Installing Tar Paper Under Siding

Use tyvek over building felt under siding.

Installing tar paper under siding.

If you will be attaching the building paper with cap nails use a chalkline to mark the sheathing with the locations of studs. We re in the coastal rainforest of southeast alaska very wet. Our new build house has been standing without siding for two years. I want to replace the tar paper but i can t find it at homedepot or lowes.

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. 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. You want any water that does get behind the siding to run down and never be allowed to get near any wood.

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. Faq s acronym s terminology to tyvek or not to tyvek that is the question. Check that it is level and aligned and drive staples or cap nails. I saw a new house with felt paper under the siding rather than tyvek.

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. I am about to replace the weathered tar paper with two new layers of 15 felt before siding the house with cedar clapboards. 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. Tack the end of the paper to the wall using a construction stapler.

Staple down the tar paper. 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.