If I have the tar paper laid out on my roof and no shingles on it yet, will it leak if it rains?

I have seen/done this many times with no leaking problems. However if they are using staples instead of nails or buttons made for the job they should also be using batons on all of the seams. (1x2 furring strips) The batons will keep the roof paper (felt) from ripping up in the wind. The metal strips will help to do this on the edges but I would be more comfortable with the strips on the seams as well. After the rain the felt will have many ripples as it has expanded slightly with the water. It will not perfectly lie flat again but this is not a problem.

If I knew I was going to be depending upon the felt to temporarily waterproof the roof I would be using 30# felt and not the lighter 15# felt.

I have also covered roofs with tarps but you have a problem when it comes to necessary roof projections like chimneys so that is not perfect either. Try and see if you can get them to cover it but consider the wind there as well.

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RE:

If I have the tar paper laid out on my roof and no shingles on it yet, will it leak if it rains?

I am paying these roofers to fix my roof. It is supposed to rain probably later on today and off and on all day tomorrow. They put the metal rails all on but just no shingles yet. I don't know much about roofing so any help/advice would be appriciated.

Tar Paper Roof

You should be alright in a light rain as long as the did sufficient overlap on the felt (tar paper). If it does get wet, don't put on any shingles until the felt is completely dry. You don't want to trap moisture in there.

On a side note, it's best to install the shingles with roofing nails rather than staples. Nails have much better holding power in storm winds, but many contractors will go with staples since it's faster.

Very good answer by Breath On The Wind. Fitting the felt/tarpaper then fixing the roof tiles the following day is common practice in the UK-not a country known for its low rainfall. As long as they have secured the tarpaper then your roof should be fine for a few days. You should only be concerned if there is a storm forecast, as the high winds may tear the unprotected tarpaper.

Suggest it depends on the slope of the roof,how much it rains,and how well the tar paper was installed. If this was my roof I would have it covered with water proof tarps,I am surprized the roofers did not do this when they took the shingles off.

tar paper is not water tight or self sealing so all those staple holes will leak and if the wind picks up it could all be ripped off

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I know you can muck it. It may not look good, but it'll fix the leaks. The roof will eventually need replacing.

the poster above me is right, we just went through this last summer, just pray they have not cut out the holes for your vents yet