Get Ready for Winter with Extra Protection against Leaks from Ice Dams

New premium self-adhering underlayment can reduce the threat of leaks from ice dams

Now is the time to get ready for winter and weatherproof your home against the ravages of nature. The buildup of snow, ice and water along the eaves of a roof can spell disaster for your roof and your home unless it has the extra protection afforded by today’s premium roofing membranes.

According to Steve Ratcliff, president of Tarco, Little Rock, Arkansas, a new self-adhering underlayment is making its way onto the roofs of homes in colder climates. Thicker and tougher than conventional asphalt-saturated felts, this membrane helps protect a building’s deck and internal structure against harmful leaks from ice- and water-damming and wind-driven rain.

"High winds, hail, heavy rain, snow loads, ice dams and other naturally occurring hazards can defeat even top-quality roof coverings," says Ratcliff. "Because roofing materials for most homes are designed to shed water or snow from sloped roofs, the problem is usually caused by water backing up or being forced up between the roof covering and the structural roof deck. That’s why smart installers today add an extra layer of protection under typical roof coverings to prevent unseen damage."

Up until the past decade or so, the only other protective barrier a homeowner could install under a roof covering was tarpaper or asphalt-impregnated felt. An improvement came from a blend of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and asphalt that could be made into an SBS-based membrane, a premium self-adhering underlayment with a peelable release film. Premium self-adhering underlayment didn’t replace felt but added another level of protection at vulnerable roof areas.

Premium self-adhering underlayment is highly effective in critical roofing areas such as valleys, ridges, coping-joints, chimneys, vents, dormers, skylights and low-slope sections. The new products consist of a high tack, SBS-modified asphalt, which is reinforced with a glass fiber mat to ensure stability during installation. A split-back release film is provided to allow for easy handling and installation. This film peels off to expose the adhesive, which adheres directly to concrete, plywood, wood composition board and gypsum sheathing decks.

Products are available in one and two square rolls. (One square rolls are 36 inches wide by 33.4 ft length and two square rolls are 36 inches wide by 66.7 ft length.) They are available from home centers, lumberyards and building materials dealers nationwide.

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.