Is it a problem if it rains the day of my roofing install?

Many customers have the same concern — will moisture on the day of an install, affect the job?

The answer is it depends on the materials that are being used for deck protection.

For many years roofing companies had only one option — tar paper. Unfortunately, the organic elements of tar paper require a perfectly dry day to lay flat. When tar paper gets wet, it buckles and ripples. When shingles are placed on top of rippled tar paper, voids are created which act as little greenhouses that collect heat and break down the shingle from the underside. The top is protected from the sun by stone granules, but there is no such protection on the underside.

If your roofing company uses only inorganic roof deck protection, and installs it correctly, you won’t have a problem with rippling.

There are several good inorganic deck protections on the market ranging in price. Shingle mate is a very good product that is more than sufficient for most sloped roof applications. Tigerpaw is considered a premium product, and Deck Armor is a super premium deck protection that a professional company will recommend if you have a vaulted ceiling or decking which cannot be adequately ventilated.

Of course it goes without saying that you don’t want your roof installed during a rain storm because even the best deck protection will not keep running water from getting into your house and damaging your insulation and drywall. If it starts to rain, a good crew will have tarps handy to protect your home just in case.

Use the right deck protection, properly installed by a reputable roofing contractor who is certified in ventilation practices, you will have a long lasting, properly installed roof. If you hire a company that takes the right steps, you will be able to enjoy your roof for years to come.

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Jim McGuigan is a GAF Certified Contractor working in Wisconsin.