View ChannelsFeatured: Finance
View ShowroomsFeatured: Radiantec - Radiant Solar Heating

BobVila.com

Home

Protecting the Roof With a Synthetic Underlayment

Sandro Di Pede of Interwrap explains the new technology behind roofing underlayments like the Titanium UDL being used on the Mashpee affordable home. Used in conjunction with an ice and water barrier, the Titanium UDL underlayment creates a weather-proof roof that can remain exposed for up to six months before being clad in the outer roofing layer. This advance in building technology lets builders seal the envelope of the house and be more flexible with the roofing schedule without compromising the construction. This 100-percent-synthetic polymer underlayment is lighter but sturdier than traditional builder's felt. One 40-pound roll of Titanium replaces six rolls of number 30 felt. This equates to savings in time, material, and storage. The grey material makes for a cooler, reflective roof that reduces energy loads on the home during high-temperature seasons. Titanium UDL also has a Sure-Foot patented design that reduces slipping for roofing crews.

Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Chapters from this episode

Protecting the Roof With a Synthetic Underlayment Now Playing

Protecting the Roof With a Synthetic Underlayment

Cladding the Roof in Fiberglass Shingles Now Playing

Cladding the Roof in Fiberglass Shingles

Installing Energy Efficient Windows Now Playing

Installing Energy Efficient Windows

Installing an Affordable Palladian-Look Window Now Playing

Installing an Affordable Palladian-Look Window

Reviewing the Home's Layout Now Playing

Reviewing the Home's Layout

Clip Transcript For:

Protecting the Roof With a Synthetic Underlayment

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Founder and if -- is here and he's gonna be telling us about a new roofing underlayment project product but right now senator there to get the first a couple of steps which is to put. The the head headaches which is really a combination of the drip edge and the venting as well as the armour guard which will be the material that. Keeps ice damming from happening so that you don't have any water freezing up behind -- but. That'll take a couple of minutes before we can get to. Your product. And why don't we talk a little -- as you really developed this and it comes out of the need to change with the original. What on the roofs found absolutely felt paper has been around for over a hundred years traditional what's really as a roofing underlayment underneath. Shingle or tile or metal -- remain with the utilities and residential homes right we looked at the home. Product and decided we wanted to probably stronger product and really change the way. Roofers and homeowners look at underlayment let's look at a piece of of what we're talking about it. This is what's going on the entire roof before the shingles are absolutely right Bob this is a new class of material comprised of -- for percent. Synthetic polymer material it is very very high strength lightweight material you can nail it down you can leave it exposed for six months. Inside tents where Roth very stiff without greatly been exposed without having to shingle over it right away so that if you. Are stripping -- house and you run out of time to receive that one day or one section averaging just leave this -- not worry about rainstorms absolutely absolutely you can leave it up for six months so really -- allows the homeowner and the builder in the refer to it. Expand the flexibility of doing the roof and -- privilege. What's the size of the rolls since squares which is a thousand square feet and weighs about forty pounds one roll of titanium replaces six rolls of thirty pound felt that in turn -- So basically you can do the whole home in basically two rolls. The product is also for slide versus the conventional treatment so they can cover more surface -- the roof per run. So the material is marked so they know exactly where to apply the nails yes and they're not need this stuff let's talk a little bit about the fastening. Top product. I mean obviously you got it and nail -- slowly this can do in the truck -- plywood of plastic -- now which pieces are put in manually or through automatic gun. Basically it's a serrated nail and the gun is a coil gun which assembles the nail. And the fastener together in the in the head and drives that into the underlayment and once in one shot terrific. All right now the other thing to one has to everybody is ready to slip on this stuff. Correct when we designed a product Bob we came up with a patent."

" Sure foot anti slip technology sure sure foot. Basically allows roofers the security and peace of mind of walking on steep pitches traditionally followers took it very slow from the what turned this surface allows the roofer safety and security. Are there any energy efficiency factors involved yes we also designed the material is that it's just great to turn -- grave sites nature as a reflective material I think like the color it allows the roof to be cooler which reduces the heat little energy -- home great fantastic. Thanks Sandra you're welcome Obama."

[-]

More Videos »Related Videos

Discussing the Titanium UDL Roof Underlayment

Bob discusses the Titanium UDL roof underlayment product with the roofing contractor and a representative from Simplex Industries. This engineered roofing underlayment product that is 100 percent asphalt free. The polymer resins and additives combine to deliver a roofing underlayment that can be used under on all types of primary roofing materials to replace asphalt felt paper. Unlike smooth surfaced underlayments, it has a walking surface technology that allows for steep slope walkability even in wet conditions. On the modular home roof the twelve-foot drop for twelve linear feet of roof this product has proven helpful to the contractors. The product can be installed in hot or cold weather.

Storm-Ready Roof Decking and Underlayment

Jesse Gonzalez joins Bob at the Punta Gorda storm-ready home to explain the roofing process. The crew has already nailed on the 30 pound asphalt-impregnated felt paper. They are now hot mopping 90 pound roll roofing with asphalt adhesive to make it adhere to the felt paper below. Gonzalez shows Bob the decorative wood dormers on the front of the house that are wrapped in house paper to protect against water intrusion. Bob remarks on the decorative arches above the front entry porch and the front window. They mirror each other as design elements and will both feature decorative columns. Around the back of the house the crew is completing a section of roof deck. They are using 5/8-inch plywood sheathing for a stiffer, more wind-resistant roof deck. The crew uses metal plywood clips to align the plywood and keep it even for nailing.

Installing Interlocking Plastic Subfloor to Prevent Basement Water Damage

Bob talks with Larry Janesky of Basement Systems Inc., about the equipment being put in place to prevent moisture damage. An underlayment is being put on the floor to prevent water transfer. The underlayment is a plastic intelocking subfloor made specifically for basements. Organic material, like wood, should not come into contact with the concrete subfloor because water vapor rises up through the concrete and can create problems with mold. Traditionally, people remodel basements by putting visqueen down on the concrete, laying down pressure-treated 2x4's, insulating in between the boards, and then laying down a plywood subfloor. The ThermalDry inorganic underlayment is a better solution as it has tracks to allow some air circulation. With a traditional subfloor, water vapor condenses into water underneath the visqueen then transfers to the wood and organic materials in the subfloor, causing mold and rot. Plumbing leaks can also result in a wet subfloor, causing the plywood to buckle and mold to grow. ThermalDry underlayment is quick to install, which saves time and money. The panels lock together with teeth and a shiplap design to stop the water vapor. The tiles allow for a little expansion and contraction and take up only a half-inch of the basement's ceiling height. This underlayment system costs about the same amount as the traditional method but, unlike traditional subfloors, does not require replacement after a water episode. If there is a water problem, the tiles can be lifted up, dried, and put back in place once the water issue is addressed. On a flat floor, the tiles will lay flat and the perimeter tiles will be secured to the floor. The completed floor will be made up of three layers: the underlayment, the pad, and the carpet. These multiple layers will minimize any sound from the rigid plastic coming into contact with the concrete slab. The Melrose home has a wavy basement floor, so extra fasteners will be put in to hold the underlayment down. A dehumidification system will be put in the basement to draw water out of the air before it becomes a problem. It's important to use a dehumidifier designed specifically for basements as most dehumidifiers are rated for 80 degree temperatures and basements typically are much cooler than this. In this project, the dehumidifier installed was a SaniDry Basement Air System which has air filtration built in and is Energy Star rated.

Basement Waterproofing

One of the key aspects of refinishing a basement is making sure it's dry and warm. Bob talks with Larry Janesky of Basement Systems about the steps taken to keep the Melrose basement dry. An interlocking plastic underlayment works as a subfloor for the basement floor. It's very important not to have organic material on the floor as it will be susceptible to mold from water vapor. Before the underlayment was put in place however, a perimeter drain was dug into the basement floor. The perimeter drain sends the water to a sump pump system. The system installed is called a Triple Safe System as it has three pumps inside; an AC pump, an AC backup, and a DC battery backup pump. Using this system, the basement should stay flood-proof. There is some standing water where the sump pump is being installed but this should not be a problem since the system has an air-tight lid on it so water cannot evaporate back into the home. A charger box for the sump pump alerts the homeowner when the pump is running on battery backup. Ice guard fittings have been placed over the pipes that carry the water to the exterior of the home so that water will drain even when water in the pipes is frozen. In an older home like this one, the foundation may be a little weaker and more porous than homes built today. To prevent rain water from seeping in through the foundation, a vapor barrier was installed. A product called Clean Space was also installed over the walls to direct water buildup from condensed water vapor into the perimeter drain. A flood ring was installed around the water heater, which will drain water into the perimeter drain. Dehumidifiers in basements should be basement rated. Normal dehumidifiers are designed to take water out of warmer air and might not be adequate for dehumidifying basements. A SaniDry Basement Air System was installed in the basement of the Melrose home. It can process 100 pints per day and has air filtration built into it. The system is Energy Star rated and will perform well in basement environments.