How to Waterproof Your Roof

Here in the United States and beyond, extreme weather is the new normal, so the usual roof maintenance and repairs are no longer an option. One of the biggest challenges is keeping water from leaking through your roof. By its nature, water runs down a roof. From simple drips to downpours, water will find holes and seep under your shingles. If there is a way in, water will find it. Thus, it is critical that every slope and corner of a roof must be constructed to withstand any degree of rain to prevent damage and costly repairs.

To protect your roof from relentless water, use self-adhered roofing underlayments. The complete roof system consists of multiple layers – not just the shingles. Shingles are the exterior layer, and shingles alone will not keep the water out. What makes the difference and protects your roof from water damage is the roofing underlayment, which is installed underneath the shingles. Roofing underlayments perform many functions in a roofing assembly, but first and foremost, they serve as the last line of defense between homeowners and the damaging effects of water infiltration.

There is a wide variation in product quality and performance. GCP Applied Technologies’ Grace Ice & Water Shield® pioneered the self-adhered roofing underlayment category more than 35 years ago. Grace Ice & Water Shield® provides premium performance as it seals to itself at overlaps, seals to the roof deck and, most importantly, seals around the fasteners used to attach the shingles, which helps prevent water from leaking into your home.

Selecting an educated contractor and the proper construction materials now will make a big difference in the future of your roof and home, bringing you peace of mind.