Synthetic Vs Felt Underlayment: Choosing the Right Underlayment for Your Metal Roofs

Metal roofing underlayment is a layer between the roof deck and roof covering. Most people often overlook it because it is not visible. However, it plays a crucial role in protecting your metal roofs and increasing their useful lifespan.

Why Do You Need A Metal Roof Underlayment?

Underlayment can serve as a barrier for your metal roofs against harsh weather conditions. It saves them from damage and corrosion. It also prevents condensation in your roofs, thus preventing infiltrating moisture in them. It also gives protection against storm damage.

The two main types of metal roof underlayment are felt and synthetic ones. This article will highlight the major pros and cons of both types.

Synthetic Underlayment

Most of the synthetic underlayment are made out of polypropylene or polyethylene material. They are about 8-30 mils thick and offer a good amount of resistance to roof damage.

Synthetic underlayments are becoming a preferred choice among many homeowners because of the benefits that they offer.

Pros Of Synthetic Underlayment

Synthetic underlayments are lighter and stronger. There is more material per roll that makes them super fast to install. Moreover, synthetic underlayments are water-resistant and have vapor protection quality.

Synthetic underlayments are of tough quality and will last for a long time. They give a good amount of protection in storms. Furthermore, synthetic underlayments are high temperatures tolerant and retain less heat. That makes them a good choice for the summer season.

Synthetic underlayments have good walkability features. They sometimes have a porous surface. This makes it easy for the workers to walk on the roof during work or construction.

Cons Of Synthetic Underlayment

The only main disadvantage seen in synthetic underlayment is its cost. They may be expensive as compared to the felt underlayments. That is a major drawback of the synthetic underlayments that makes most of the customers rethink their choice.

Felt Underlayment

Felt underlayment is the most common material for underlayment among homeowners. It has been given different names, such as roofing tar paper or felt paper. Felt underlayment comes in organic and inorganic reinforced underlayment types.

Pros Of Felt Underlayment

Felt underlayment also gives a good amount of water resistance. But, its resistance capability is less than the synthetic underlayment. This makes it an ineffective choice for protection against water and vapor.

Felt underlayment is suitable for building with proper slopes and low moisture load. Those roofs that have steep slopes will not hold water content for a long time. Another benefit of felt underlayment is that it is easy to install. Only the most common and basic tools are required for its easy installation.

Cons Of Felt Underlayment

The felt underlayment price may be low, but they are not as durable as synthetic underlayments. They also don’t have high resistance capability for rain, snow, and air. Because most of the felt underlayments are made of asphalt, they are flammable material. They will begin to combust but not all at once.

Felt underlayment is made of a material that is more susceptible to high temperatures. It means that felt underlayment is not a good choice for summer. It will increase the inside temperature of the buildings.

Synthetic Vs. Felt, Which One Is Better?

There is no final decision regarding choosing the type of underlayment. It depends on your checklist. If you want to know which one is better, ask yourself the following questions:

  • How long do you need your underlayment to last?
  • What is your budget?
  • What is your slope roof structure?
  • How concerned are you about fire resistance?
  • What is your roof size?

Thorough research about all types of metal roofing underlayment and analyzing your needs and budgets will help you install the right kind of underlayment. Moreover, you can contact a professional roofing company to get a consultation for this.