Texas thunderstorms are nothing to mess with, but the last thing you want to see during a storm is water trickling down from your ceiling into your house. Water-related problems make up about 65% of all home-related service calls in the United States.
I will never forget during last year’s freak storm that ripped through The Woodlands, my kids ran upstairs to get me, shouting, “Dad! Hurry! Water is everywhere!” Water found its way through a poorly sealed newly installed window. It shocked me how much water was coming in through one spot. The company came and resealed the window, then inspected the other windows in my house to make sure it would not happen again. And it didn’t, thank God.
A roof leak, however, can be far more devastating as it takes longer to notice, increasing damage to walls, insulation, and expensive attic HVAC equipment, not to mention mold and mildew growth. This can occur for weeks or months without anyone noticing.
This is why quality roofing matters! This is why you should learn a bit about what goes into your roof so you can be a informed consumer.
What most humans call a “roof” is actually a genius system of supporting layers that help to keep what’s underneath the roof safe and comfortable (You!). We see the shingles from the outside and the attic plywood ceiling from the inside, but between those two a lot is going on.
One of those components is the leak barrier, also called the ice and water shield. An ice and water shield is an underlayment designed to protect a roof from water infiltration, particularly for Gulf Coast states that get a lot of rain. When hurricanes or thunderstorms come, heavy rains and high winds make these systems crucial to keeping water on the outside.
These leak barriers are self-adhering membranes that are typically made of rubberized asphalt or similar material. This shield is installed on the roof deck before the application of other roofing layers, like your shingles.
These barriers are incredible and offer waterproofing and water management.
They make especially vulnerable areas waterproof, like valleys, eaves, and areas around roof penetrations like chimneys and skylights. The self-adhering property creates a continuous seal, reducing the risk of water penetration. Also, they are flexible, adapting to the contours of the tricky parts of the roof’s irregularities and features. When we get the occasional freeze, the shields make sure the ice or snow melts in a way that it drains properly.
It’s important to note that the installation of an ice and water shield is often required by building codes in regions prone to heavy precipitation. However, even in milder climates, roofing professionals choose to use this protective underlayment as an added precaution against water infiltration. No one needs that nightmare!