Leak barriers complement the roofing underlayment in protecting the roof deck from moisture intrusion. Leading roofing manufacturer GAF offers two leak barrier options: StormGuard® and WeatherWatch®. In this blog, local roofing company Ken Morton & Sons shares an overview of these products.
What Are Leak Barriers For?
Along with the underlayment, leak barriers help protect the deck from getting wet from conditions such as wind-driven rain and ice dams. Leak barriers are installed on breaks on the roofing plane, such as valleys, chimneys and where the roof meets a wall. When installed on a GAF roofing system, it is also installed under the drip edges and over the fascia, creating an impenetrable sheath under the shingles.
Protecting the roof deck is important. Once moisture is able to penetrate the outer roofing layer, the following can happen over time:
-
Roof leaks.
-
Ceiling stains.
-
Blisters on the asphalt shingles.
-
Rotting or delamination of the decking material.
-
Warped wooden parts, including trusses.
-
Clumping insulation.
-
Increased heat and moisture levels in the attic.
These concerns need to be addressed by professional roofers as soon as possible; otherwise, the problem could lead to unplanned repairs. With leak barriers installed, you can have the peace of mind knowing you’re much less likely to deal with these issues.
StormGuard and WeatherWatch
As a GAF Master Elite® contractor, Ken Morton & Sons is proud to offer StormGuard and WeatherWatch, GAF’s roofing leak barriers that come with every GAF roofing system. Both feature exceptional performance under all weather conditions. StormGuard is designed for use with metal and shingle roofs and features a film surface closer contact with smooth-surfaced materials like sheet metal. WeatherWatch features a granular surface that is designed for use on asphalt shingle roofs.
Both products feature a layer of time- and heat-activated adhesive that allows repositioning without reducing adhesion. This leaves room for adjustment during installation and makes it easier to achieve a virtually seamless roofing surface, ready for asphalt shingle installation.
Ken Morton & Sons is your leading provider of roofing and siding replacement services. Give us a call at (856) 582-8800 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Pitman, NJ and surrounding areas.