N
The Global Insight

Does roofing need felt

Author

Emma Valentine

Updated on April 06, 2026

Felt, otherwise known as underpayment, is required when asphalt shingles are installed as a first layer of roofing or when they are applied over wood shingles or a built-up roof. … In these instances, the felt beneath the older shingles is regarded as adequate.

Is felt necessary on a roof?

When is Roofing Underlayment Not Necessary? Roofing felt is always recommended, but is not actually required by all shingle manufacturers. For steep-pitched roofs, felt is often not required. The steeper the pitch, the less likely moisture is to sit and seep into gaps and cracks in the shingles.

Do all roofs have felt?

It is usual for older homes to have roofs without felt and it shouldn’t be needed as long as your tiles are in good condition as for the price ask anyone you get a quote from for it to be itemised, depending on the size of your roof scaffolding alone can cost a fair bit of money.

Do roofers still use felt?

Fast forward 170 years and roofing felt is still the most popular roofing material (now used as an underlayment) being installed today.

Is underlayment necessary for roof?

The underlayment on a roof is a membrane that is applied to the plywood or ‘deck’ of your roof as an extra layer of water penetration protection before your shingles are installed. … Underlayment isn’t always necessary, but should be applied to low-sloped roofs, as well as specific high water risk areas of your home.

Do felt shingles need underlay?

Generally we do not see the need for the placement of a membrane (roofing felt or IKO underlay for all garden buildings as it is not generally necessary for leisure buildings and has not been recommended for over 15 yeears.

Do you need felt under corrugated roofing?

This will depend on its condition and the type of corrugating roofing you are installing. Roofing felt is often fitted below corrugated material as a layer of ‘insulation’ for the shed roof. If you have existing felt in place that is undamaged and in good condition, then you can simply skip the re-felting stage.

Does a roof need tar paper?

Roofing tar paper can increase the fire rating for your roof, which can result in lower insurance rates if you have a roof without it. The additional layer can yield a Class A fire rating. When roof shingles are rated, they are done so with felt underneath.

What is better than roofing felt?

For durability and enhanced water-resistance, some roofers are going with synthetic underlayment. Long-lasting polymers give synthetic underlayment its strength and longevity. It’s impervious to moisture and, when installed correctly, offers a higher degree of weather protection than felt.

What is the difference between 15 and 30 roofing felt?

While #15 is a good option for most roofing jobs, #30 provides more protection and performance for steep roofs and flat roofs. … But if your roof has a steep pitch, #30 is a better option because it is thicker and tears less during installation. With #30 you get a thicker layer of underlayment and protection.

Article first time published on

What's the purpose of roofing felt?

Answer: Roofing felt is a layer of tar paper installed beneath the shingles to provide a backup waterproof membrane in case of leakage. Felt, otherwise known as underpayment, is required when asphalt shingles are installed as a first layer of roofing or when they are applied over wood shingles or a built-up roof.

Is roof felt waterproof?

So is roofing felt waterproof? Yes. The third benefit of roofing underlay is that it provides an extra layer of insulation to prevent heat from escaping the building.

What is the purpose of felt under roof tiles UK?

The felt is laid on the top of the supporting rafters and beneath the tiles or slate battens. It is mainly used to secure the tiles on the roof and counter any shifting impact that strong winds may have on them.

What is the purpose of roof underlayment?

Roofing underlayment is what lies between the shingles and the roof sheathing, or roof deck, which is typically either plywood or OSB. It’s installed directly on the roof deck and provides a secondary layer of protection from the elements, including rain, snow, and wind.

Can you double felt a roof?

So it is possible to have 2 layers of felt in General. For instance, an alternative to 30# felt is to put two layers of 15# felt, or often 2 layers are recommended on a 2/12 pitch roof. In the “good Old Days” it was often doubled up to help resist ice dams (now delt with by Ice and water Shield).

How long can roof Felt be exposed?

Perhaps, even being wet, the roofing felt sustains its integrity until it doesn’t get exposed to other elements for more than a week or two. It can even break-down in sunlight as well as due to the amount of moisture.

Do I need felt under a metal roof?

However, the metal roof underlayment acts as an added layer of protection. You can save money by using underlayment because it will help you avoid problems that would need to be fixed. The short answer is yes, your metal roof does need underlayment .

What is the cheapest way to roof a shed?

In most cases, MSR roll roofing is the cheapest shed roof material you can buy. Roll roofing is also the easiest shed roof to install because you can cover large areas quickly by simply rolling it out and nailing it down.

What underlay do I need for roof shingles?

It is recommended that an underlay of Anderson 3B Glass Base Layer or Monarflex Protect is applied on roofs with a pitch between 15º and 45º. Above 45º the underlay is not required unless the building is in an exposed location.

What is best to put under shingles?

What is roofing felt paper? Sometimes called roofing felt underlayment, roofing tar paper, or roll roofing, this is a layer of protection installed between the roof deck and the roofing shingles.

What is the best underlayment for roof shingles?

1. Asphalt-saturated Felt. This used to be the most popular choice for roof underlayment until it was replaced by synthetics. It’s usually known as tar paper or felt paper and it can be made from various mixtures of asphalt, polyester, cellulose, or bitumen.

Is peel and stick better than felt?

The peel and stick underlayment product is the most innovative and, in my view, worth the additional investment by homeowners. … When compared to regular synthetic felt, the peel and stick product will cost the homeowner of a 2,000-square-foot home approximately $900 in product and labor.

Is underlayment the same as felt?

Roof underlayment is the roofing material that lies between your roof decking and your shingles. It’s installed on your roof decking and provides an extra layer of protection from the elements. … Felt underlayment is the older of the two and comes in 15 lb and 30 lb rolls.

Is roofing felt necessary UK?

Roofing felt is usually required under roof tiles to prevent the desk from being exposed, it also may be applied as your roof deck may not lie perfectly straight. … The building regulations for most areas in UK & Scotland require sarking underneath the slates or tiles and can be known as underpayment.

How much is a roll of felt paper?

Roofing Felt Paper costsZip CodeSq. ft.BasicBetterRoofing Felt Paper – Material Prices$165.00 – $175.00$190.00 – $210.00Roofing Felt Paper – Installation Cost$220.00 – $240.00$265.00 – $280.00Roofing Felt Paper – Total$385.00 – $415.00$455.00 – $490.00

When should I use 30lb felt?

Weight Matters The best weight for roofing felt is the 30-pound product, because it provides thicker and stronger footing for roofers that does not tear out, especially on steep roofs where footing is critical.

What kind of roof felt Do I Need?

The Best Type of Felt for You Generally if a rooftop has a slope of 4:12 or higher, a single layer of 15-pound roofing felt is ideal. Lower slopes generally need a double layer or weightier felt, because it is easier for water to seep into these rooftop areas instead of quickly draining down into the gutters.

What is 15lb roofing felt?

United 15 Lb. & 30 Lb. Felt is an asphalt-saturated organic felts designed for use as an underlayment with asphalt shingles in commercial and residential applications. A shingle underlayment is used to protect roof structures and the interior from water penetration.

Do you need underlay for torch-on felt?

The torch-on felt solution relies on a three-layer system, which will require two levels of underlay underneath the cap sheet.

Is it OK to install a roof in the rain?

Rain is bad during a roof installation because the water can damage the roof decking. A new roof should never be installed over a wrinkled barrier or wet wood because this is against building codes. Also, asphalt shingles may not adhere properly to slick surfaces, particularly if there’s high humidity.

Can you put roofing felt on wet wood?

The felt is actually what keeps your roof dry! The shingles are in place to protect the felt. … Roofing felt should ideally be dry when shingles are installed to avoid ripping, but it’s still possible to install when wet. The felt can be damaged if exposed to moisture too long.