Installing Tar Paper Under Siding

In fact many builders disagree on the effectiveness of house wraps altogether and while some builders will only install 15 pound asphalt saturated felt paper underneath exterior siding others swear by plastic fabric house wraps such as typar or tyvek.

Installing tar paper under siding.

I saw a new house with felt paper under the siding rather than tyvek. Position the next course of tar paper farther up the roof so that its lower edge overlaps the upper edge of the paper in the first course by 1 foot. Some roofers prefer to attach felt underlayment with 1 inch roofing nails or special nails with plastic washers but most codes allow staples which are easier to drive. Use tyvek over building felt under siding.

Faq s acronym s terminology to tyvek or not to tyvek that is the question. I want to replace the tar paper but i can t find it at homedepot or lowes. Working with a helper unroll the paper so it is about 2 inches below the sill plate and pull it taut. The walls are intended to dry to the outside.

Install all subsequent courses with the same overlap until the top edge of the paper is within 6 inches of the roof s peak. The house will have a rain screen gap made of strips of pt plywood. You want any water that does get behind the siding to run down and never be allowed to get near any wood. I am about to replace the weathered tar paper with two new layers of 15 felt before siding the house with cedar clapboards.

Before applying roofing you ll need to cover the sheathing with roofing felt also often called tar paper most local codes call for using 30 pound felt. We re in the coastal rainforest of southeast alaska very wet. Staple down the tar paper. Hold a roll of felt paper against the left edge of the wall with the top end of the roll aligned with the chalk line.

Check that it is level and aligned and drive staples or cap nails. Another great installation tip is to make sure the first strip of tar paper is installed so it overlaps the top of the foundation at least an inch.