01
Specify by area
Have the proposal distinguish the roof field, edges, valleys and transitions. A single underlayment line does not explain whether different details need different products.
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Underlayment: protection beneath the covering.
The covering and the layers beneath it need to be specified together. Ask what is being installed, where it belongs and which instructions apply to that combination.
In short
If felt is proposed, ask for its exact specification and how it will be handled before the covering is installed.
- SyntheticSynthetic is a category, not a complete specification. Ask for the product name and its installation and exposure limits.
- Self-adheredAsk where a self-adhered membrane is proposed and whether it is compatible with the deck, covering and intended assembly.
02
Check the permitted slope first
Additional underlayment does not make shingles suitable below the product’s permitted minimum slope. Ask for each roof section’s measured slope and the exact covering’s installation instructions. Low-slope underlayment requirements apply within the range those instructions allow.
03
Plan for a weather interruption
Ask how uncovered areas will be protected and who checks them after weather. A product’s exposure limit is not a promise that an unfinished roof cannot leak.
Questions
Useful answers, without overpromising.
Is synthetic always the right choice?
Compare the exact products and assembly requirements rather than selecting by category alone.
Should the whole roof be self-adhered membrane?
Ask the designer or installer to explain the proposed assembly, compatibility and moisture-management approach. This guide does not specify one build-up for every roof.
What if a porch is flatter than the main roof?
Have its slope measured separately. Do not assume the main roof’s covering and underlayment specification also suits the porch.
It rained during the work. What should I record?
From a safe occupied area, record visible water entry and when it occurred. Avoid unsafe attic access. Ask the contractor to assess affected materials and explain the next steps before they are covered.
Where do I find the installation requirements?
Request the current instructions for the exact product named in the proposal, not only a brochure for the brand. The manufacturer example linked in Source notes is not a specification for your property.
Assessment request
Tell us what is happening at the property.
Short, routing-only questions. Nothing here asks you to diagnose the roof yourself.