Roofing Tar Paper Overlap

This will help give you a moisture barrier on the roof.

Roofing tar paper overlap.

The roofing felt should be applied in layers that overlap. Once the tar is applied tar paper can be carefully placed on top of the hot tar using a mop to sink the paper into the asphalt. Therefore a 2 inch overlap provides redundancy at the edges where the barrier is weakest. Some roofers prefer to attach felt underlayment with 1 inch roofing nails or special nails with plastic washers but most codes allow staples which are easier to drive.

As you work the paper can be tacked down in the center so it won t blow away. Step 5 secure ends. Tack it firmly in place. The overlapping felt creates a secondary barrier for moisture and wicks water away from the shingles above and the sheathing below.

It is used for temporary roofing for weatherproofing and as an underlayment under shingles or other permanent roofing materials. Staple down the tar paper. Make at least three layers. Step 6 overlap next roll.

Install all subsequent courses with the same overlap until the top edge of the paper is within 6 inches of the roof s peak. Continue overlapping strips up each side of the roof. Roofing felt is required to overlap 2 inches over the lower felt course. Step 4 over the peak.

Even if there s older tar paper in place you should simply rip it off and replace it. Once you get close to the top add another layer of felt so that you overlap the ridge of your roof by about 1 foot 0 30 m. Overlapping the tar paper layers to create a seal. This overhang will ensure water will not enter underneath the paper getting trapped on top of the wood roof planks.

Make sure the rolls overlap by at least four inches and staple them into place on the wood. Secure the outside edges with plastic capped roofing nails at 12 inch intervals. Roll the roof paper up and over the peak. Start at the bottom of the roofline and work up so any water that gets through the roofing material will shed down the tar paper and will not go under it.

As long as the wood on your roof is in good condition you can go ahead and put tar paper down. Position the next course of tar paper farther up the roof so that its lower edge overlaps the upper edge of the paper in the first course by 1 foot. Before applying roofing you ll need to cover the sheathing with roofing felt also often called tar paper most local codes call for using 30 pound felt.