Here in south Florida, everyone is getting a new roof due to this past hurricane season. Roofing companies are the greatest thing since canned beer. My neighbor hired a company that has, obviously, taken on too much work. I say this because it was almost three months ago that her old roof was stripped to the base, and the new roofing felt/tar paper was installed and dried in. As I said, that was three months ago. Her new shingles have not yet been installed and probably won't be for another two to three weeks she has been told.
My question: with the tar paper being exposed for this period of time, has the integrity of it been compromised? Is this material worse for the wear for these three months of exposure to the elements?
Thank you.

 

i think it's fine. that's tough stuff. as long as the wind hasn't torn it

 

The tar paper is probably just fine. This is a very common way to protect the inside of the roof and house. Insurance companies say that you must do something to protect the inside of the house from more water damage. This method is probably the best. Tar paper is pretty tough. Wind is its biggest enemy.

 

Is there a required spacing for the Tar Paper nails? How about a minimun overlap requirement?

Don

 

The issue is wrinkling of felt that can telegraph through the new shingles. Usually only a problem with #30 felt. In S. Florida it may be synthetic underlayment instead of felt. This has much better performance and exposure than the traditional roofing felts.
Jim

 

UV rays from the sun break down asphalt products very quickly. 3 months of exposure will make the felt (tar paper) brittle and it may break up/tear more during shingle installation. The good news is that felt is inexpensive and not essential for a dry roof. Shingles will keep the roof dry. The felt is a vapor barrier to keep moisture in the attic from transferring to the hot shingles. If moisture gets to the shingles they can sweat--saturating and then rotting the plywood roof deck.

 

what Morgan and Best Metal Roof said is correct. However in your case, Florida is far enough below the 45th parallel, that the bad ultra violet rays are not usually a problem. There are some other roof covers available, but it would be cheaper to us tar paper and remove it and reeplace it at the time in shingling then to use the other products. $50.00 would probably but more thn enough tar paper to cover your house. Good Luck. One of my foremen is in Florida right now looking at hurricane roofs and hurricane damage.