one week when exposed to the weather. While synthetic underlays typically last for three to six months.
Synthetic underlays are also more durable and lighter than felt underlays. Furthermore, felt underlays are very flammable and pose a safety hazard to your home. In general, investing in synthetic underlays provides you with a durable roof that lasts for years to come.
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