Minneapolis MN Residential Roofing Contractor | Roofing Company MN

Residential Roofing Services MN – Roof Underlayment

The correct roofing underlayment, also known as roofing felt is critical to any roofing job. You must use it!  Roof underlayment acts as water barrier installed underneath the roofing system. It protects your roof from condensation that may form underneath the metal due to the differences in temperatures in the attic and outside.

What Function Does Shingle Underlayment Serve?

Underlayments extend the life of a roof by protecting it against leaks. An underlayment, commonly known as roofing felt, will:

  • Protect the roof deck from moisture prior to shingle application
  • Provide a degree of backup protection in the event water gets under roofing shingles.

Extend The Life of Your Roof With Roofing Underlayment

Some local building codes and UL standards require that a shingle underlayment be installed.  Ask your Minnesota roofing contractor if this is the case in your area.  Also, some manufacturers offer a special underlayment product which prevents leaks caused by water backup from ice dams—a common condition in our Minnesota winters. Protection against ice dams can be obtained by using a waterproofing shingle underlayment at the eaves or lower edges of the roof, in addition to installing adequate ventilation and proper insulation in the attic floor. (See Prevent Roof Damage From Roof Snow and Ice Dams) Ask your roofing contractor about these specialized underlayments.

Underlayment & Ice and Water Protection

The entire state of Minnesota requires special eave protection that consist of at least two layers of Underlayment cemented together of a self-adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet, shall be used in lieu of normal Underlayment and extend from the eave’s edge to a point at least 24 inches (610mm) inside the exterior wall line of the building. The code in Minnesota requires this special waterproof shingle Underlayment at the eaves or lower edges of the roof.

Need to Know More?

We hope this has provided you with some insightful information regarding the re-roofing process.  Our intention is not to overwhelm you with information, but rather offer you a reliable resource for easy reference.  If you have any questions or comments, or if you would like any other information on specific products, we would be happy to hear from you.