Definition

Noun: A heavy, durable paper or felt material that has been saturated or coated with a waterproofing substance, such as tar or asphalt. It is used as an underlayment or base layer in roof construction to provide a water-resistant barrier and protect the structure from moisture.

Usage

Roofing paper is installed directly onto the roof deck, beneath the final roofing material (such as shingles, tiles, or metal sheets). Its primary function is to prevent water infiltration and protect the underlying wood from rot.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Before laying the asphalt shingles, the workers rolled out the roofing paper across the entire deck.
  • A leak developed because the old roofing paper had deteriorated and was no longer waterproof.

Advanced Usage

• "to lay/install roofing paper": The process of unrolling and securing the material to the roof deck.
  • The first step in reroofing the shed is to lay new roofing paper.
• "underlayment": A common synonym in construction terminology for roofing paper when describing its function as a protective layer.
  • The synthetic underlayment performed better than traditional felt roofing paper.

Variants and Related Words

• Tar paper: A specific, traditional type of roofing paper impregnated with tar.
  • They used tar paper as a temporary patch for the damaged roof section.
• Felt paper: Another common term, referring to the base material (often made of organic or fiberglass felt) before it is coated.
  • The roofer checked the weight specification of the felt paper.
• Underlayment: A broader category of materials, including synthetic options, used for the same purpose as traditional roofing paper.

Synonyms

• Underlayment: A layer of material placed under the primary roof covering.
• Sheathing paper: An older term sometimes used interchangeably.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Drip edge: A metal flashing installed along the roof's edges, often over or under the roofing paper, to direct water away.
• Ice and water shield: A specialized, self-adhering waterproofing membrane that serves a similar but often more robust function than standard roofing paper in vulnerable areas.

Noun

1. a heavy paper impregnated with tar and used as part of a roof for waterproofing