ASPHALT PLUS DuraBase™ EARNS AN "A-PLUS" FOR TARCO
New Asphalt-Saturated High Performance Polyester (HPP) Underlayment from Tarco Is Wrinkle-Free, Water-Tight
Combining the advantages of traditional asphalt-saturated felts with those of newer "synthetic" materials, EasyLay is destined to fundamentally change the market for residential roofing underlayments.
Superior to Asphalt-Saturated Felt but Handles the Same
Tarco announces LeakBarrier EasyLay™ Asphalt Saturated High Performance Polyester (HPP) underlayment, the ideal underlayment for residential roofing applications. EasyLay has the look and feel of traditional felt but is much stronger and lies flat despite weather conditions or other circumstances.
Its secret is DuraBase™, a durable PET (polyester) base, nonwoven reinforcement material, created by Johns Manville's Engineered Products Group. This material is saturated with time-proven, moisture-resistant asphalt to improve weatherability and handling. Packaged like traditional felt, EasyLay is now available in 4-square, 36-inch wide rolls.
The Asphalt Advantage
There are many new underlayments on the market today but only EasyLay is saturated with asphalt. Roofing contractors report difficulties in handling many of the new synthetic underlayments, such as all-plastic underlayments that tend to fold or wrinkle and do not seal well around fasteners. EasyLay resolves the problems that roofers are experiencing with the uncoated plastic underlayments.
On steep-sloped residential applications, lightweight plastic sheets can be blown around the rooftop on windy days. The thicker EasyLay remains where it is positioned under a variety of weather conditions, and in warm or cold weather it easily unrolls into position on the rooftop with minimal adjustment. EasyLay has excellent flexibility and conforms easily to rooftop valleys and peaks. The texture of the top surface provides improved walkability on steep slopes.
Unlike most underlayments, EasyLay can be left exposed for up to six months. When traditional felts are exposed in damp weather for just a few days, they tend to absorb moisture and wrinkle. EasyLay does not absorb moisture and does not warp, and it provides an effective moisture barrier until permanent shingles, tiles, metal roofing or self-adhering cap sheets can be applied.
The substantial thickness of EasyLay combined with its asphalt saturation greatly increases its nail sealability. By comparison, thin synthetic materials often deform around fasteners and are prone to subsequent leaking. In fact, without asphalt saturation, there is a tendency for synthetic underlayments to wick moisture through nail holes because of capillary action. Asphalt-saturated felts, including EasyLay, inhibit capillary action because water is incapable of uniting with the asphalt and beads up on the surface instead of finding its way into holes in the sheet.
The Same, But Better
EasyLay is a high performance roll roofing product, combining a strong, tear-resistant polyester base sheet with a practical asphalt-saturated underlayment that is compatible with the realities of residential roofing. From the installer's point of view, no change of working habits is necessary. EasyLay underlayments can be installed in the same manner as the traditional saturated felts that they have been installing for years.
Initial field experience indicates that EasyLay is very acceptable to roofing contractors, especially those who have tried and rejected synthetic underlayments. These contractors wish to avoid the complications and problems of thin plastic synthetic underlayments, which are typically made from polyolefin materials such as polypropylene or polyethylene. They have also learned that using EasyLay asphalt-saturated HPP underlayment allows them to offer their customers a superior residential roofing system.
PET Base Material
The EasyLay base material is made from a strong, durable, water-resistant PET polymer (poly-ethylene terephthalate), popularly known as polyester, which is one of the major classes of commercially important synthetic polymers.
Technically speaking, the raw material for the underlayment's base reinforcement is a spunbond nonwoven needle-punched polyester. "Spunbond" refers to the advanced processes for spinning the fibers into strands, then randomly spreading them into sheets and finally applying heat and pressure to form a mat. "Needle punching" pushes fine polyester fibers through the thickness of the material, enhancing the mechanical properties. "Nonwoven" means the PET fibers are randomly oriented. The result is a material with properties midway between paper and woven fabric.
PET base reinforcement is highly compatible with asphalt saturation, which adds bulk and thickness for easier handling; better sealing around nails; and greater protection beneath shingles, tiles, metal roofing and other primary roofing materials.
"The PET base lends itself very well to roofing underlayment applications," said Zain Mahmood, vice president and general manager, Construction Materials and Systems for Johns Manville's Engineered Products Group. "DuraBase attaches better to the roof and remains flat. It has been specially designed and manufactured for use as roof-underlayment reinforcement. It delivers a unique and exciting combination of benefits."
Changes in Underlayments
According to Steve Ratcliff, president of Tarco, new materials such as EasyLay are changing the roofing underlayment market. "The underlayment business is an exciting place to be," says Ratcliff, "because there is an explosion of new products entering the marketplace. Tarco has extensive experience with residential roofing and roofing underlayments. Our field tests with our customers indicate that EasyLay underlayment could dramatically change the face of the underlayment market."
For more information, Call Toll Free 1-800-365-4506 or email tarco@tarcoroofing.com. Address: TARCO, One Information Way, Suite 225, Little Rock, AR 72202. Phone: 501-945-4506, Fax: 501-945-7718.