Installing Tar Paper Under Siding

The walls are intended to dry to the outside.

Installing tar paper under siding.

I am about to replace the weathered tar paper with two new layers of 15 felt before siding the house with cedar clapboards. I saw a new house with felt paper under the siding rather than tyvek. 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. Install all subsequent courses with the same overlap until the top edge of the paper is within 6 inches of the roof s peak.

You want any water that does get behind the siding to run down and never be allowed to get near any wood. 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. I want to replace the tar paper but i can t find it at homedepot or lowes. Use tyvek over building felt under siding.

Working with a helper unroll the paper so it is about 2 inches below the sill plate and pull it taut. Tack the end of the paper to the wall using a construction stapler. Staple down the tar paper. Check that it is level and aligned and drive staples or cap nails.

Faq s acronym s terminology to tyvek or not to tyvek that is the question. 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. 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. We re in the coastal rainforest of southeast alaska very wet.

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. Our new build house has been standing without siding for two years.