Getting a house ready to live in can be quite a costly venture, and the roofing costs don’t necessarily stop as soon as the structure of a roof is put up. You have to protect the attic from moisture and mold.
Moreover, hiring contractors that have other commitments may mean that your roofing takes far longer than it ought to, rendering a home unlivable for your prospective tenants costing you rent money.
But, you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s an easy solution to these issues. You can buy peel and stick roofing as an effective underlay. And these are often so easy to install that you don’t necessarily need a whole team of people to work on it, and you may even be able to put it on by yourself.
So, without further ado, here's the best peel and stick roofing options...
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Best Peel And Stick Roofing
OUR TOP PICK
Now, this peel and seal roll of roofing underlay is a prominent best seller with the leading online retailers. It’s selling in its hundreds on Amazon where it has managed to earn an impressive customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
Customers also gave it high ratings for certain specific features including ease of use, ease of install, and adhesion.
And one thing that kept coming up in the customer reviews is how effective this underlay is for sound deadening. Making it a great option for a shed used for band practice.
It’s 45 mm thick and is made up of several different layers. This includes a thick layer of rubberized asphalt waterproofing compound, high density polymer films, and multiple layers of aluminum foil, to make a reflective aluminum surface.
Once in place it offers excellent waterproofing and is completely impervious to the likes of bacteria, algae and fungus.
It’s very easy to install, you simply cut it to size with either scissors or a razor knife, peel off the adhesive material, and carefully apply it.
When applying it, remember to bear in mind that it can stretch. This can either be a help or a hindrance.
It’s available in a wide range of sizes and colors, including white, almond, and gray. The larger the roof you’re working on, the wider the roll you should go for.
I was also pleased to learn that this roofing is made right here in the good old USA. And even better it comes backed by a lengthy 10-year warranty. So reassuring.
Pros
- Bestseller with excellent ratings
- It’s great for sound deadening
- Protects against fungi, and algae
- Relatively easy to put in place
- Backed by a 10-year warranty
Cons
- Not great for warped roofs
- It stretches in the heat and some users got wrinkles
EDITORS CHOICE
Now, this peel and stick roofing tape has been awarded the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of “peel and seal”.
Such a title is only given to products that are both of excellent quality and are also available at a good and reasonable price.
When I looked into it, I immediately saw that I had to include it in our shortlist.
It’s designed to tape seams on both aluminum panels and also on flash materials for roofing and gutters.
It has a special patented design that makes it an excellent long-lasting barrier against all kinds of harsh weather conditions.
By which, I mean that not only is it 100% waterproof to protect against any rain, but it’s also incredibly UV resistant, and can be left in bright sunlight indefinitely with no signs of weathering or decay.
It’s an upgraded version of MFM’s Original Peel & Seal, and is both thinner, and adheres more aggressively, making it a much better choice.
It’s incredibly easy to install, too. It features an easy release liner, and it will even adhere at temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
And once installed you don’t need to bother putting coating or covering on top, because it’s designed for exposure to UV rays.
It normally comes in rolls that are 4 or 6 inches in width, but you can buy carton options when larger applications are required.
I was particularly impressed with the warranty, which lasts a whopping 15 years - not bad hey?
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular peel and seal tape, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
Pros
- Winner of Amazon’s Choice
- Offers excellent weather protection
- Upgraded, more adhesive version
- Incredibly easy to install, peel & stick
- Comes backed by a 15-year warranty
Cons
- Although most users have given it 5 star reviews, there have been some 3 star and 1 star reviews also
BEST VALUE
Now, this is a great little product for roof patching and gutter repair, or basically anywhere where a roof’s membrane may be exposed, in order to provide an invaluable waterproofing function.
It’s great for low slope roof applications, and also the likes of trailers, RVs, mobile homes and sunrooms.
It’s basically a laminate of aluminum foil with cross-linked polymer film for durability over a thick layer of rubberized asphalt. And being made with aluminum, you get an outer surface that can reflect heat.
It’s very easy to install, you simply peel it away from the liner, and the asphalt compound will adhere to most surfaces and around most punctures to produce an excellent waterproof barrier.
And once in place it requires no special coating or covering because it’s designed for UV exposure.
I was pleased to learn that it conforms to odd shapes. And better yet, it has a little stretch to it, which means that any natural building movement won’t lead to the roll splitting, which really increases the product’s lifespan.
And it also happens to be both puncture and abrasion resistant.
It has been tested to prove that it complies with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, and it also has a Class A Fire rating.
Pros
- Perfect for roof patching
- Outer surface reflects heat
- It conforms to odd shapes
- Puncture & abrasion resistant
- It has a little stretch to it
Cons
- Premium product at a premium price
- There aren’t many customer reviews around on the net for this product just yet, but the feedback that has been left is very positive
RUNNER UP
Now, this peel and stick roofing has proved to be a prominent best seller with the leading online retailers, and has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.
On Amazon for example, it has earned a 4 and a half star customer rating, even after well over 400 ratings.
Customers also gave it high ratings for certain specific features including ease of use, ease of install, and adhesion.
And one thing that kept coming up in the customer reviews is how effective this underlay is for sound deadening. Making it a great option for a shed used for band practice.
Each 6-inch roll is quite long at 25 feet, and it’s an excellent product for repairing metal and flat roofs, trucks and trailers, RVs and mobile homes, gutters and flashings, and even skylights.
It’s very easy to install, you simply peel away the liner, position the roofing in place, and it will self-adhere. Anywhere there may be a potential leak, just press this in place and it will self seal around any screws and fasteners.
It’s super reinforced, featuring a total of 5 puncture resistant layers, so it can take the fall of foliage etc from nearby trees without getting damaged at all.
I was also pleased to hear that it’s backed by a lengthy 10-year warranty, very reassuring. And it turns out it’s made right here in the good old USA.
Pros
- Bestseller with excellent ratings
- It’s great for sound deadening
- It self seals around fasteners
- Reinforced & puncture resistant
- Backed by a 10-year warranty
Cons
- In reviews users have warned that you should be sure you know how to apply it before you get started so you don’t make any mistakes
RUNNER UP
If its roof underlay you’re looking for rather than roof repair tape, then this roll is certainly worth considering. Unlike most other rubberized asphalt peel and stick underlayment it features a rugged, tough surface and a self sealing lap system.
It offers impressive performance, able to withstand the likes of wind driven drain and even ice. This is thanks to its synthetic polymer surface.
It can be applied directly to several types of roofing materials, including the likes of concrete, plywood, OSB, or masonry roof surfaces. And it can go underneath the likes of tiles, slate, metal, and both synthetic and asphalt shingles.
It’s synthetic construction makes it inert to mold growth. It’s designed to lay entirely flat. It won’t expand or contract, which could cause issues.
And it won’t ever buckle or wrinkle, even when exposed to fluctuations in humidity or temperature.
Once in place, you have a full 180 days before the underlay needs to be covered, because it can withstand exposure to the sun’s UV rays.
There may not be many customer reviews around on the net for this underlayment just yet, but what feedback there has been has been incredibly positive, and when this article was written it had a full 5 star customer rating on Amazon.
It both meets and exceeds the ASTM D1970 requirements, together with the Class A Fire ASTM E108 and the Class 4 Hail rating.
Pros
- Rugged, tough self-sealing surface
- Withstands all weather conditions
- Won’t ever buckle or wrinkle
- Excellent customer reviews
- Meets various ASTM standards
Cons
- Premium product at a premium price
- There aren’t many customer reviews around for this product just yet
Best Peel And Stick Roofing Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Here are some of the key points to consider before you buy.
How Much Do You Need?
This should be your first and foremost consideration. Be sure to do all your measuring before you buy.
I recommend buying more than you think you need, just to be on the safe side - better safe than sorry. You never know when some extra pieces might come in handy.
How Well It Sticks
Some peel and stick roofing underlay sticks better than others. Ideally you should look for peel and stick roofing with aggressive adhesion. That way you can ensure that you don’t risk the underlay coming off in the wind.
Ideally you should check which surfaces the underlay will adhere to so that you can rest assured that it will definitely stick to your particular roof.
UV Resistance
The last thing you’d want is to spend a whole lot of time and effort laying the peel and stick underlay only for it to get damaged by UV rays before you put the next layer of materials on. To that end you should seek out peel and stick roofing that offers at least some level of UV resistance.
Water Resistance
Similarly, your roofing should also provide some level of protection against other weather conditions such as rain. Luckily however most peel and stick roofing is by nature quite waterproof.
Flexibility And Stretch
Depending on the shape of your particular roof, you may find yourself grateful that you chose an underlay that has a little flexibility to it, in order to handle any tricky corners and edges.
And if a roll also has a little stretch to it, this can allow for natural building movement without tearing the material and enables it to remain intact.
Prevents A Build Up Of Moisture
One of the main reasons for installing an underlay on a roof is to prevent the build up of moisture that can lead to mold and mildew which if left to grow can lead to illness.
Forms An Effective Barrier
A good roof underlay should also form a barrier to prevent any air or any vapor from passing through.
Sound Deadening
It’s certainly worth noting at this point that some peel and stick roofing also has sound deadening properties. But be vigilant because not all peel and stick roofing can safely make this claim.
If sound deadening is of interest to you, I can recommend our number one pick, the MFM Building Product 50W36 Peel & Seal Self Stick Roll Roofing, and our number 4 pick, the Cofair QR625 Quick Roof Pro Aluminum.
Brand
Some brands of peel and stick roofing are better than others. We favor MFM for several reasons. It offers excellent quality, excellent value for money, and has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.
Value for Money
Depending on the size of the roof that you’re putting up, the cost of your peel and stick roofing could easily add up to more than you’d expect to have to pay. And these things can really vary in price, which is why I strongly recommend that you check any prices as you go along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is peel and stick roofing any good?
If I thought peel and stick roofing wasn’t any good, I wouldn’t be recommending any to you. In fact, I would go so far as to say that peel and stick underlay is a better option than more traditional roofing solutions such as asphalt, and is more efficient at protecting against water infiltration.
How long does the peel and stick roof last?
I’m pleased to report that all the peel and stick roof underlay and peel and stick roof repair tape that made our shortlist have a very long product lifespan, and come backed by warranties that last a whopping 10 years or more.
What is the best underlayment for a roof?
I would argue that the best underlayment for a roof is our number one pick, the MFM Building Product 50W36 Peel & Seal Self Stick Roll Roofing. And here’s a quick recap of why I like it:
- Bestseller with excellent ratings
- It’s great for sound deadening
- Protects against fungi, and algae
- Relatively easy to put in place
- Backed by a 10-year warranty
Does peel and stick need to be nailed?
One of the great things about peel and stick roofing is that it doesn’t require nailing or any special tools to apply.
Last update on 2024-04-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
