Studies show that about 68% of Arizona citizens own the home they live in.
With so many homeowners and the number only growing, it’s good to know how to get the most out of your home.
One of the most important parts of our home is the roof.
Damage or issues with the roof can quickly grow out of control, magnifying the cost.
But when should you repair your roof? And what are your underlayment replacement costs?
If you’re curious to learn about roofing services and repairing your roof, we’re here to help.
Read on to learn more about how to master your next roofing project.
What Is the Underlayment?
To start, what is the underlayment in a roofing system?
Most people are focused on the shape of the roof or the shingles.
As the underlayment isn’t visible, some people are surprised when this unexpected cost appears.
The underlayment is a layer between the shingles and the roof sheathing.
The roof deck is typically plywood or OSB, which makes it a great place to attach the underlayment.
The underlayment provides another layer of protection from the elements.
It’s part of the waterproofing that helps to keep rain, snow, wind, or other hazards off of the roof sheathing.
Roof underlayment will also help to prevent leaks by absorbing moisture.
It will help to prevent ice dams and can help to improve a roof’s efficiency by keeping temperatures regulated.
When to Replace Your Underlayment
How often should you replace your roofing underlayment?
Given that it’s beneath the shingles and other roofing sections, it’s rarely the only thing you’ll replace.
Instead, you’ll likely replace your underlayment when the rest of the roof needs replacing.
As such, you won’t need to replace it too often.
The average roof lifespan is about 15-30 years.
Factors like what the roof is made of, how well it was cared for, and where the home is all can change this lifespan.
Types of Underlayment
Now that we know more about the roof underlayment, what sorts of underlayments are there?
The underlayment replacement costs can shift heavily depending on what type of underlayment you’re using.
Here are the three most common types of roof underlayment.
Felt
Felt is arguably the most popular and common of the types of underlayment.
The soft material is ideal for being low-cost to produce and easy to work with.
Felt also is given a water-resistant layer to make sure it’s effective for resisting the elements.
Felt is saturated with asphalt and made mostly from recycled corrugated paper and sawdust.
With the organic base, it’s considered better for the environment, though it’s not quite a sustainable material.
The asphalt helps to strengthen the material and gives it its water-resistant qualities.
The heavier the felt, the longer-lasting it will be.
However, the natural trade-off is that heavier felt is also more expensive due to having more materials.
Still, felt it was the most economical option.
Depending on your roofing contractor, you can often find roofing felt paper for anywhere between $0.15 and $0.90 per square foot.
Synthetic
Next to felt is the synthetic roof underlayment.
You may see this material referred to as “non-bitumen synthetics.”
Synthetic roofing materials are lighter and thinner than felt.
However, they’re also more durable and have a better resistance to water.
Mostly made from laminated plastics-polypropylene and polyethylene-this material comes in rolls.
Your roofing contractor can roll this across your OSB swiftly and reliably.
Since it’s lighter and not as large, it’s much easier to work with than felt.
Your contractor may only need two or three rolls, as opposed to needing more than a dozen rolls of felt.
As you may expect, this makes it more expensive than felt.
Synthetics can cost anywhere in the range of $0.17 to $0.55 per square foot.
Rubberized
The final common choice is rubberized asphalt.
Rubberized asphalt is often called “self-adhering underlayment.”
The material will bond with the roof deck and doesn’t require any installation beyond this.
As a result, it’s completely waterproof and is fine being exposed to the elements.
It’s also the easiest to install by a wide margin.
Rubberized asphalt is the most expensive of the three options.
You can expect about $0.55 to $0.65 per square foot.
Underlayment Replacement Costs
With an understanding of the materials used to make a roof underlayment, how can you calculate your cost?
Here are some of the main factors to consider.
Materials
Naturally, the most important factor will be the cost of the material.
Felt is the cheapest by a wide margin, especially on the lower end.
You can often finish a roof for a small fraction of what it would cost with other materials.
Conversely, you should think of future maintenance and repairs.
Will a cheap approach at this stage lead to you needing to repair or replace the felt much sooner?
While even two rounds of felt installments can still end up cheaper than rubberized asphalt, it comes at a much greater hassle.
Consider future repairs and maintenance before picking a material based solely on a low cost.
Labor
The next step is to look at the cost of roofing services.
You’ll need to find a reliable roofing contractor to tackle a job this severe. Roofing installations simply do not fit as a DIY project.
At JLC Roofing, we’re happy to help Arizona residents with all their roofing needs.
Contact us to see how we can help you finish your roofing project at an affordable cost.
Size
Finally, consider the size of your roof.
Larger roofs will use more material to cover the underlayment.
Therefore, a larger roof will always be more expensive than a smaller roof if all materials are the same.
Calculate the square footage of your roof to math out the answer.
Helpful Tip: Estimating tiel roof repair cost
Getting the Most Out of Your Roof
Underlayment replacement costs can feel overwhelming, but you have a great amount of agency.
Decide on the material that best fits your budget and needs.
Once you have your material, contact us at JLC Roofing for a free estimate.
We’re happy to help you get a roof over your head without draining your bank account.
Searching for roof repair in Peoria, AZ? You’re in the right place! For 20+ years, we have been committed to delivering a 5-star roofing experience to each of our clients. Contact us today at (623) 878-9832 or request an estimate online.
