Looking to waterproof your roof this fall season? It all starts with understanding the fundamentals of roof replacement. We’re helping homeowners learn about the roof installation process and all roof products involved. In this blog, we want to chat about leak barrier protection and how it keeps your home dry during every season. Keep in mind that we have a cold and snowy 2023-2024 winter ahead, which means plenty of moisture to plague your roof.
What is leak barrier protection?
It has several purposes during the roof installation process. First, it’s just as it sounds—it guards against leaks from entering into your attic which reduces the risk of cost;y repairs due to interior walls and ceiling staining from leaks. It helps keep water and ice out of the most vulnerable areas of your roof which can be prone to ice dams in the eaves, rakes, valleys, around chimneys, skylights, and more
Furthermore, its protection can prevent wind-driven rain and ice dams during the autumn. This is especially important when temperatures dip below freezing, which can start happening as soon as mid-October.
Without leak barrier protection, you might experience the following ailments with your roof:
- Leaks in the most susceptible areas of your roof. Generally, this is an area of your roof that has shingles cut to fit specific sizes, such as the roof valley, chimney, and plumbing vents.
- Leaks can result in a wet roof deck which can cause blistering or rot.
- Water can soak into your roof and cause ice dams during the winter. Most building codes require the use of leak barriers at the eaves to protect against ice dams where winter average temperature is 25°F or lower but it’s important to know Ice dams can still occur in areas where the average temperature is above 25°F.
- Ice dams can cause extensive damage, including pulling off the gutter system and parts of your roof when they collapse
- If a shingle blows off the roof, the leak barrier protection can serve as emergency prevention against the elements.
- Without leak barrier protection, you may also experience interior issues of moisture damage including stained ceilings and walls.
It functions as a waterproof system to keep your home dry and free of leaks or ice dams. It’s an important aspect of your fall home maintenance as well as overall roof performance.
Fall roof installation process with leak barrier protection
It’s autumn and you decided you’re ready for new roof installation. When the leak barrier protection is being installed, the roof deck is cleaned from debris. It is then cut into sections and aligned with the edge of the eave. When the product is applied to the roof, it is often self-adhesive and activated by heat. Other ways to attach the leak barrier protection include nails and roofing fasteners.
For climates such as New England where we experience mild to cold autumns and extreme winters, leak barrier protection can be installed under the drip edge and over the fascia. It protects against ice damming problems during the winter.
In areas that are susceptible to leaks, such as around the chimney, the leak barrier protection is placed on the roof and the flashing goes on top of it.
What is the best type of leak barrier protection?
Coastal Windows & Exteriors uses premium leak barrier protection from GAF roofing. Earning the Good House Keeping Seal is an incredibly important element to include during the roof installation process and keep your home free from leaks.
Our GAF leak barrier protection enhances roof installation in the following ways:
- Creates a second barrier against leaks from the most vulnerable areas of your roof. This protects against roof deck rot and ice dams in the fall and winter.
- It can also easily withstand hot New England summers as well as brutally cold temperatures in the winter.
- Quick to install so our skilled contractors can complete your roof installation project correctly and efficiently.
- Helps resist the wrinkling and buckling of asphalt shingles.
- Flexible and versatile for asphalt roof installation in Massachusetts and throughout New England. This product is cut to size and matches the specific shape of your roof.
Overall, GAF’s product provides a second incredible waterproofing layer for your new roof installation.
GAF Certified Roofing Contractors
As a GAF Certified Roofing contractor, we are trained to use leak barrier protection as a second layer against leaks. Not all roofing contractors in Massachusetts take this critical step!
Don’t take a gamble on poor roofing installation practices or inexperienced contractors. Coastal Windows & Exteriors are GAF Certified Roofing Contractors. Only a very small percentage of contractors earn this certification, showcasing that we are the best in the business. We are also one of the top 100 replacement window companies in the nation, ranked on Remodeling’s Top 550!
In the upcoming roofing system series posts, we’ll be covering other aspects of roof replacement including:
- Roof deck protection
- Ridge and soffit vents
- Stripping roofs down to the sheathing
- Quality asphalt shingles
See your home with a new roof in 3D for FREE with your estimate
Are you looking for free roofing quotes? Please click here or call 978-817-7072 to reach out to us for an estimate and make sure you check our monthly promo and financing options. Best of all, you can see what your home looks like with a new roof for FREE in 3D.
We want all homeowners to enjoy the incredible power of new roof replacement!
