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Felt Roofing in Northern Ireland - Installation, Repair & Re-Felting Costs
Table of Contents
Free Northern Ireland felt roofing costs from approved roofers
The best way to ensure a roof is waterproof while also making it safe for workers is by installing Northern Ireland felt roofing. This is an essential part of a new roofing job and is even required in many instances. Finding a contractor who will provide the right quality of product and ensure a seamless finish is essential in order to avoid serious roofing problems later.
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What is Felt Roofing?
Sometimes referred to as tar paper, Northern Ireland felt roofing consists of a thick grade of paper that is coated with a layer of tar to help make it waterproof. It is referred to as roofing felt because it was traditionally made from cloth rather than paper. Modern felt is usually a shiny black colour and somewhat resembles wet tar. It is used to cover the deck of a roof prior to laying the roofing material and is most often used on wooden or asphalt-shingled roofs.
An Added Layer of Protection
Felt roofing is optional in some cases, so it’s something you should research and understand before you start any roof replacement or new roofing project. This material is quite durable, but it will only last five to eight years under normal conditions, even when properly installed, if it is not used as the base for another roofing material. It’s most commonly used on flat roofs under fibreglass and asphalt, but it’s also popular on sloped roofs as a layer between your decking and shingles. This keeps your home dry during the roof installation, and it also keeps you dry in the event a storm causes damage to your shingles.
Advantages of a Felt Roof
While it can be tempting for homeowners to skip laying felt, doing so can ultimately affect the longevity of the roof. Since this material provides an added layer of protection against moisture, failing to add roofing felt could result in damage to the rafters or eaves over time. These components could end up being very costly to repair, which means that tar paper often saves homeowners a great deal of money in the long run. Other advantages to felt roofing include:
- Shingles that lay flatter, thereby providing a more professional finished look
- Makes the roof’s surface safer for contractors to walk on
- Can improve the overall fire rating of a home
- Provides a minimum amount of protection should the shingles blow off at a later time
- Do not absorb water, so reduces the odds of damage to attic spaces
- Takes very little time to install
- Does not bubble or warp when exposed to high winds
Potential Disadvantages of Felt Roofing
Technically, felt is not an actual roof material as such. Instead, it consists of a thick type of paper that has been coated with tar, and this is then used to cover the deck area of a roof before the actual roofing material is laid. It is normally used in conjunction with asphalt-shingled or wooden roofs.
- Unlike with other types of roofing that have lifespans of more than 20 years, felt roofing near me normally lasts between five and eight years on average.
- Felt roofing is not available in as wide a range of colour options as other forms of roof materials.
Different Types of Roofing Felt
Roofing felt comes in two basic types. The #15 type is the standard variety which is used on most homes, garages and outbuildings. It is aptly named because the paper originally weighed around 15 U.S. pounds per square. The second type is #30, which originally weighed 30 U.S. pounds per square. It is preferred on roofs that have a very steep pitch and some examples are churches, A-frame cottages and many two-story residences.
Felt Roofing on a Flat vs. a Pitched Roof
Felt roofing is extremely popular – and sometimes even required per building codes – for flat roofs, but people often wonder why it should be installed at all on a sloped roof, especially since it will inevitably be punctured by thousands of nails when the shingles go down. Felt provides the same initial benefits on a pitched roof as a flat roof, though. It provides a waterproof barrier during the process of installing the roof, which is vital in wet and humid climates. You can think of it as an extra layer of protection.
Northern Ireland Felt Roofing Costs
When it comes to installation, there are a number of factors that influence the cost of re-felting a roof, and a few of them include:
- Whether #15 or #30 tar paper is used
- How much (if any) roofing material needs to be removed before the product is laid
- Amount of cutting needed to make the felt lay smooth against chimneys and other openings
- Size of the roof
- Height of the roof – buildings over two stories high may require special equipment in order to access and this could increase the overall cost of the project
- Whether the product is manually stapled or nailed using a pneumatic air gun. Attaching the material with an air gun takes much less time and usually costs less since fewer man-hours of labour are required
- Whether the same Northern Ireland contractor will also be applying the actual roofing material, since many will offer a discount if they are hired to do both jobs
When you consider all the advantages of Northern Ireland felt roofing, it’s clear that the benefits outweigh the costs associated with it. Homeowners who choose a specialist contractor to install this material will be rewarded with a durable and attractive roof that will withstand a variety of weather conditions.
The speed with which we were contacted from my first request was literally minutes. Mr P. Northern Ireland
Your Northern Ireland felt roofing questions answered
Felt impregnated with asphalt, also known as bitumen is laid down beneath the asphalt or other shingles. This serves to help the shingles adhere to the roof and to create a waterproofing barrier. This is one of the most commonly used components in traditional roofing.
No. Tar paper, which is a similar material only made of bitumen-impregnated paper instead of felt, was commonly used but in most situations, roofing felt has replaced the use of tar paper. Some newer types of roofing have completely eliminated the use of tar paper or roofing felt.
No, not effectively. Felt roofing is most often used when paired with other roofing materials such as shingles or tiles. When installed properly, it provides an extra layer of waterproofing to protect your home.
Felt is most commonly paired with asphalt or fibreglass composite shingles. It is less commonly used on flat roofs, and with heavier roofing materials such as concrete tiles.
Felt roofing should be placed directly over top of your roof’s decking prior to laying shingles or other roofing material. This felt provides an additional layer of waterproofing, and also helps insulate your home from outside noise.
The main purpose of installing felt roofing under another type of roofing material is to provide an additional layer of waterproofing on your property. It is not normally recommended to use felt roofing as a standalone option for covering a roof.
Felt roofing is also known as tar paper. It’s nothing more than thick paper with a layer of tar for waterproofing. Years ago, though, it was made from felt-like cloth, which is why it is still called felt roofing today.
Felt roofing isn’t designed to protect the outer roofing material. Rather, it’s designed to protect the structure of your home in the event the outer materials are damaged in some way. If a few shingles blow off the roof in a storm, the felt roofing can provide an extra layer of waterproof protection.
Felt roofing is incredibly popular, and most contractors are quite experienced with the processes involved. However, you should still take the time to get quotes from multiple contractors, then ask questions about the type of tar paper used, how they’ll install it, and even how long they expect the process to take. All of these things can help you make the right decision for your needs.
The cost involved with installing felt roofing will depend on the thickness of the tarpaper being used, the size of your home’s roof and how easy it will be to access the roof. Our network of professional Northern Ireland contractors will provide you with a quote before starting work.
Owing to the face that felt needs to be installed under other types of roofing such as tiles or sheets, it is not recommended that you attempt to do this as a DIY project. Always ensure that you use a reliable roofing company to perform tasks like these.
The Quote Process
1 Complete Our Felt Roof Form
Give us just a few details about your felt roofing requirements. Don't worry if you're not sure about measurements and coverage.
2 Get Free Felt Roofing Quotes
We'll organise up to four free quotes to come direct from our specialist network of approved roofers, all of which are obligation-free.
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Example Felt Requests
From outbuildings to flat roofing and sheds... you're not alone if you need your Northern Ireland felt roof repaired or replaced. These are just a few of the quote requests we receive daily here at Trusted Roofing.
| Date | Summary | Request |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov | Summerhouse Roof | I have a garden shed/summerhouse. The existing roofing felt is leaking and needs to be replaced. It has a single front to back shallow slope. |
| 14 Nov | Re-Felting | Garage roof (flat) on average 3 bed property needs repairing . Will need re-felting and some new planks installed. |
| 14 Nov | Repair and Re-cover | Repair timber roof overhang support and recover roof with something more robust and durable than felt which is leaking. Single garage sized shed with 1.5 metre overhang down one side. |
| 14 Nov | Workshop Weatherproofing | Have a leak in my workshop flat felt roof and need it to be made weatherproof again |
| 14 Nov | Single Garage | Quote for Small Single Garage Flat Felt Roof and wooden support beams(think these are rotten) |
| 13 Nov | Replacement Roof | Need my garage roof replacing it is a flat roof all timber and facials are in good condition just the roof itself needs boarding and re felting |
| 13 Nov | Bay Window Roof | Flat roof over bay window and front door approximately 5m x 60cm. New high quality black felt or new pitched canopy with tile. Thanks. |
| 13 Nov | Garage Roof | I need a garage roof re-felting its a single garage 2.8 m x just over 5m easy access from the drive but has two sides with neighbours but should not pose an issue (the under boards seem to be in good condition). Would it help if I remove the old felt and clean the roof? |
| 13 Nov | Flat Roof Repairs | Hi i am looking at getting my flat roof repaired . Its approx 6ft wide by 15ft and has not been replaced since 2003. I have made a few small repairs during the last couple of years due to leaks and is getting worse. |
| 13 Nov | Garden Sheds | New replacement felt roofing needed for our garden sheds. The sheds are far bigger than standard so not a DIY job I want to undertake. Free quotes needed please. |
| Shed Felt | We are building a shed on our property to house our lawn mower and other gardening equipment. Please provide us with a quote for a roof for this type of building. | |
| Opinions Wanted | We have existing felt on our Chepstow property that is starting to disintegrate into pieces and we would like to know if it is really necessary on our roof. Please can you give us an expert opinion, and if it is necessary to replace it, a quote to complete the job? Thank you. | |
| Quote Needed | The roof on my home has become worn, threatening the integrity of the roof itself. I would appreciate a quote for re-felting for an average size home. | |
| Outbuilding | Our outbuilding has a simple felt roof which has been in place for over 20 years that we know of. Having patched it several times ourselves we know it's now time to replace it entirely. |
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