How Self Adhered Underlayment Protects Florida Roofs During Hurricane Season
Florida is a state blessed with abundant natural beauty, but it also finds itself right in the middle of one of nature’s most destructive climates. With the annual hurricane season here, homeowners in the beloved Sunshine State need to brace themselves for heavy rain, high winds, and violent storms.
Of course, the roof will always be the most concerning aspect of the home during these weather events, as it is the first line of defense. What lies beneath the roof covering of shingles or tiles is arguably more important. In this article, we will show you why the self adhered underlayment is the most crucial part of the defensive strategy for your home’s roof.
The Relentless Nature Of Florida’s Hurricanes
Hurricanes are not merely heavy rainstorms; they are complex meteorological phenomena that can cause damage to a roof in numerous ways. As formidable as hurricanes are, your roof needs to be able to withstand them to protect your family and valuables within.
High Winds
Hurricanes bring with them sustained tropical storm-force winds as well as the ferocious gusts of Category five monster storms. These winds create extreme uplift and sheer forces by causing pressure differentials along the slope of the roof. These powerful forces can push and pull at the roof’s components, tearing and ripping them apart.
Wind-Driven Rain
Even if the roof covering manages to stay mostly intact, the high winds can drive rain into your home horizontally! By coming in at these obtuse angles, the rain can penetrate underneath the shingle or tile overlaps and quickly find its way into any unprotected hole or opening, resulting in water intrusion. This causes substantial damage to the underlying roof deck, attic, and roof structure, leading to the eventual growth of mold and rot.
Debris Impact
Hurricanes are notorious for turning anything that may be lying around a neighborhood into hazardous projectiles. Whether it’s lawn furniture, toys, tree branches, or even parts of other structures, almost anything that is movable can instantly turn into a missile with severe destructive force.
The problem with traditional roofing systems is that they often employ the use of felt paper underlayment and mechanically attached shingles. The felt papers can tear very easily in the presence of hurricane winds, and every nail hole potentially turns into a drain for the water to pour into the roof deck and structures below.
What Is Self Adhered Underlayment, And Why Is It So Good?
Self adhered underlayment has a few monikers, and you may have heard it referred to as “peel-and-stick” underlayment. It is an advanced roofing material that is fighting back against hurricane tyranny and roof damage in Florida.
Traditional underlayments employ the use of an asphalt-drenched felt that is simply laid over a mechanically attached sheet that is over roof deck. Self-adhering underlayment is a robust solution that adheres directly to the roof deck with an additional mechanical attachment. Made from a polymer-modified bitumen, a release liner is peeled away to allow the high-tack adhesive to bond directly to the clean and dry roof deck.
Features That Set Self Adhered Underlayment Apart
The most definitive characteristic is that of self-adhesion. By using a continuous roll of material, there is one single bond across the entire roof deck, which means no seams and a truly sealed surface, this offers a Secondary Water Barrier to the roof system.
The second most valuable feature is that the material is self-sealing around fasteners. Once a roof nail is fastened through the underlayment, the material creates a seal around the fastener, meaning there are no leaks or holes preventing ingress into the deck beneath.
Unlike traditional felt underlayment, Self adhered underlayment is fully waterproof and not merely water resistant. This enables it to effectively act as a second waterproof barrier and offers protection even if the primary roof covering is compromised during a storm.
Modern adhesive underlayment, such as Tag & Stick’s modified 2-ply solution, is engineered to be durable and tear-resistant. This feature makes them less susceptible to damage during installation and, even more importantly, hurricane wind events!
Additional Benefits That Self Adhered Underlayment Provides
While we have already looked at some of the more salient points that make adhesive underlayment superior, there are a few additional benefits that are available due to its construction.
Strengthened Roof Deck Assembly
The adhesive bonding of the underlayment creates a more unified roofing system that is stronger and more waterproof along its surface. The continuous adhesive bond ties the sheathing panels together, thereby adding a synergistic strength where the overall strength of the roof structure is more than the sum of its parts. This enhanced rigidity also increases resistance to uplift pressures as the roof is now much more of a monolith than individual small panels.
Reduced Blow-Off
All shingles are always mechanically attached to the roof deck, but in the case of adhesive underlayment, the strong bond keeps them more securely in place. Even as fasteners get loosened or stressed, the viscous material keeps the watertight bond intact around the fastener shaft. The shingles are held in place more securely in this configuration, and even if individual shingles are blown off, the whole row will likely remain in place.
Protection During Construction or Repair
In the incredibly unfortunate event of a hurricane striking during a roof replacement or repair project, adhesive underlayment will provide a far superior temporary waterproofing barrier than traditional underlayment. This will keep your home’s interior safe from extended water damage while you wait out the storm.
100% Compliant With Florida’s Building Codes
As Florida has weathered numerous powerful hurricanes throughout its history, the Florida Building Code has become one of the most stringent in the United States. With each new storm that is encountered, the custodians of the code will take the lessons learned and convert them into some of the most robust uplift requirements.
A key concept is that of a “sealed roof deck” if your home happens to be within a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). This provision of the FBC ensures that homes are equipped with a secondary waterproof barrier that adheres directly to the roof sheathing. Adhesive underlayment is the perfect candidate for the job as it fully accomplishes what the FBC mandates.
Insurance Benefit
Many insurers are fully aware of the risk mitigation that self-adhering underlayment provides and are prepared to offer discounts on premiums for homeowners who have installed these trusted systems. Be sure to mention the use of these underlayments to your insurance company when applying for cover.
Tag & Stick: Keep Your Roof On This Hurricane Season
Tag & Stick is a South Florida company with a collective base of over 25 years of experience in the roofing industry. We have aligned the growth and performance of our products with the Florida Building Code throughout its evolution. If you are installing a new roof or repairing an old one and need more information on quality roofing products, call us at 954-255-3107.