Why:

Keeping water out of the home during and after a Hurricane is a significant step to reducing damage. Roof coverings such as asphalt or fiberglass shingles, often blow off during a storm thus exposing the wood roof deck underneath to wind and water. The seams between the deck sheathing allow water to enter the home even if the entire roof structure is in tact.

Rubber or asphalt sheets with peel and stick undersides, also called self-adhering polymer modified bitumen underlayment, provides secondary water resistance for your home. By applying strips of the rubber or asphalt sheets, per manufacturer’s recommendations, to the OUTSIDE joints/seams of the roof decking, all joints/seams in the sheathing will be sealed. This has shown to greatly reduce water leaking into the home after the roof covering has been lost or damaged. This type of work can only be accomplished after all the roof-covering materials have been removed and the wood deck is exposed. The ideal time to install exterior Secondary Water Resistance material is during a planned replacement of the roof covering.

The application of a Foamed Polyurethane Sheathing Adhesive has also been shown to significantly reduce water leaks after the roof covering is lost. The adhesive is applied from INSIDE THE ATTIC without removal of a roof covering.

If you are planning to replace your roof covering in the near future, have your roofing contractor seal the exterior of your sheathing seams with one of the following products that should be available from a roofing supply company:

• Peal n Seal
• Wind and Water Seal

If you are not planning to replace your roof covering in the near future, consider the installation of Sprayed Polyurethane Sheathing Adhesive.