Roofing Felt Vs Tar Paper

Felt paper also referred to as tar paper was the standard underlayment material in roofing for decades.

Roofing felt vs tar paper.

Of course it is a bit more technical than that but this is the basic idea behind how felt works. Ft or unrated 30 lb. Most of the felt paper stocked by lumberyards today is either unrated 15 felt which typically weight around 7 or 8 lbs. Sometimes called roofing felt underlayment roofing tar paper or roll roofing this is a layer of protection installed between the roof deck and the roofing shingles.

Prospectors during the california gold rush covered the roofs of their temporary shacks with roofing felt also known as felt paper or tar paper. The sheathing paper specified by code irc is astm rated type 1 paper astm d226 an asphalt saturated felt tar paper which weighs a minimum of 11 5 pounds per square. Per square 100 sq. Gaf shingle mate 36 in x 144 ft 400 sq ft felt roof underlayment.

It also offers fire resistance required for home construction. Although tar paper has traditionally been the standard undercoating for shingles as of 2010 synthetics are becoming more popular as an underlayment. Synthetic underlayment started gaining popularity in the last decade. It was easy to use durable and even had alignment lines to help with the shingle installation.

Item 656632 model 0903000. Long ago a 15 role actually weighed. Roofing felt is comprised of a base made from natural materials such as wood cellulose or synthetic ones such as fiberglass or polyester and then coated or saturated with a. Roofing felt or tar paper is infused with a petroleum based solution to provide an additional layer of roof protection under shingles.

Fast forward 170 years and roofing felt is still the most popular roofing material now used as an underlayment being installed today. Felt is commonly sold in either 15 or 30 rolls measuring 36 inches wide. Synthetic or felt roofing underlayment which is better. Roofing felt also known as tar paper provides a protective underlayment over the roof deck and beneath the shingles.

For decades roofers have fitted a layer of felt over a roof s sheathing or roof deck before installing shingles.