The Materials Your Roofer Puts On Before Your Shingles
People often imagine roof replacement as consisting of a roofer stripping off shingles and then putting new shingles on the roof. This is the core of roof replacement. But there are things your roofer needs to put on or add to the roof surface before they put down the shingles. Understanding what these materials are and the benefits they offer can clear up the confusion you may experience if you see your new roof before it's complete.
So, without further ado, here are three things your roofer will put on the roof before adding shingles.
Underlayment
Underlayment is sheets of felt-like or synthetic material that come in big rolls. Your roofer will unroll the underlayment onto the roof deck. Then, they will secure it either with staples or small nails. Staples can be applied faster, but nails work better in harsh environments where the underlayment is more likely to be exposed when shingles blow off. The underlayment serves as an extra layer of water damage protection. It will protect the wooden roof deck from direct moisture exposure should any of your shingles fail.
Drip Edge
You may also notice that your roofer has placed a layer of plastic or metal material along the edge of the roof. It may overhang the edge of the roof just a tiny bit. This layer is known as drip edge. It exists to help protect the most vulnerable part of your roof — the edge. Drip edge is important in any climate that gets rain, but it is even more important in snowy areas. When snow builds up on the roof, the edges can really suffer some water damage without a good drip edge as a barrier.
Flashing
You may also see that the roofer has placed metal around each chimney or vent. This same metal may be put in valleys where two parts of the roof come together. This material is known as flashing. It serves a similar purpose to the drip edge — it keeps water from seeping under your shingles. Shingles are typically layered partially over the flashing, which hides it somewhat. Sometimes old flashing can be left in place when the rest of the roof is replaced, but usually, a roofer will replace the flashing when they replace the shingles.
Roof replacement means more than just stripping the shingles off and putting new shingles in place. First, your roofer will put the materials above in place.
Contact a company like 503 Roofing and Construction, LLC to learn more.
