Knowing about peel & stick roofing pros and cons would be immensely beneficial for persons who have previously handled such projects.
The comprehensive coverage of this topic allows for better decision-making on roof maintenance procedures to implement.
Pros and Cons of Peel and Stick Roofing
Are you a DIY’er looking to carry out weatherproofing on your roof? If yes, you might have heard about peel-and-stick roofing.
In this guide, we’ve included relevant points like peel-and-stick roofing, the material they’re made from, the lifespan of peel-and-stick roofing, and the pros and cons of peel-and-stick roofing.
It’s necessary to emphasize that this guide only focuses on the pros and cons, not a “how-to.” In other words, you won’t find information on peel-and-stick installation here.
Peel-and-Stick Roofing
Roofing underlayment serves several crucial functions, including providing a weather barrier to keep out moisture.
Tons of peel-and-stick roofing products are available to help provide DIY’ers with the necessary supplies for essential maintenance and waterproofing.
Waterproofing is one of the vital requirements for improving a home’s resale value.
Proper underlayment installation protects your home from moisture penetration, reducing noise and increasing energy efficiency.
With these benefits, it’s clear why you need peel-and-stick roofing. However, knowledge of the pros and cons will go a long way in helping you weigh your options.
Peel-and-Stick Material
What material(s) is peel-and-stick made from?
This is made from rubberized polymer mixes consisting of polyester or high-density polyethylene that lock out moisture from your structure while also withstanding tears, thus having better performance over felt underlayments.
The best part is that peel-and-stick doesn’t need to be nailed in; you only need to peel and stick it where it best serves.
Now, the best-known peel-and-stick brands use the best materials. These brands include EPDM Peel-and-Stick Roofing Patch, Titanium PSU-30, GRACE, and MFM Peel & Seal.
You can explore more of the best-known peel-and-stick brands available.
The Lifespan
Before we get into details on the pros and cons of peel-and-stick roofing, it’s necessary to discuss the lifespan of this underlayment briefly.
Compared to traditional fet, peel-and-stick roofing lasts between 15 to 40 years. However, certain brands tend to promise longer lifespans than others.
To have an accurate picture of things, consider reading buyer reviews.
Peel-and-stick roofing lifespan may also be dependent on how well it’s installed. When improperly installed, it wouldn’t last for long and vice versa.
As a DIY’er, you’re better off researching extensively how best to install or call the pros to handle the project.
Is Peel-and-Stick Roofing Worth It?
This is where to take a closer look at the pros and cons of peel-and-stick roofing. The findings guide you on whether or not to proceed with this underlayment installation.
Let’s begin with the pros;
Pros of Peel-and-Stick Roofing
Peel-and-stick roofing leaves no mess behind, is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, durable, versatile, easy to install, and offers superior waterproofing.
Other pros of peel-and-stick roofing include energy efficiency and require minimal disruption. Let’s briefly discuss these pros as follows;
i. Leaves No Mess Behind
Nobody wants to deal with a lot of mess after roof maintenance or installing an underlayment.
A clear advantage of peel-and-stick roofing is that it leaves little to no mess behind. With no requirement for specialized tools (due to self-adhering installation), little mess is involved.
ii. It Is Cost-Effective
When it comes to affordability, peel-and-stick roofing is easily among the most affordable you’ll find. Its ease of installation means that minimal labor costs are involved.
For DIY projects, such costs are eliminated. What more? You don’t need extra purchases (by way of supplies), as peel-to-stick roofing comes with self-adhesive surfaces.
iii. Environmentally Friendly
Most peel-and-stick roofing is recyclable. This means you can reuse them without disposing of them in landfills. Plus, you may earn an energy tax credit in the process.
iv. Durable
Durability is one of the benefits of using peel-and-stick roofing.
Being impenetrable to moisture and able to withstand adverse weather conditions, this roofing will efficiently serve your needs and can last a minimum of 15 years.
Peel-to-stick roofing is also elastic and flexible. This feature adds to its strength.
v. Versatile
A clear benefit of peel-to-stick roofing is its versatility.
In other words, it can be used on various surfaces, including curves and roof types. The results are also aesthetically appealing.
Consider exploring the different projects to apply this roofing.
vi. Easy to Install
Ease of installation is one of the hallmarks of peel-and-stick roofing. The installation process is a no-brainer.
However, you’ll need basic installation knowledge as a DIY first-timer. There are many instructional videos on YouTube and home improvement websites to learn this simple skill.
vii. Provides Superior Waterproofing
One of the reasons for the growing popularity of peel-and-stick roofing is its superior waterproofing.
It offers far-reaching solutions to any moisture problems you have or wish to tackle. However, it must be said that proper installation is necessary for best results.
viii. Energy Efficiency
If you’ve spent a ton of money on utilities (heating & cooling) before installing peel-and-stick roofing, this will likely change after installation.
That is because the material has insulating properties coupled with its reflective surface.
ix. Minimal Disruption
Peel-and-stick roofing is less invasive than roof replacement, which impacts a significant part of your everyday routine. In other words, there are no noisy machineries to contend with.
Cons of Peel-and-Stick Roofing
Having identified the pros of peel-and-stick roofing, it’s time to consider the cons.
The installation will require multiple coatings, may be scarce to find, and cannot be compared in longevity to other roof types. Let’s discuss;
i. Installation Requires Multiple Coatings
Installing peel-and-stick roofing can be slow and tiring as it requires multilayering. In other words, multiple coating is needed.
This is necessary to achieve a particular thickness. This isn’t a project you should do if you’re in a hurry, as each layer has to be dry enough for the next.
ii. It May be not Easy to Find
Earlier, we mentioned a growth in the popularity of peel-and-stick roofing among homeowners.
While true, finding this material can be challenging as it’s not widely available. Some patience is required on your part.
iii. Cannot be Compared in Longevity to other Roof Types
Peel-and-stick roofing doesn’t come close compared to different roof types like slate, clay tile, or metal roofing. Some roofs can last up to 2 centuries, while peel-and-stick an average of 18 years.
These are the pros and cons of peel-and-stick roofing. With the information provided, you can weigh your options and decide whether to proceed with installation or explore other options.