Every part of your roofing system plays a vital role in making sure that you, your loved ones, and your valuables are well protected from the elements outside.

Unfortunately, some of the components are often overlooked and left neglected. Two of these are the underlayment and the decking, also known as the sheathing. Have you ever heard of them? If not, DryTech Roofing, the expert roofers in Maryland, have answered several questions about these two important roofing components:

What is a roof decking?

The decking, or the sheathing, is usually made of either plywood or oriented strand board. It’s the wood panel that covers the rafters and acts as a base where the shingles are installed.

Why is it important?

Because the roof decking is where the roofing shingles are installed, it needs to be durable and strong enough to hold the weight of the roofing material.

What is a roofing underlayment?

The underlayment is a heavy felt paper placed on top of the roof decking before the roofing shingles are installed.

Why is it important?

The underlayment, often referred to by roofers as tar paper, provides an extra layer of protection against moisture—a kind of barrier between the wood decking and shingles, if you will. Especially during winters and rainy seasons, moisture can easily seep into the shingles, decking, rafters, and eventually your home. If there’s no underlayment on your roof, nothing can protect the substrate from immediate water contact and the consequent water damage.

If you need help fixing your decking, underlayment, and other parts of your roofing system, you can rely on DryTech Roofing. Our team is composed of the best Maryland roofers and can practically do pretty much everything when it comes to roofing repair and installation. Learn more about our company, products, and services by giving us a call.