10 Best Roofing Underlayment Materials 2025 in the United States

The Grace Self Adhering Ice and Water Shield HT is designed to offer robust protection for your roof. Made from aggressive rubberized asphalt combined with a polyethylene film, it provides excellent adhesion, ensuring it stays firmly in place. With a thickness of 40 mils, it offers substantial durability and strength, evidenced by a tensile strength of 250 psi. This material is high temperature resistant, making it suitable for areas experiencing extreme heat, and its water resistance capability helps in preventing leaks, adding an extra layer of protection to your roofing structure.

The UV resistance feature ensures that the material does not degrade quickly under constant sun exposure, which is crucial for maintaining its structural integrity over time. One significant advantage is its slip-resistant nature, which makes installation safer and more manageable for workers. The roll measures 66.6 feet in length and 36 inches in width, covering approximately 200 square feet.

While the weight of 62 pounds may make handling a bit cumbersome, the self-adhering feature simplifies the installation process, as no additional adhesives are necessary. Suitable for various roofing projects, the Grace Self Adhering Ice and Water Shield HT seems like a reliable choice if you need a durable and high-performing underlayment material.

The Tyvek Protec 120 Roof Underlayment by DuPont is a versatile and durable option suitable for various roofing types, including asphalt shingles, cedar shingles, and metal roofs. Its compatibility with different roofing materials makes it an excellent choice for repairs, re-roofing, and new constructions. One of the standout features is its unique embossed pattern, which provides better traction and grip, enhancing slip resistance and safety when walking on the roof. This underlayment is known for its quality and durability, as evidenced by its high customer ratings (4.9 out of 5 stars from 149 reviews).

The material has a thickness of 6.3 inches, which should provide good protection. The product dimensions (48.1 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches) and weight (24.6 pounds) make it manageable for handling and installation. Given that Tyvek is a reputable brand, one might assume these qualities are up to standard, but confirming these attributes would be prudent. The product has been available since 2016 and has remained popular, ranking #49 in Roof Flashings in the Tools & Home Improvement category. It does not require batteries, making it straightforward to use.

The Tyvek Protec 120 Roof Underlayment offers excellent traction, versatility, and durability, making it a suitable choice for various roofing needs.

The Grace Self Adhering Ice and Water Shield is a rubberized asphalt underlayment material designed for roof protection. With a roll thickness of 40 mils, this product provides a substantial barrier against water leakage and has superior adhesion to the deck, ensuring water-tight laps. One of its major strengths is its ability to seal around fasteners, which enhances its water resistance. The slip-resistant surface is beneficial for safer installation, and the split-release Ripcord feature allows for easy application on demand. Additionally, it can be applied over old GCP underlayment, adding to its versatility.

The product is UV resistant for up to 120 days, giving some protection against sun exposure during installation. However, at 55 pounds per roll, it may be heavy to handle for some users. Also, it has a relatively low Best Sellers Rank, which might indicate limited widespread use or recognition in the market. Despite this, it is covered by CertainTeed's SureStart Warranty, which adds to its reliability.

This product would be well-suited for homeowners or contractors looking for a durable, water-resistant underlayment with good adhesion and ease of application, especially in reroofing projects.