The Challenge
A leading manufacturer of building materials had been exploring different components to create a non-slip roofing underlayment product. These materials proved to be too heavy or rigid for subsequent lamination with other substrates, so they called us to find a custom solution.
Our Solution
Our co-extrusion technology allows us to create netting components with different layers within the same netting configuration. Our team created a lightweight, flexible yet strong netting design with customized adhesive features in top and bottom layers of the netting configuration to facilitate lamination with other substrates. These features solved the weight, flexibility and lamination concerns. In addition, our team developed unique joint height to provide the additional grip needed to walk safely on the roof underlayment. In the end, our customer was able to differentiate its roofing underlayment with superior grip functionality, keep overall product cost within target, and save additional adhesive cost by using our netting as the bonding agent.
What is roofing underlayment?
In the building and construction industry, underlayment products are commonly known as a layer of material, positioned between the outer face of a structure and its underlying foundation. The term underlayment is also frequently used with regards to the process of installing floors, carpet and roofing.
Underlayment products mainly provide integrity and protection to the structure between the roof deck and the shingles, and aesthetic appeal in certain cases. There are several roofing underlayment options: asphalt-saturated felt, rubber membranes, rubberized asphalt, non-bitumen synthetic and the new generation with multi-layer composites.
Current industry trends demand roof underlayment products with improved weather resistance, superior moisture barrier, breathability, non-slip surface, lightweight and easy installation, tear resistance, self-sticking, and affordable cost.
When our team worked on this project, we had to solve the weight and flexibility concerns and maintain cost within target to improve overall product performance. Our greatest innovation was customizing the height of the protuberances on the web. Conwed created an exceptional non-slip effect that helped our customer deliver a roofing underlayment product with superior safety features.