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.
Roofing tar paper overlap.
Roofing felt is required to overlap 2 inches over the lower felt course.
Tack it firmly in place.
This will help give you a moisture barrier on the roof.
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.
Continue overlapping strips up each side of the roof.
Roll the roof paper up and over the peak.
The overlapping felt creates a secondary barrier for moisture and wicks water away from the shingles above and the sheathing below.
Therefore a 2 inch overlap provides redundancy at the edges where the barrier is weakest.
Step 6 overlap next roll.
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.
Secure the outside edges with plastic capped roofing nails at 12 inch intervals.
Even if there s older tar paper in place you should simply rip it off and replace it.
Staple down the tar paper.
Make sure the rolls overlap by at least four inches and staple them into place on the wood.
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.
Step 5 secure ends.
Make at least three layers.
Overlapping the tar paper layers to create a seal.
As you work the paper can be tacked down in the center so it won t blow away.
The roofing felt should be applied in layers that overlap.
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.
Experienced professionals never allow the hot tar to clump up or build up in any area.
This overhang will ensure water will not enter underneath the paper getting trapped on top of the wood roof planks.
Step 4 over the peak.
As long as the wood on your roof is in good condition you can go ahead and put tar paper down.
Climb onto the roof and lay a second strip of tar paper above the first strip overlapping it by about 5 inches.
Install all subsequent courses with the same overlap until the top edge of the paper is within 6 inches of the roof s peak.
