Home Improvement Ideas Home Exteriors Roofs How to Apply Underlayment to a Roof Roof underlayment installation, roofing felt, or "tar paper," is an important step when roofing a building. Here's how to do it. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on July 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Project Overview Total Time: 6 hours Skill Level: Intermediate 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. Some roofers prefer to attach felt underlayment with one-inch roofing nails ,or special nails with plastic washers, but most codes allow staples, which are easier to drive. For the lower portion of the roof—especially the part that overhangs the eaves and is susceptible to ice dams—it's a good idea to apply self-stick waterproof shingle underlayment (WSU), also called ice guard. Underlayment, flashings, and shingles all work together and must be installed in the correct order. If you lay the felt perfectly straight, you can use its lines (instead of horizontal chalklines) to align the shingles. Do not use felt as a temporary protection against rain: If it gets wet it will wrinkle, making it harder to shingle. If you need to temporarily protect a roof, cover it with plastic sheeting or a tarp. When working with a helper, expect to spend several hours to install the drip edge, WSU, and roofing felt on a medium-sized roof. Prep for the project by sweeping the sheathing clean of all debris and making sure there are no nails or splinters poking up. The Average Cost of Roof Repair vs. Replacement: What to Consider What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Tin snips Hammer Hammer stapler Utility knife Measuring tape Chalkline Materials Drip edge Waterproof shingle underlayment Roofing felt Staples or roofing nails Instructions Apply and Attach the Drip Edge Apply the drip edge to the eave. Cut the drip edge flashing at an angle at the corner, press it lightly against the eave end (not too hard or you'll misshape it), and drive a nail near the end. Use a chalkline or align it by eye to make sure it's straight, then drive roofing nails every foot or so to fasten it to the sheathing. How to Install Modified Bitumen Roofing Overlap and Cut the Drip Edges Where the drip-edge pieces meet, overlap them by at least 2 inches. Where the drip edge meets a valley or a hip, cut the pieces with overlapping tabs. Press the tabs firmly to make crisp corners with no gaps and attach them with roofing nails.Editor's tip: Where you meet a hip, apply felt up to the hip and cut the pieces so they fit snugly. Then apply a vertical course of felt along the hip that overlaps on each side. Align the Felt Snap a chalkline to help you align the WSU or felt. The WSU should overhang the drip edge by 1/2 inch, so snap a line that is 35-1/2 inches above the drip edge. Check at several points to make sure the overhang is consistent; it does not have to be perfect, but you may need to realign the drip edge. What Roof Jacks Are, and How to Use Them Roll Out the WSU Using the chalkline as a guide, roll out about 12 feet of WSU that's smooth and free of creases and bubbles. Often you can re-roll it, then unroll it while peeling off the paper backing. On a steep roof, you can adhere the bottom half first, then pull off the backing from above. Avoid creases and stay aligned with the chalkline. Press down to tightly seal the WSU.Editor's tip: When the weather promises to stay dry, many roofers prefer to install underlayment as they go. Apply one or two courses of WSU or felt, install the shingles, then apply more felt when you come within 6 inches of the top edge. Apply the WSU at a Valley No matter which valley method you use, for extra protection apply WSU at a valley. Snap chalklines on both sides for guides. Roll out and smooth the WSU and drive a few nails on one side to hold it temporarily. Fold over the other side and peel off the paper backing. Press it into place, remove the nails, and peel off the paper on the other side. Stay Parallel Overlap felt courses at least four inches. Snap a chalkline 32 inches above the top edge of the WSU or use the lines on the felt as guides. If you use the lines as guides for installing shingles, measure up from the drip edge to confirm that you stay parallel. Roll out the felt, eliminating creases or bubbles, and drive at least three staples every foot. Apply the Felt Apply felt right up to the ridge or to no more than 4 inches below it. (Rather than cutting the felt horizontally to fit, overlap it by more than 4 inches.) Apply felt on the ridge so it overlaps at least 8 inches on each side. Eliminate creases and bubbles. Attach Where the Roof Meets Wall Where the roof meets a wall, lap the felt up 4 inches if possible. Pry away the siding and slip the felt under the siding. In some situations, you may have to temporarily remove the siding and replace it after installing the underlayment, shingles, and flashing.