Mar 26 2010
When it comes to roofing underlayment, Jim Bennette, owner and President of J. Bennette Roofing, Inc., thought all synthetic underlayments were alike. That is, until he and his crew used Opus Roof Blanket, a new category of steep-slope roofing underlayment. "I was initially skeptical and thought there was not much difference between many of the underlayment products on the market," said Bennette. "When I used Opus and compared it to felt and other synthetics, it's by far the best product."
Bennette and his crew have used the new type of underlayment for several different roofing jobs, including asphalt, cedar shake and metal roofing projects. His company covers the metro Boston, South Shore and Cape Cod regions.
"Many of our roofing projects are coastal applications and are in demanding environments with exceedingly high winds and horizontal wind-driven rains that simulate a power washer hitting your building," he said. "A shingle roof system, unlike a flat roof membrane, is not an impermeable water barrier and relies upon shedding water." Bennette further explained, "A quality roof underlayment is not only required by building codes, but is a key component as the roof system's last layer of defense in severe conditions." He also observed that Opus stood up to Nor'easters, very high winds and virtual "monsoons" with weather tight protection and good grip around the fasteners. "Opus really is in a class by itself," he said.
Developed by Propex, this new type of underlayment utilizes technology that overcomes problems with felt paper and slippery plastic sheet, according to Ralph Bruno, the company's Executive Vice President. "We feel that customers like Jim Bennette can see that we designed Opus with roofing contractors in mind."
Another key to the underlayment's performance, according to Bennette, is that it lays flat with little effort and covers larger sections very quickly. "And the great traction is absolutely critical to our workers' safety," he said.
Bennette's crew was also able to save time and labor with Opus Roof Blanket. His workers use regular "buttons" or plastic cap nails, but if you run out, he said regular roofing nails are fine. They often need to snap chalk lines and Opus' unique surface allows the chalk to stick and it shows up well against the tan color. "Overall, we're saving time and labor as well as ensuring worker safety -- and giving our customers a better roof with Opus," said Bennette. "The skeptic has been won over!"
Source: http://www.opusroofblanket.com