Roof Repair

Tar paper for my roof. Do I need it or is it a waste of money?

Yes, it should be installed as part of a new roofing system. Not doing so is risky and the benefits of installing this inexpensive roof component easily out weigh any cost savings if omitted.

Tar paper, sometimes referred to as roofing felt or underlayment, is a heavy duty paper or fiberglass mat impregnated with tar or asphalt. For residential roofing, tar paper comes in a few different classifications, previously classified by weight and sold in rolls by length or area covered. Common residential tar paper is sold as #15 or #30. A roll of #15 tar paper covers approximately 400 square feet of roof area and #30 will cove about half or 200 square feet of roof area.

In years past, tar paper was classified by weight. 15# (lb) and 30# (lb) rolls were considerably thicker and heavier than the currently available product. The standard #15 tar paper is quite thin and should only be used as a temporary covering and usually only under inexpensive 3 tab shingles. #30 felt should be used for heavier dimensional shingles, wood shingles and shakes, and sometimes under slate and tile roofing.

Reasons for installing tar paper as part of a new roof

 

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