Shed Roof Felt

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Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,109 posts

164 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
The felt roof on the wooden garden shed is looking a bit worse for wear so I thought I might try to replace it myself. I'm not brilliant at DIY but I think I'm competent enough to handle this. Can someone please post an idiots guide. It's a slopiing gable\saddle roof if that makes a difference.

What's the best felt to use for this and where can I get it from? I'm assuming I need to use bitumen of some sort of seal for the gaps? Do I need adhesive? Do I need an extra layer underneath the felt or can it go straight on top of the wood roof?

Any advice gratefully received.

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Gaps?

It is fairly easy to do... You're just taking off what is there and looking to replace...

Pop off the end bits of wood and keep to one side, together with nails and possibly coat with creocote or similar as per the rest of the shed or look to replace if they're also shoddy...

Untack all the pins holding it in place and note where they are. Remove all remnants of old material, noting how they overlap and fold over at the edges, but more importantly at the corners.

Check the roof is still in decent condition - e.g. do any of those panels need replacing or fixing in place / holes to fill or edges to de-burr etc..

I think I did seal/glue mine, but to be honest it doesn't need it... and it just makes it more difficult to re-roof at a later date...

The thickness/quality of material depends on a few factors, e.g. how much longer you are going to keep the shed, etc.. plus budget.

You'll need new tacks, probably.

It should just be a case of cutting the material to fit - typically three bands, of it. Two across the lower part of the roof (either side) and then one across the top which overlaps the other two you've put back.

Take care in putting back so as not to tear or overly crease the material, which may well induce tears in it sooner rather than later.

Make sure you've got a decent ladder or steps to use.

I think we just went with Wickes'.... Thick / Heavy Duty felt.

B&Q vid here.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTg3iEZ0g94 (although some of that is a bit shoddy, but it should give a decent idea). or this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBq8o6_O-u8

Measure twice, cut once, etc... ah he even says it in the video! Of course you're looking to hammer nails in, in different locations to the previous ones.

Tools...

Stanley knife, hammer, measuring tape, step ladder, felt nails (or whatever they're called).

longshot

3,286 posts

197 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
I did our wood shelter a few weeks back.

I used this..

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Iko-Green-Ultra-Durable-Su...

It's incredibly hard to tear it unlike the cheap stuff so very nice to work with.

There are instructions on the label but basically you'll need some felt nails and some adhesive and that's about it.

Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,109 posts

164 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
OK thanks for that, it sort of tallies with what I was thinking. It looks like the wood is OK underneath although there may be a few small holes so the plan is.

1) Take old felt off.

2) Repair any wood holes with wood filler.

3) Paint with a layer of weatherproof wood stain. Wait to dry.

4) Apply the 3 bands of felt, I'm guessing the two bottom bands go on first and then the one that goes over the top of the V goes over the other two with a slight overlap at the edges?

New felt nails and felt to be purchased. I think I'll go with a thicker material, reviews I've read say the cheaper\thinner stuff can tear easily while installing. Probably won't bother with adhesive\bitumen as I hate that stuff.

geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Its a pretty easy job, you don't have to seal it just make sure you overlap by 15cm or so. Tack it in place properly so it doesn't lift in the wind, I put a tack in every hammer length as it was a standard even measure I had that didn't require any fking around smile start at the bottom and work your way up. Simplez. I used the shed felt from Wickes but the cheap version, it has been on for a couple of years now and still looks new smile

Ian Geary

4,464 posts

191 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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I use tin snips to cut felt - basically large scissors.

Much easier than stanley knives, which get gummed up quickly, and can wander a bit.


Ian

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Someone on here mentioned EPDM rather than felt.

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Ian Geary said:
I use tin snips to cut felt - basically large scissors.

Much easier than stanley knives, which get gummed up quickly, and can wander a bit.


Ian
That's why you cut felt with a hook blade in the Stanley ... Tin snips is a first for me biggrin

jules_s

4,237 posts

232 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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roofer said:
That's why you cut felt with a hook blade in the Stanley ... Tin snips is a first for me biggrin
Tin snips fine for a shed biggrin

Saying that I did mine with a Sarna offcut

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
When I did my brother's shed we really went to town on it. He lives in Cornwall so I didn't want to have to go all the way down there again in a couple of years.

We lifted the old felt, and then sealed the wood underneath with some rubberised paint that B&Q had. Once we'd done that we did four runs of felt - one along the ridge with the edges sealed, then one along each edge with the inner edge of that sealed, and then another one over the ridge, again with the edges sealed. We did it that way since it used up all of the felt we'd bought - we'd have had a 4m offcut otherwise.

Piersman2

6,596 posts

198 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
davepoth said:
When I did my brother's shed we really went to town on it. He lives in Cornwall so I didn't want to have to go all the way down there again in a couple of years.

We lifted the old felt, and then sealed the wood underneath with some rubberised paint that B&Q had. Once we'd done that we did four runs of felt - one along the ridge with the edges sealed, then one along each edge with the inner edge of that sealed, and then another one over the ridge, again with the edges sealed. We did it that way since it used up all of the felt we'd bought - we'd have had a 4m offcut otherwise.
I wonder how long before the roof collapses in under all that weight! laugh

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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When I did my summer house I first laid under felt in vertical strips, using a tin of bitumen warmed in a bucket of hot water to make it spreadable. Then laid mineral felt in the usual horizontal way, again with bitumen.

thebraketester

14,192 posts

137 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Just had a quote of 1000+vat to felt a 6mx4m shed roof.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Piersman2 said:
I wonder how long before the roof collapses in under all that weight! laugh
The roof is propped by enormous piles of crap inside the shed. wink

craig1912

3,275 posts

111 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Might be more expensive but will last longer - I redid my shed roof with this

https://www.rubber4roofs.co.uk/?&mkwid=suFd9Fb...

geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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thebraketester said:
Just had a quote of 1000+vat to felt a 6mx4m shed roof.
I'll come and do it for 900 smile

snotrag

14,446 posts

210 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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geeks said:
I'll come and do it for 900 smile
rofl

A THOUSAND pounds to felt a shed roof!

thebraketester

14,192 posts

137 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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No.... 1000+ vat!!!! Can't make it up.

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Although it is 6m by 4m so not that small...

Is that Time or Time and Materials?

thebraketester

14,192 posts

137 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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All in. I'm guessing it's a days work?