Summers in Southern Arizona can be unrelenting, pushing roof decks to temperatures well above 120 °F. This increases cooling loads, leading to overworking and prematurely aging HVAC systems. It’s a common problem in our area, but what’s the solution? In this guide, we’re exploring the best roof underlayment for Arizona homes, explaining the importance of quality underlayment, as well as quantifying just how much heat gain a high-performance radiant barrier can block. Let’s take a look.
What Is Roof Underlay and Why Arizona Homes Need It
Roof underlayment is a protective layer that sits between your wooden roof decking and the exterior shingles or tiles, which are the most common roof materials in Arizona. Roof underlayment helps to stop moisture from seeping into your home, and also protects your interior from dust, debris, and other weather-related roof issues.
Underlayment comes in a variety of materials, including felt, rubber, foil, and other synthetic materials. At Legacy Roofing, we’ve begun to use a new form of underlayment called Sharkskin® Ultra. This patented, aluminum-coated underlayment reflects up to 97% of radiant heat, preventing it from ever entering your attic space. Unlike cheap foil products that tear, wrinkle, or lose adhesion, Sharkskin® Ultra uses a composite design that consists of:
- A reinforced woven-fabric core to provide strength
- A layer of high-emissivity aluminum facer on one side
- On the other side, a polymer facer to give it durability and workability
This ensures long-term performance under metal, tile, or shingle roofing assemblies.
How Roof Underlay Protects Against Extreme Arizona Heat
The protective benefits of roof underlay in Arizona homes are hard to overstate. With our extreme summer heat and sunlight, this protective layer is essential for reflecting solar energy out towards the sky instead of straight into your home. This prevents your framing, insulation, and ceiling drywall from heating up, meaning your home will stay cool and your HVAC systems won’t have to run as hard.
By installing Sharkskin® Ultra as your underlayment for a tile roof, shingles, or metal panels, you intercept heat at its entry point, rather than trying to cool it once it’s already made its way into the attic or living space.
Moisture and Leak Protection from Roof Underlayment
Roof underlayment doesn’t just help protect your home from heat and UV radiation. It’s also vital for preventing moisture penetration and water infiltration. Leaks are a major concern for residential roofs, especially during Arizona’s intense summer monsoons. By investing in a quality underlayment material, you avoid costly roof repairs or even a full roof replacement due to water damage.
Tile Roof Underlayment Lifespan in Arizona’s Climate
In Arizona, roof underlayment lifespans vary depending on the material you choose. For standard felt underlayment, you can expect to need roof underlayment replacement within 8 to 20 years. Rubber and synthetic materials last longer, at about 20 to 25 years. Sharkskin® Ultra roof underlay can last up to 50 years with proper roof maintenance, making it an excellent choice for our state’s extreme weather.
Energy Efficiency Benefits of Proper Roof Underlayment
In areas like Phoenix, roof underlayment doesn’t just protect your home from the elements — it reduces energy consumption too! Rather than simply relying on manufacturer claims to determine the efficiency benefits of Sharkskin® Ultra underlayment, we ran an experiment to get the exact numbers.
We logged simultaneous attic and ambient temperatures in the same home for two days before and after installing Sharkskin® Ultra in June. The result? A dramatic collapse in peak attic-to-ambient differential from 14.2 °F down to just 3.5 °F. This represents a 75% reduction in radiant heat transfer into the attic, proving Sharkskin® Ultra’s real-world effectiveness.
Signs Your Roof Underlayment Needs Replacement
Of all the parts of a roof, underlayment is one of the most important to keep in good condition. Signs it’s time to replace your underlayment include:
- Water stains on upstairs ceilings, walls, or attic
- Mold growth on the upper levels of the home
- Sagging roof deck
- Missing or damaged shingles or tiles
- Visible underlayment on the roof
Comparing Felt vs Synthetic Roof Underlayment Options
Considering the high Arizona roofing underlayment costs, it makes sense that homeowners want to save money where they can. Here’s what you need to know about synthetic underlayment versus more affordable felt options.
Felt is a common, inexpensive material for underlayment. It provides decent protection, but it also absorbs moisture and is prone to wrinkling, which can shorten the lifespan or even force you to pay for tile roof repair prematurely. Synthetic underlayment offers superior strength and water-repelling properties, but comes at a higher upfront cost. This will eventually be offset by ongoing savings in energy and roof repair, but it can be a significant investment for many.
How Roof Underlay Extends the Life of Your Roofing System
Investing in quality roof underlay saves you from paying the much higher cost of tile roof replacement or significant roof repairs. By keeping water, dust, and debris off of your roof decking and surrounding structures, you ensure the entire roof is supported, meaning you’re less likely to take damage to your home during a windstorm or monsoon. This extends the roof’s lifespan far longer and saves you money in the long term.
Professional Roof Underlayment Installation in Arizona
To get the protective and efficiency benefits of underlayment, professional installation is essential. Experienced roofers will ensure proper, weatherproof installation of the underlayment, and will also work to get your exterior roof material sitting securely on top of your home. This ensures you have the best possible protection through Arizona’s extreme weather events.
Why Choose Legacy Roofing for Underlayment Services
Legacy Roofing is proud to be Arizona’s leading expert on Sharkskin® Ultra underlayment installs. Our roofing contractors are manufacturer-trained and highly experienced in installing underlayment of all kinds, ensuring quality installation and thorough sealing of your home. With 35 years of experience in the Arizona area, it’s no wonder so many homeowners count on us to protect their homes.
Protect Your Home with Legacy Roofing
If you’re ready to protect your home from the elements, save on energy bills, extend HVAC system lifespans, and enjoy a safer, more comfortable home, we’re here to help.
Legacy Roofing is ready to deliver quality materials and expert roofing solutions across Prescott, Phoenix, Yavapai, & Maricopa County service areas.Try our free roof estimator tool, see new solar benefits, and contact Legacy Roofing today to begin!
