Roofing is a necessary part of maintaining any home or business structure. There are many types of roofing available on the market, each with its benefits and drawbacks. However, one roofing type that has gained popularity among homeowners in recent years is peel and stick roofing.
Most homeowners in hot and humid areas have embraced peel and stick roofing underlayment due to its durability and waterproof feature. This is unlike the asphalt-saturated underlayment, previously the people’s number one choice.
So, what makes peel and stick roofing underlayment such a superior roofing material? And will this roofing material be enough to outshine the traditional roofing underlayment?
This blog post will discuss peel and stick roofing – what it is, its pros and cons, and whether or not it might be the correct type of roofing for your needs. Keep reading for more information.
What is Peel and Stick Roofing Underlayment?
Like any other underlayment, peel and stick underlayment is a material installed beneath the roofing surface to create a watertight barrier.
This type of underlayment is made up of mixtures of high-density polyethylene or polyester rubberized polymer blends. This material is elastic and puncture and tear-resistant. These properties make it an ideal material for use as underlayment, unlike the traditional felt.
And as the name suggests, using this type of underlayment is as easy as peeling off the release paper on its back and sticking it to the roof deck. No nails or fasteners are needed providing a better barrier against moisture-related problems like mold and condensation.
Peel and stick underlayment also helps prolong your roof’s expectancy. How? You may ask. Peel and stick underlayment is water-resistant, preventing damage to your roof’s decking caused by leaks from wind-driven rain and ice dams.
Apart from water resistance, most peel and stick underlayment materials are also fire-resistant. This means your roof will have an extra layer of protection during a fire outbreak.
The versatility this type of roofing underlayment offers is impeccable. You can use it on sloped roofs, flat roofs, and even as an air barrier.
It can also conform to irregular roof decking shapes and is ideal for use around penetrations such as skylights, vents, and chimneys. You can also use wood, slate, metal, concrete, plywood, and gypsum.
When it comes to installation, peel and stick roofing underlayment is pretty straightforward. But we would still recommend that you seek the help of a professional roofing contractor.
The contractor will know what type of peel and stick roofing underlayment is best for your roofing project, and they will also have the necessary tools and equipment to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
What is Peel and Stick Roll Roofing?
Also known as MSR, peel and stick roll roofing is a mineral-surfaced oil-based asphalt roofing. It comes in large rolls, usually 36 inches wide and 100 feet long.
Roll roofing material comes in two types; asphalt variety and modified bitumen. The asphalt variety consists of a layer of asphalt combined with fiberglass. Fiberglass is a reinforcing material that makes the asphalt stronger and more durable. This roll roofing is fastened to the roof deck using nails and cold asphalt cement.
Modified bitumen, on the other hand, is a rolled roofing composed of two or more layers. The base layer is usually asphalt combined with a reinforcing material such as fiberglass.
The top layer is made up of rubberized or plastic asphalt. This roll roofing is fastened to the roof deck using a torch to heat the adhesive that bonds the roofing to the deck as it is unrolled.
One downside of using roll roofing material for your project is the aesthetics. Most homeowners do not like the way it looks because it is not as smooth as shingles. However, the issue of aesthetics entirely depends on the homeowner’s taste and preferences.
Flexibility during cold weather is also a notable concern when using roll roofing. The material is known to become brittle in cold weather, potentially leading to cracking and leaks in worst-case scenarios.
However, this factor doesn’t compromise its durability. You should expect your roll roofing to serve you as per the manufacturers’ standards regardless of the season.
Peel and Stick Roofing for Flat Roofing
For a homeowner with a flat roof or low-sloped roof asking about the most suitable peel and stick roofing, we highly suggest the modified bitumen peel and stick roll roofing.
Modified bitumen is stronger, flexible, and durable, unlike most built-up roof materials. The membrane is also an improvement over traditional asphalt roofing. In addition, modified bitumen is less likely to tear, leakage is less common, and the roof’s overall lifespan is extended.
The installation is also easy, especially if you have experience with roofing work. The roll comes already combined with the reinforcing fabric and bitumen.
You peel off the release paper and stick it to the roof. To ensure it is watertight, we recommend you use two or three layers, overlapping each strip by four inches.
Peel and Stick Underlayment for Metal Roof
Peel and stick underlayment still stands out as one of the most chosen types of roofing among homeowners, metal and shingle roofing contractors, and DIYers. But it’s for the best reasons. To help you clearly understand these reasons, let’s talk a little bit about metal roofs.
Temperatures under metal roofs can get pretty high during the summer. This is because metal roofs reflect the sun’s heat away from your home, and since there is no air space between the shingles like with asphalt, the heat has nowhere to go but down.
Peel and stick underlayment protects your roof at temperatures up to 240°F. This is unlike asphalt felt, which dries out and starts to degrade at temperatures above 180°F. In addition, peel and stick underlayment does not deteriorate when exposed to UV rays as asphalt felt paper.
Thanks to its excellent all-temperature performance, peel and stick underlayment better withstand cold winters. It remains flexible to -40°F, the temperature at which most asphalt underlayment products start to get brittle and crack.
Pros and Cons of Peel and Stick Roofing
Now that we know what peel and stick roofing is, let’s take a look at some of its pros and cons:
Pros of Peel and Stick Roofing
Affordable
Cost is a primary concern for any building project, and roofing is no exception. Peel and stick roofing is pocket-friendly compared to other roofing materials. But the cost advantage doesn’t end with the friendly initial price.
Since peel and stick help to regulate the amount of heat and cold on your roof, using this roofing material saves you the money you would use to run your HVAC system.
Easy to Installation
Another significant advantage of peel and stick roofing is that it is straightforward to install. If you decide to do it yourself, the entire process shouldn’t take you more than a weekend. You don’t need special equipment or skills to install peel and stick roofing.
If you hire roofing professionals to do the job, the installation charges shouldn’t be very high since the process is pretty straightforward. In addition, you will experience less mess and tidier space since installing peel and stick roofing will require minimal equipment compared to roofing materials like tar paper.
Energy-Efficient
As mentioned above, peel and stick roofing is an excellent insulator. By installing this roofing material, you can be sure that your home will be better protected against extreme weather conditions. This will help you save on energy bills in the long run.
Durable
Generally, roofing is costly since it’s not something you do every other day. For this reason, you want to ensure the roofing material you settle for will give you value for your money by lasting long.
Peel and stick roofing is an excellent option in this case as it can last up to 12 years or more if well maintained.
Peel and stick durability is attributable to the fact that it is impervious to water and can withstand extreme weather conditions. Its elasticity and flexibility also help to increase its lifespan.
It can be Used on Top of Existing Roofing
Roofing renovation can be a daunting and costly affair. Even for experienced roofers, flipping off an existing roof can be quite tasking. The good news is that with peel and stick roofing, you can avoid the mess and expense of tearing off your old roof.
You can have it installed right on top of your existing roof with a combination of liquid emulsion to provide a complete roofing cover. This will save you the time and money you would have used on the entire roofing renovation, especially if you need to cover a large area.
It comes in a Wide Variety of Designs and Materials
Although it’s a relatively new technology, there is already a wide variety of peel and stick roofing materials and designs to choose from. The most popular are the asphalt variety and modified bitumen peel and stick, which come in rolls.
However, if you want something more unique with a bit of flair, you can opt for the plastic cap or the granular surface designs.
Environmentally Friendly
Peel and stick roofing is one of the most environmentally friendly types of roofing available, therefore listed in most building codes. The materials used to make it are recyclable and do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs are known to be harmful to both the environment and human health. By opting for peel and stick roofing, you are doing your bit for the environment and ensuring your and your family’s safety.
Cons of Peel and Stick Roofing
It won’t Last Like Some Other Types of Roofing
No matter how durable, any roofing material requires wear and tear. The lifespan of peel and stick roofing is shorter when compared to other types of roofing like concrete tiles or metal roofs.
The adhesive breakdown is the most common type of failure for peel and stick roofing. The adhesive is what secures the membrane to your roof. Over time, it starts to break down and lose its stickiness, causing the membrane to loosen and eventually fail. This usually happens after about ten years or so.
In addition, most of these materials have thin layers, which make them prone to punctures and tears. Therefore, although you can patch them up, they will never be as strong as they were initially.
However, to solve this, we recommend you purchase an extra 10 to 12% of the roofing material to use as patches in case of unforeseen damage.
Requires Multiple Coatings
Multi-layering is necessary for peel and stick roofing to achieve the desired thickness, increasing its durability. However, this also means that the installation process is quite time-consuming as you must wait for each layer to dry before applying the next one.
Compared to other roofing covers, which you can install in a few hours, you will need at least a day to install peel and stick roofing. This could increase if the weather is not cooperating or you are working on a large area.
It May Impact your Home’s Resale Value
Roofing is one of the first things potential home buyers look at when considering a property. Unfortunately, if your roof is in bad shape, it will impact your home’s resale value.
Although a new peel and stick roof will be an improvement over an old, damaged one, most home buyers don’t consider it a luxury item.
This means that you probably won’t be able to recoup the entire roof cost when selling your home. Additionally, most potential homeowners prefer to do their roofing after moving in.
This is because they want to choose the roofing material that best suits their needs and taste. Therefore, if you have peel and stick roofing, be prepared to negotiate the price of your home.
Not Readily Available
Although it is becoming more and more popular technology, peel and stick roofing is still not widely available. As a result, you may have to search high and low to find a supplier that stocks it.
Is Peel and Stick Roof Underlayment Worth it?
Weighing the pros and cons of peel and stick roofing, it is clear that this type has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. However, we believe that the pros outweigh the cons.
Peel and stick roofing material is an excellent option for environmentally friendly and easy-to-install roofing material. If you are considering installing a new roof or replacing your old one, we recommend that you give peel and stick roofing a try. You will be surprised at how well it performs!