Underlayment is the hidden hero of roofing

By Emma Peterson.

While shingles and membranes often get the spotlight, underlayment serves as a crucial defense against moisture, weather exposure and deck damage.

While many home and building owners might not know what underlayment is, it is one of the hidden heroes of roofing. Underlayment products are placed between a roof deck and roofing material. So, on many residential homes, the underlayment would go on the wooden roof coverboards and then shingles would be installed on top of it.

There are multiple reasons why this layer is a necessary part of the roof assembly, including:

• Durability: by creating another layer on top of the deck, underlayment helps protect the deck both during installation (from damage that comes from having a crew navigating on the roof) and after (from impact damage related to things like hail).
• Water-resistance: additionally, underlayment acts as another layer of water-protection. This is especially important for areas that experience wind-driven rain (which can pull shingles off and expose the underlayment) and areas that struggle with ice dams (where freezing water can back up beneath shingles).
• Energy-efficiency: underlayment can also improve energy-efficiency for roofs in high-heat climates. In this case, you want an underlayment with heat- and UV-resistance ratings.

With all this in mind, making sure your home or building has a strong, reliable underlayment installed on it is key to having a long-lasting roof assembly. And a great option for many home and building owners wanting that long-term performance is TopShield’s StormGear™ products.

TopShield, SRS Distribution’s high-end brand, specifically designed the StormGear line to help roof assemblies withstand and recover from weather-related incidents. Within the line, there are two main types of products sold – synthetic underlayment and a modified base sheet.

Ideal for residential projects, the StormGear synthetic underlayment offers both the UV protection that high-heat climates benefit from as well as the weather and water protection that stormy regions need. Further, it features an anti-skid backside that means roofers can install it more efficiently, carries a Class A Fire classification and is impervious to mold growth.

As for the base sheet, it is an SBS-modified formula perfect for commercial buildings. The modifications to the SBS include an ultraviolet resistant polyolefin film surface and a glass fiber reinforcement. The result? A high-strength and self-adhesive base sheet that provides “an efficient alternative to conventional roofing methods such as torching, hot asphalt mopping and cold applied adhesives.”

Overall, both of these products are prime examples of a quality underlayment that will keep your business or home safe for years to come.

Learn more about the StormGear line.