Roof Anatomy: Whats Underneath The Shingles
April 17, 2018 by Aaron Rogers
The surface of the roof, the one visible from the curb, is just one part of your homes entire roofing system. In truth, your home is more complex and not just a simple layering of shingles. Knowing the different parts of the roof is important as it will help you understand roof replacement and better repair practices.
Pro Exteriors discusses the parts of the roof underneath the shingles:
Also known as the wood sheathing, this is the base on which everything else is laid on. Its essentially the foundation of the roof. This is typically made with OSB or oriented strand board or plywood thats attached with nails onto the rafters. Since its made of wood, it will require general roof repair if theres a leak or water intrusion coming from the shingles.
Underlayment
This durable paper is saturated with asphalt and installed on top of the decking, right underneath the shingles, hence its name. It serves as the roofs last line of defense when water leaks from the shingles occur due to cracking or tearing.
Drip Edge
Also known as eave flashings, these angled aluminum strops are nailed over sides of the underlayment at the edges. They prevent water from building up at the sides and redirect them to the eaves and, eventually, to the gutters.
Flashings
How To Choose Roofing Underlayment Thats Right For Your Roof
The most important part of deciding how to choose a roofing underlayment thats right for your home is finding what works best with your roof type.
Metal roofs, for example, will do well with a synthetic underlayment that has a higher heat-resistance , while a traditional asphalt shingle roof will probably do best with a roofing felt underlayment.
Its also important to consider the environment where you live and what the typical climate is. If you live in a hotter climate, then you want to choose an underlayment that can handle the heat, whereas if you live in a climate that is frequently snowy, youll need something thats heavy-duty.
Lastly, youll want to consider price when it comes to choosing your underlayment. Different roofing underlayment works well with different budgets. Decide on your budget, and then you can more easily see what underlayment options are available to you.
How To Install Asphalt Shingles
This article was co-authored by David Bitan. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 90% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 618,516 times.
Installing new shingles yourself can save considerable time and money. You can follow the same steps they do to achieve the same professional look. Re-doing the shingles on your roof can help keep your house in good shape, keep your family safe, and protect you from the elements. Learn to prepare the roof for shingles, lay even courses, and install your ridge shingles like the experts do.
Read Also: How Do You Insulate A Flat Roof
The Exceptions: Raised Roofs
Read the complete information on Installing Radiant Barrier Under A Tile or Metal Roof. If you are going to install a roof like this, what a great time to go for it you will have the necessary air gap to make it work and the results are awesome. You can install the radiant barrier foil below the raised shingles either on top or below the battens. RoofingFoil + Underlayment is designed to go on top of the roof deck and is an underlayment product and radiant barrier all-in-one and is an excellent choice for metal and tile roofs.
The RoofingFoil + Underlayment is Miami-Dade approved for use in roofing. This underlayment goes great under metal, tile, slate, standing seam, and other metal and tile roofing systems that have a batten system, or a naturally occuring air space between the roofing material and the deck. Roofs with RoofingFoil + Underlayment are 20°F to 40°F cooler than roofs without it! Click here to see how RoofingFoil + Underlayment works: RoofingFoil.com
The easiest and best way is to run the foil out over the roofing felt, tack it down and then install the battens followed by shingles or metal roofing.
Of Your Toughest Roofing Questions Answered
The TOH pros offer up their best advice for shingling properly, sniffing out leaks, and knowing when its time to reroof an old roof.
Putting a safe roof over your head isn’t necessarily a one-time deal. Shingles stain, condensation collects, and high winds carry roofs wherever they please. That’s where the TOH crew’s knowledge and your sweat equity enter the picture. Here, we cover roof-related scenarios to help prevent future mishaps, like a missing roof.
Read Also: Does Insurance Cover Storm Damage To Roof
Tear Off The Old Shingles
Its impossible to properly install new flashing and underlayment if you dont tear off the old roof beforehand. When tearing off the existing shingles, be sure to remove all the old nails or pound them flat. Protruding nails will tear holes in your new shingles. If you have movable items near your house and youre worried they might get damaged, relocate them. Invest in a few large tarps to protect your plants and landscaping and to catch the thousands of nails that will rain down off the roof. It can be downright impossible to remove old self-stick ice-and-water underlayment, but its OK if you have to leave it in place. And if at all possible, have the rented trash bin parked close to the house so you can toss in the old shingles right from the roof.
Slate Tile Roofing Shingles
Slate roofing shingles are a stone roofing material that is installed as a shingle. Slate shingles are thin but very heavy when the whole roof is made out of them. Slate has a natural beauty to it that many people appreciate, but the shingles do not really vary in color or looks. Slate roofing shingles cost on average $8 to $14 per square foot or $800 to $1,400 per square to install. Slate tiles are more difficult to install but when done properly they will give you one of the longest-lasting roof options available. Slate shingles come with an expensive price tag, but that does not mean that slate is not a great roof type option if you can afford it. Many people decide slate roofs are worth the cost to install since they will last more than a lifetime from 60 to 150 years.
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Eggs On An Asphalt Roof
Q: Not long after we moved into our home, some wise guy threw eggs at our asphalt shingle roof. I went up there and scrubbed with every cleanser I could think of, but all I got was a bad manicure. What should I do about this unsightly mess?
Carrie, Grand Junction, Colo.
A:Tom Silva replies: Egg residue should come off just fine if you flood the area with water while the egg is still wet. But if it gets a chance to dry, or worse, if it gets baked on by the sun, the job isn’t as easy. I’d try soaking the area with water, then spraying it with a nontoxic, biodegradable cleaner such as Simple Green, which was originally formulated to remove protein stains. Let the cleaner soak in for a while as you keep the area moist, then gently scrub the area with a soft-bristle brush. Working with cleaners and water on a roof will make surfaces slippery, however, so be very careful.
When you’re done, the color of the roofing may be noticeably different, but there’s nothing you can do except wait it out. Maybe it will blend in over time.
Barricade Offers The Best Synthetic Roof Underlayment
When it comes to synthetic roof underlayments, Barricade has the best options available, hands down. Their array of underlayments are suitable for all types of roof coverings, which means no matter what kind of roof youre working with, Barricade underlayments will work for you.
The underlayments that Barricade offers are made with a cool gray surface up to 30 degrees cooler than your typical black underlayments. They also feature UV protection that can last anywhere from 60 to 180 days, depending on which version you choose.
They come in 5 and 10 square rolls and provide 14% more coverage for each lap, thanks to their 48-inch width, which outperforms other synthetic brands by six full inches and felt brands by 12 inches. Barricades underlayments have a non-skid coating on both sides and tear resistance, which has proven superior to other brands.
Not only that, but the installation process for their underlayments is incredibly easy compared to others, lying flat with no wrinkles and featuring excellent water resistance. Its also much stronger than felt underlayment, and installation can be completed much quicker thanks to the 48-inch width.
Read Also: How To Extend A Metal Roof Overhang
Shingles That Compliment House Trim
From keeping your house weather tight to capping its curb appeal, theres a lot riding on your roof. It has to withstand decades of blazing sun, pounding rains, gusting winds, and in many cases, snow and ice, as it protects you from the elementsall while looking good from the street.
When it comes to maintaining your home, a new roof is one of the biggest-ticket purchases you have to make. While that can be intimidating, experts agree that getting the job done right boils down to a two-part process. First, explore colors and styles by driving around your neighborhood to see how homes similar to yours look with different shingle colors and shapes. Most manufacturers have options in all the basic color families: browns and reds, blues and greens, grays and blacks, and golds and beiges. Then, as with any remodeling job, work with a top-notch contractor. The major shingle manufacturers websites list approved installers by ZIP code, often highlighting those whove passed best-practice training. The quality of the work is key. Asphalt shingles are pretty bulletproof these days, so failures can usually be traced back to poor installation.
Up ahead: what you need to know about choosing and installing an asphalt roof that will protect and enhance your home for years to come.
For a foolproof color scheme, pick a roof that incorporates a shade on the house, like the darker charcoal tones in the architectural shingles here, which tie into the houses trim.
How Do You Install Roof Flashing Under Shingles
. In this way, does flashing go under shingles?
This is true no matter what type of roof-covering material is installed. Flashing should overlap the roof-covering material, but on asphalt shingle roofs, for aesthetic reasons, the part of the headwall flashing that extends down over asphalt shingles is often covered with a course of shingle tabs.
Subsequently, question is, how do you install chimney flashing on a shingle roof? Steps
Also to know is, can you install step flashing on existing roof?
Areas where the wall and roof meet can also use L-shaped flashing when you‘re in the process of beginning to install flashing on an existing roof â installed correctly, L-shaped drip flashing is essential to a healthy roof. Then, nail the new L-shaped flashing under the builder’s felt, but above the fascia board.
Should shingles hang over drip edge?
The edge of the shingles should hang over a roof between an inch and an inch and a half â or between a half inch and three-quarters of an inch if drip edge flashing is installed. Too much overhang and the shingles could blow off in high winds too little can allow water to seep into rake or fascia boards.
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Why Cant This Be Done
It gets a little tricky, but we will attempt to explain it in simple terms. Radiant heat by definition is heat transfer from one object to another object by NON-CONTACT. We really wish you could put foil between shingles and roofing felt or roof deck because we would sell a ton more foil. However, physics is physics and it just wont work.
If you take radiant barrier foil and sandwich it between the shingles and roof felt, you have now created one solid assembly. Aluminum is a unique element, it is both reflective and very conductive. This is one example why we cook with aluminum cookware it conducts heat very well, which is good for cooking, but not so good for living spaces.
Here is an illustration most people can relate to: Have you ever picked up a hot potato that was wrapped with foil? It feels super hot, right? Why is that? Well, when your skin touches the foil it creates direct path so the heat flows directly into your hand, making your hand very hot. The idea is that heat doesnt care what objects its traveling through to carry heat flow, as long as objects are touching and there is no air space, the heat might as well be traveling through one, large object. When an air gap is present, the heat is then forced to convert to its radiant form so it can jump the gap and continue traveling via conduction.
Composite Plastic Roof Shingles
Composite plastic shingles are generally produced from recycled plastic materials. They are a way to get more life out of plastics and other materials that would simply be tossed out in most instances so they are a great environmentally friendly roof replacement option. You can expect to pay $4 to $6 per sq. foot for plastic shingles or $400 to $600 per square installed on a standard sized single story home.Composite plastic shingles can be designed to imitate stone slate tiles or even wood shakes. They are much lighter than slate or other roofing types which make them easy to install. Composite plastic shingles are relatively affordable, but they are not as long lasting as most other shingle types. Plastic roofing lasts from 7 to 20 years depending on the type of plastic you choose to install.
Read Also: How Can I Tell If My Roof Is Leaking
Should I Get A Roof Underlayment
Roofing underlayment is important, but not 100 percent necessary. Its designed as extra protection for your roof. If the top layer of your roofing material springs a leak, a roof underlayment keeps your roof decking dry and safe. Without a roofing underlayment, rain and other bad weather can seep into your roof deck and cause serious problems like rot, mildew, and mold.
If youre hoping to install the most budget-friendly roof, skipping the underlayment will help keep your costs down. However, if you want the safest, most water-resistant roof or to extend the lifespan of your roof, be sure to include the underlayment in the installation.
Determine Location Of Rafters
Snap chalk lines on the roof that coincide with the line of each rafter from the lower edge of the roof to the peak. The lines provide references when nailing the stripping. Determine the location of a rafter by a vertical set of nails in the fascia board or by an exposed rafter tail. Measure from one edge of the roof to each location and transfer the measurements across the roof at the peak. Snap lines between each set of upper and lower marks.
Use the lower edge of the roof as a guide and install nailers end to end across the roof, with the lower edge two inches from the edge of the roof. Drive a pair of 8d nails through the wood stripping at each reference line for a rafter. Cut a filler piece to length for the end of the row.
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Installing Wood Stripping Under A Tin Roof
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Tin roofing, also known as metal roofing, is considered more durable than composition or wood shingles. The roofing is manufactured in panels that install using aluminum nails or screws that fasten the panels to wood stripping, also known as nailers or battens. Note that you can have a metal roof without battens it all depends on the manufacturer’s recommended installation.
As a do-it-yourself homeowner, you can save on the cost of installing a tin roof by installing the stripping on an existing shingle roof or after the roofer installs the moisture barrier on roof sheathing. Similar to most roofing projects, the job starts with taking some measurements and ordering the necessary materials and fasteners.
Do You Need A New Roof
There’s no denying when a roof destroyed by fire, windstorm, hail, or other severe weather needs to be fixed. But often, the need for repair or replacement is signaled by a seemingly innocent ceiling stain or drip. That telltale sign can end up being fairly inexpensive to fix or may require a costly overhaul.
Sometimes you can find the leaks source yourself if you have an unfinished attic and can locate the water trickle along a rafter or stud. However, its best to have an experienced roofer do an inspection and handle the repairs. We dont recommend homeowners navigate steep ladders and pitched roofs themselves.
The remedy may be as simple as filling in a crack with caulk, replacing a few shingles, or installing some flashinga membrane of metal that redirects water. Most leaks can be stopped if theyre limited to a few spots. But if youre experiencing recurring leaks and your roof is out of warranty, a new roof is in order. Even without obvious signs of damage, its wise to replace an out-of-warranty roof thats more than 20 years old.
Recommended Reading: How Long Do New Roofs Last
