Don’t Let Your Roof Sweat: The Wonders of Breathable Roof Felt

A properly maintained roof is essential for UK homeowners. It shields your house from the weather, keeps your belongings safe, and improves the overall thermal efficiency of your building. In contemporary roofing systems, the underlayment, especially a breathable felt—is an essential item but often overlooked.

Now let us examine breathable roof felt, their advantages, and the reasons UK roofs require them.

So, What is Breathable Roof Felt?

Breathable roof felt, sometimes referred to as a breathable underlay membrane (BUM), is a state-of-the-art sheet material that is directly applied to the roof rafters prior to the installation of the final roof covering, like tiles or slates.

BUMs are made to be waterproof from the outside while allowing water vapor to escape from the roof space, in contrast to conventional non-breathable felts.

Why is Breathable Roof Felt Necessary in the UK?

The weather in the UK has got a lot of drawbacks for roofs. Even though UK do not experience extreme weather events as other nations, the homes are still subject to wind, rain, and temperature changes. This leads to an ongoing struggle.

Naturally, warm air from within your house rises and comes into contact with the cooler roof structure.

This point of contact may allow moisture to collect on the roof deck’s underside, which could result in a number of issues:

Rot and Decay: Wood that is exposed to a lot of moisture is more likely to rot and decay, which can affect the roof’s structural stability. If something goes wrong, it might require extensive repairs.

Mould Growth: Mould prefers a moist environment to grow. Spores from mould can harm roof timbers. They can also prove dangerous for health by triggering allergic reactions and respiratory issues.

Decreased Insulation Efficiency: Wet insulation becomes less effective at keeping your house warm, which raises heating expenses and lowers comfort.

Benefits of Using Breathable Roof Felt:

Breathable roof felt addresses these problems by providing a number of important advantages:

Enhanced Insulation Performance: Breathable roof felt keeps your roof insulation more effective by keeping moisture from building up in the roof structure. This results in cheaper energy costs and a warmer house throughout the winter.

Moisture Management: Breathability is a BUM’s most important feature. Because the membrane has tiny holes in it, water vapor can escape from the loft area. This lowers the risk of rot and the growth of mold by preventing condensation from building up on the underside of the roof deck.

Enhanced Weather Protection: BUMs are extremely water resistant in addition to being breathable. If there are leaks in the primary roof covering, they serve as a backup barrier to stop rain and snow from getting inside your home and damaging your roof’s timbers.

Better Ventilation: BUMs frequently have integrated ventilation paths or overlaps that promote airflow in the roof cavity. This helps keep the atmosphere on the roof healthy and aids in the removal of moisture.

Lifespan and Durability: Because modern BUMs are made of sturdy, UV-resistant materials, they have a long lifespan and require little upkeep. This increases the lifespan of your roof system as a whole.

Choosing the Right Breathable Roof Felt

When selecting a BUM, it’s crucial to consider several factors:

Roof Pitch: The amount of breathability that your felt needs will depend on the angle of your roof.

• A slightly less breathable membrane might be appropriate because steeper roofs allow for natural ventilation.
• On the other hand, highly breathable roof felt is needed for low-pitched or flat roofs in order to ensure adequate moisture management.

Roof Covering: The BUM choice may vary depending on the kind of slates or tiles you are using. For certain tiles, the underlayment may need to have a higher level of water resistance.

Building Regulations: Most new roof constructions in the UK are required to use a breathable underlayment, as per BS 5534: Slating and Tiling for Roofing. You can make sure you adhere to all applicable regulations by consulting a professional roofer.

Installation Considerations:

Even if some do-it-yourselfers are tempted to tackle BUM installation themselves, it is strongly advised to hire a licensed and experienced roofer instead. The effectiveness of the breathable roof felt depends on proper installation. Roofers make sure ventilation pathways are kept clean, overlaps are sealed tightly, and the membrane is installed correctly.

Why You Need Breathable Roof Felt on Your Roof

Breathable roof felt is no longer an option, it’s necessity in the UK.

BUMs contribute to the overall health, energy efficiency, longevity of your roof, by improving ventilation, offering weather protection, and preventing condensation.

Homeowners can get peace of mind knowing your roof is well-protected. Professional roofers understand the value BUMs in creating durable roof system.

There are a wide range of roofing materials available in UK market. You can get all – tiles, insulation, battens as well as breathable roof felt. Furthermore, higher prices mean that you get value for money – excellent quality products at great prices.