Wind Blown Rain & Ice Dam Membrane Roofing Manufacturers

All of the roof membranes are virtually the same. There are differences in the thickness of the modified asphalt. It can be significant. Some products are 25 mils thick while others can be 40 mils or more. To further confound you, some products are made for different parts of the country. Not every membrane can be installed in the desert Southwest for example. Some cannot be applied to metal roofing or beneath metal roofing. Some thinner ones do not protect against severe ice damming situations.

If you are doing the roofing yourself, another consideration comes into play. The plastic cover sheet can be slippery! Some membranes have special skid resistant surfaces. Look for those so you don't fall!

Sunlight can cause real problems with some membranes. This I don't understand. Don't ask me why the manufacturers can't employ decent ultraviolet blocking ingredients in all of their plastic cover sheets. Some products can be exposed to sunlight for only several days while others can be exposed for several months. It just doesn't make sense to me!

My recommendation to you is to go with as thick a material as you can afford. The more asphalt, the more protection you have around the nail shanks. Check out the following manufacturers and read their product literature. Invest the time reading it, and you will reap HUGE dividends.

Roofing Literature

Would you like to obtain excellent pamphlets, booklets, and other literature on asphalt roofing? If so, you need to contact:

Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association

Two of their many publications are outstanding. Do whatever is necessary to obtain a copy of the following two publications.

• Residential Asphalt Roofing Manual
  
• Good Application Makes a Good Roof Better (FREE!)