Installing Tar Paper Under Siding

Hold a roll of felt paper against the left edge of the wall with the top end of the roll aligned with the chalk line.

Installing tar paper under siding.

I saw a new house with felt paper under the siding rather than tyvek. I want to replace the tar paper but i can t find it at homedepot or lowes. 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. 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.

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. Check that it is level and aligned and drive staples or cap nails. Staple down the tar paper. Tack the end of the paper to the wall using a construction stapler.

Faq s acronym s terminology to tyvek or not to tyvek that is the question. You want any water that does get behind the siding to run down and never be allowed to get near any wood. Use tyvek over building felt 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.

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. The walls are intended to dry to the outside. Working with a helper unroll the paper so it is about 2 inches below the sill plate and pull it taut. The house will have a rain screen gap made of strips of pt plywood.

Install all subsequent courses with the same overlap until the top edge of the paper is within 6 inches of the roof s peak. Our new build house has been standing without siding for two years.