Best Roof Underlayment for Your Home?

When it comes to protecting your home, your roofing system is your first line of defense, but the roofing material underneath the shingles matters just as much. Choosing the best roofing underlayment can make or break your roof’s ability to withstand extreme weather, prevent leaks, and ensure long-term durability. Whether you’re in Phoenix facing scorching heat, Denver dealing with heavy snow, or White Mountain preparing for pine debris and storms, the right roof underlayment is key.

At In-Ex Designs Roofing, we’ve been helping homeowners with residential roofing and commercial roofing for over 25 years, and we’re here to break down your underlayment options. So, what’s the best underlayment for your new roof? Let’s explore the contenders and help you decide.

Understanding Roofing Underlayment: Why It Matters

Roof underlayment is the unsung hero of your roofing system. It’s a protective layer installed between your roof deck and the outer roofing shingles, acting as a water shield to prevent water penetration from rain, snow, or ice. It also helps with heat resistance and can prevent mold growth by keeping moisture out.

In a place like Phoenix, where monsoons can dump inches of rain in hours, or White Mountain, where snowmelt can seep into cracks, the right underlayment is crucial for your roof decking. But with so many underlayment products—from synthetic underlayment to felt underlayment to rubberized asphalt—how do you choose the right underlayment for your entire roof? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each to find the best roof underlayment for your needs.

Option 1: Synthetic Roofing Underlayment

Synthetic roofing underlayment has become a top choice for many homeowners, and for good reason. Made from advanced polymers, synthetic underlayment offers excellent protection with superior resistance to water damage and UV exposure, making it ideal for Phoenix’s intense heat. It’s also lightweight and durable, with a high tear strength that makes it perfect for asphalt shingle roof installations or metal roofing on sloped roofs.

Unlike traditional options, synthetic underlayment doesn’t absorb water, reducing the risk of mold growth—a big plus in humid climates like Denver after a snowfall. Brands like Owens Corning offer high-quality non bitum synthetic underlaym options that enhance any roofing system.

At In-Ex Designs, we often recommend synthetic underlayment for our synthetic roofing projects because it complements the durability of roofing shingles like synthetic slate or shake. During a roof installation, our team ensures the underlayment meets local building code standards, providing peace of mind for both residential roof replacement and commercial roofing projects. Want to learn more about why synthetic materials are taking over?

Check out our blog on Why Synthetic Roofing Is the Future for Phoenix Homes, where we dive deeper into how synthetic roof underlayment protects your home from the desert climate.

Option 2: Traditional Felt Paper

Felt underlayment, also known as asphalt saturated felt or roofing felt, has been a staple in the roofing industry for decades. It’s typically sold in a roll and measured by square foot, making it a cost-effective underlayment material for many roofing contractors. Felt underlayment provides decent water resistance and is easy to install, especially for shingle roof systems using asphalt shingles or metal roof setups. It’s a solid choice for budget-conscious homeowners looking for a new roof without breaking the bank.

However, roofing felt has its downsides. It can degrade under prolonged exposure to extreme weather, such as Phoenix’s intense heat, and it’s more prone to water damage over time compared to synthetic options. If you’re considering felt for a roof replacement, you’ll need to weigh its lower cost against its shorter lifespan. For more details on how felt compares, our Synthetic Roofing services page explains why we often opt for synthetic materials in our roof installation projects.

Option 3: Rubberized Asphalt Underlayment

Rubberized asphalt underlayment is another strong contender for the best underlayment title. This type combines the benefits of asphalt with a rubber-like coating, making it highly effective at preventing water penetration. It’s often used in areas prone to heavy rain or snow, like White Mountain, because it creates a strong water shield that seals around nails and seams. Options like self adhered underlayment make it a great choice for metal roofing or asphalt shingle roof installations, where extra protection is needed against moisture.

During a roof inspection, our team at In-Ex Designs often recommends this for commercial roofing projects where durability is critical.

The downside? Rubberized asphalt can be heavier and more expensive than synthetic or felt options, and it may not handle extreme weather like intense heat as well as synthetic underlayment. Still, its self-sealing properties make it a favorite for roofing contractors working on high-risk areas. Curious about how it pairs with synthetic roofing? Our Synthetic Roofing page highlights how we integrate top-tier underlayment products into every project, ensuring your roof deck stays protected.

Factors to Consider When Choosing

The best roof underlayment for your entire roof depends on several factors:

• Climate: In Phoenix, you’ll need underlayment with strong heat resistance to handle 100°F+ days—something synthetic excels at. In White Mountain, water damage from snowmelt is a bigger concern, where rubberized asphalt shines.
• Roof Type: Asphalt shingle roof systems or metal roof setups may benefit from synthetic underlayment’s durability, while flat roofs might pair well with self adhered underlayment.
• Budget: Felt underlayment is the most affordable, but synthetic options offer better long-term value despite a higher initial cost.
• Roofing Material: If you’re using synthetic roofing like we offer at In-Ex Designs, a synthetic roof underlayment ensures compatibility and excellent protection.

Need more insight? Our blog on Why Synthetic Roofing Is the Future for Phoenix Homes compares synthetic underlayment to traditional options, helping you see what works best for your roofing system during a residential roof replacement.

Why Trust In-Ex Designs Roofing?

Choosing the right underlayment can feel overwhelming, but In-Ex Designs Roofing is here to help. With over 25 years of experience, we’ve installed countless roofing shingles across Phoenix, Denver, and White Mountain, using the best underlayment material for each climate. Whether you’re leaning toward synthetic roofing underlayment, rubberized asphalt underlayment, or even asphalt saturated felt, our team will guide you to the perfect underlayment option for your shingle roof.

We also ensure every roof installation meets building code standards, giving you peace of mind. Check out our Synthetic Roofing services to see how we pair top-tier underlayments with our premium residential roofing solutions, or read more about synthetic options in our Synthetic Roofing blog.

Best Roof Underlayment?

So, what’s the best roof underlayment for your home? It depends on your priorities. If durability and heat resistance are key, synthetic underlayment might be your pick for your entire roof. If you’re focused on sealing out moisture in a snowy climate, rubberized asphalt underlayment could be the way to go. On a tight budget? Felt underlayment still gets the job done.

Contact In-Ex Designs Roofing for a free roof inspection—we’ll assess your roof decking, discuss underlayment products, and help you find the perfect solution for your new roof. Call (602) 842-8887 or request a quote today!