Roofing Felt

Roofing felt is a mat-like material laid down as a base layer under shingles and other roof coverings. For decades it was commonly made with asbestos fibers to add strength and resist heat and moisture. Cutting, tearing, or removing old asbestos roofing felt can release fibers into the air.

Origin

Asphalt-saturated felts came into wide use in roofing in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Manufacturers added asbestos to many building felts and papers because the fibers strengthened the sheet and improved its heat resistance.

Significance in Asbestos Context

Roofers, construction workers, and do-it-yourself homeowners could be exposed when handling asbestos roofing felt, particularly when stripping off aged, brittle material during a tear-off. Because it is a specific, identifiable product, roofing felt can be an important part of an exposure history, tying a patient to a named manufacturer and job site. Documenting which brand of felt was used, and when, helps connect the exposure to a responsible company. Even homeowners who did occasional roofing work may have had meaningful exposure worth investigating.

Example Sentence

He recalled tearing off layers of old, crumbling roofing felt during summer jobs in the 1970s, which his attorney investigated as a source of his asbestos exposure.

Related Terms

Asbestos Exposure, Product Identification, Friable Asbestos, Construction Trades, Demolition and Renovation

Notes

• Try to recall or document the brand and manufacturer of any roofing felt you handled, along with dates and locations.
• Tear-off and demolition of aged felt is often the highest-exposure task; note whether that describes your work.
• Preserve receipts, supplier records, or building permits that might identify the specific roofing products used.