Your roof underlayment is a very important part of your roofing system. It is the material that sits beneath your shingles and protects your home from leaks. There are several types of protection that roof underlayment provides on roofs in Minnesota. Those types of protection are:

• A layer of secondary protection when the wind rips shingles off of your roof
• Secondary protection when hail or flying debris penetrates your shingles
• Protection from rain that is wind driven because the rain can find its way between the shingles
• Secondary protection when shingles are at the end of their life and cracked or blistered shingles cause mat penetration.

Another reason why Minnesota roof underlayment is important is because manufacturer warranties are most likely void without it.

Performance Standards

The roofing industry has set forth certain standards for roof underlayment, so it is very important that the underlayment meet those standards before it is ever used. If it does not meet these standards, then it is possible that warranties may not be covered. The worst issue is the fact that your roof could experience significant damage if you were to lose shingles and your underlayment was not up to par. You could then have to pay out more money for repairs to your home than you would for a better quality underlayment.

Types of Underlayment

There are different types of underlayment that are used with steep slope roofs and residential shingles. Those types of underlayment are:

Roofing felt – Roofing felt comes in different types that range from basic to heavy duty and organic fiberglass. They all differ by weight, but even the heavy duty felt is not as thick and heavy as it used to be due to new technological advances in how to make the felt stand up to the elements better.

Synthetic underlayment – Synthetic underlayment is rather new on the market. Many of these are marketed as tear resistant and wrinkle free. Some Minnesota roofing systems do have these synthetic materials as their underlayment. Many synthetic underlayments exceed the performance standards set forth by the roofing industry. Synthetic is also mold resistant.

Self-adhering underlayment – This type of underlayment is a Minnesota underlayment for the simple fact that it is frequently used in northern states where ice damming is a frequent occurrence. Self-adhering underlayment is frequently installed around the eaves of the roof and in the valleys for the utmost protection. Self-adhering underlayment is also frequently used on low slope roofs such as those on porches or patios.

Finding the Best

Because your underlayment is an important part of your roof and is amongst the materials you will need to choose when staying within your budget, you will need to talk to your Minnesota roofing contractor about what options are available to you. They will be able to provide you with insight on what will work for your roof on your particular budget. You can then make your decision from there and make the best decision for you and your home.

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