How Wide Is Roll Roofing?

Saturated Felt

• Saturated felt is also known as felt paper or tar paper. This is the underlay used as a moisture barrier between the plywood and the roofing material. Saturated felt is a lightweight material that comes in rolls 36 inches wide and is made by applying an asphalt coating onto felt. There are a variety of thicknesses, referred to as weight, available for your application. Generally, saturated felt is used on sloped roofs. The weight of the roll determines how much of the roof area is covered. A 15-pound weight covers more than a 30-pound weight of saturated felt roll roofing.

Coated Felt Roll Roofing

• Coated felt roll roofing is used in the valleys or along the edges of the roof where water may build up or enter under the shingles. The surface is coated with an asphalt designed to withstand the weather. As with saturated felt, coated felt comes in a variety of weights and lengths per roll. The standard width of coated felt roofing is 36 inches.

Mineral Surfaced Roofing

• Mineral surfaced roofing is manufactured similarly to asphalt shingles. The top surface is coated with some type of mineral, such as slate dust. This type of roll roofing is most commonly used on flat roofs or where there is little slope to the roof. Mineral surfaced roofing is also used on small outbuildings, such as a garden shed. The material comes in 36-inch rolls and is available in a variety of colors.

Flashing

• Flashing is also considered a type of roll roofing. The material is generally a thin aluminum that may be painted on one side by the manufacturer. Flashing is used around chimneys, soil pipes and skylights as a moisture barrier that keeps rain water and snow from seeping under the shingles around the exposed areas. Flashing may also be used along the edges of the roof where ice can build up, causing shingles to lift off the roof. Standard flashing comes in rolls 24 inches wide, although there are other widths available for larger projects.