RMweb Gold mikes rail Posted July 26, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2019 Good evening, I am after a little advice . I am in the process of building a 12 x 8 garden shed/small workshop, walls, clading etc now done and am now working on roof. Due to a, working single handed and b, tight space to move martial in I decide to use 6 x 1 softwood treated boards laid lengthways for the roof with heavy duty felt over the top. Now dispite having the boards for a few weeks after fixing them down I have suffered some shrinking between boards, what I am wondering is should I fill the gaps before felting or leave them as they are allowing for any movement between boards. The felt will be nailed down only. thanks for reading above waffle and for any advice you may have. mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium skipepsi Posted July 26, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 26, 2019 If you can afford it steel cladding is better but my shed is 22 years old and despite moving around it is ready for the third refelt, it does have a gap between roof boards but making sure the felt is tight and the facias stop the felt moving is enough/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted July 26, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2019 Hi Mike, Sounds like you need to give it a coat of bitumastic to seal the roof before putting felt on it. This should be done with hot stuff but that can cause problems itself. So - local DIY Shed to see what they have as bitumastic sealer. If you can - put the felt on whilst the bitumastic is still sticky as this wll make it an even better sealant. Thanks Phil H 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 I'd be filling the gaps with something flexible. I dislike roofing felt at the best of times and would certainly not trust it to bridge even a small void unsupported. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted July 26, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2019 I'd put a layer of felt over the timbers but then I'd cover it with this. https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-3mm-Green-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950-x-2000mm/p/240059 Various widths and lengths are available to suit your roof as well as the ridge capping. I've used it on various sheds and not had any problems with it and it's far superior to nailed felt. 1 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
great central Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 I put a corrugated steel roof on my older shed some years ago, the roof timbers having started to rot, shed was about 15 years old at the time. It cost me around £50 for the sheets. Was intending using it as a hobby workshop I could keep warmer than the big garage in winter Unfortunately for me a couple of stray cats adopted it before I could finish the insulation. One of them we moved into the house after a few months, the other resolutely refuses contact despite turning up daily for the food left there for him. The other (wife's) shed was bought new perhaps 10 years ago and despite re-felting, the timbers were starting to go at the ends. So having put a new roof on the conservatory after the sheets started moving and leaking I reused some of the redundant sheets to put over the top of the timbers, simply laid lengthways, overlapped and screwed down. No more leaks and the shed is more solid. Wouldn't use felt for anything now cos unless you're paying top dollar and possibly having it professionally fitted it's going to need further work in the future. I got my steel sheets from a place called Action Clad (I think) near Uttoxeter, they have loads of remained and slightly damaged stock but very helpful and reasonably priced. They were selling on eBay at the time, a Google search should find suppliers in your area? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Put a cheap pond liner under the felting. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 08221 Posted July 27, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 27, 2019 18 minutes ago, Owd Bob said: Put a cheap pond liner under the felting. Second the pond liner suggestion. I covered my shed roof with it 16 years ago having seen the idea on a American website. Still as dry as anything and no more work than just putting felt on. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 6 hours ago, 08221 said: Second the pond liner suggestion. I covered my shed roof with it 16 years ago having seen the idea on a American website. Still as dry as anything and no more work than just putting felt on. I also agree with using pond liner - EPDM. I covered the flat roof of my garage/workshop with pond liner about nine years ago and it is still in excellent condition with no leaks at all. One sheet covered the complete roof, so no joints to worry about. The single sheet was laid on a thin foam underlay with no gluing, and it is ballasted with a dozen small paving slabs. If you Google for "EPDM Roof Covering" you shoudl get a lot of hits for suppliers and methods. Jim. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted July 27, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 27, 2019 (edited) 17 hours ago, chris p bacon said: I'd put a layer of felt over the timbers but then I'd cover it with this. https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-3mm-Green-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950-x-2000mm/p/240059 I'd second that. Some years ago I gave up on the felt that I had frequently had to renew on the garage roof, and put some of the Wickes corrugtaed bitumen sheet on instead. It was not a particularly difficult DIY job. Since then the garage has remained watertight, the roof has resisted all that our weather has thrown at it, and it still seems as good as new. Seemed quite expensive to begin with but has more than paid for itself since. (It didn't need any felt on first, by the way). DT Edited July 27, 2019 by Torper 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mikes rail Posted July 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 27, 2019 Thank you all for your advice, I like the idea of the corrugated sheeting will look at local suppliers. Cheers Mike 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 Good decision. I helped a friend put coated corrugated steel roofing on a garden shed about five years ago, and it looks as well as ever, despite receiving a small dent from a fallen tree branch which would have punctured felt for sure. And quick? It took the two of us about three hours for a 20x15 feet area. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted July 29, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 29, 2019 The best roofing felt I ever used (late 80's) was called Ruberoid "No Rip" Roofing Felt. And it didn't. That shed went on to last about 30 odd years with the same stuff; it eventually rotted from the ground upwards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted July 29, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 29, 2019 Recently re-felted my shed (with pretty rubbish stuff, so I don't expect it to last). There was no overhang and water was dripping down the sides and into a gap between the planks, causing rotting, and the felt didn't go over the edge far enough to create an overhang. A pity because the old stuff (don't know how old, it was what was on when I moved in 4 years ago) seemed bulletproof. I might look at the corrugated roofing when it next needs doing then; I'd be worried there's a chance of the wind getting under it and ripping it off though (although my shed's in a sheltered location). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted July 29, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 29, 2019 1 hour ago, polybear said: The best roofing felt I ever used (late 80's) was called Ruberoid "No Rip" Roofing Felt. And it didn't. That shed went on to last about 30 odd years with the same stuff; it eventually rotted from the ground upwards. Hi Polybear, Thanks for the name - I could not think what the stuff was called but you have reminded me. The product is still available from specialist roofing supply companies. I will be ordering some shortly to go on my new shed as the stuff supplied with it is the cheapest possible type of roofing felt. Thanks Phil H Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 On 27/07/2019 at 00:42, chris p bacon said: I'd put a layer of felt over the timbers but then I'd cover it with this. https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-3mm-Green-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950-x-2000mm/p/240059 Various widths and lengths are available to suit your roof as well as the ridge capping. I've used it on various sheds and not had any problems with it and it's far superior to nailed felt. Also recommended. I had the original roofing felt on the layout shed rip two days after the shed was erected due to an unseasonal summer gale (to be fair the guys who supplied and erected the shed said that if they had realised I lived on the coast they would have added extra battens to keep the felt in place) so a retired builder friend recommended the corrugated bitumen instead. It's survived many winter storms, including one or two of over 80mph and actually doesn't look too bad. The corrugations also help channel water away from the roof whereas longitudinal battens would have acted as miniature dams. Worth the money in my view. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 29, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 29, 2019 On 27/07/2019 at 00:42, chris p bacon said: I'd put a layer of felt over the timbers but then I'd cover it with this. https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-3mm-Green-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950-x-2000mm/p/240059 Various widths and lengths are available to suit your roof as well as the ridge capping. I've used it on various sheds and not had any problems with it and it's far superior to nailed felt. I have used a very similar product via Travis Perkins. Although its only been on a few months it is much tougher than felt so is likely to last much longer. It also has sound and thermal insulation properties. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Rixon Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 When we built my wife's art studio (which is a large shed), I used the Wickes tough felt rated to last 15 years. I also put a plastic membrane (polythene off a roll, also from Wickes) under the felt. For longevity, it's important to protect the felt with timber at the gable ends of the structure. I used boards with a batten screwed to the top edge to make an L shape: the long leg of the L is vertical and screwed to the ends of the rafters while the short leg hooks over the felt at the end of the roof. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 (edited) On 29/07/2019 at 15:42, Guy Rixon said: When we built my wife's art studio (which is a large shed), I used the Wickes tough felt rated to last 15 years. I also put a plastic membrane (polythene off a roll, also from Wickes) under the felt. For longevity, it's important to protect the felt with timber at the gable ends of the structure. I used boards with a batten screwed to the top edge to make an L shape: the long leg of the L is vertical and screwed to the ends of the rafters while the short leg hooks over the felt at the end of the roof. when I first built my shed, it’s rather more than a shed I took the same approach regarding the gables, unfortunately I had to replace these as the we’re starting to rot. I got industrial metal sheeting fabricated into an L shape to replace them. These are maintenance free and will outlast me Edited December 20, 2019 by Andymsa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Another vote for the Corrugated Bitumen, I had a few leaks on a 10 x 8 shed with felt, spent ages trying to chase the source. In the end I re-felted it, sealed it with the bitumen solution then added the corrugated bitumen (got mine from B&Q but I think it is the same stuff for sale in Wickes). Bone dry ever since and have fitted it to our second smaller shed as well and again it is bone dry the sheets are small enough to fit in the back of an estate car to avoid delivery chargers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kingzance Posted December 20, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 20, 2019 On 29/07/2019 at 14:55, roundhouse said: I have used a very similar product via Travis Perkins. Although its only been on a few months it is much tougher than felt so is likely to last much longer. It also has sound and thermal insulation properties. Travis Perkins owns (or until recently owned) Wickes so it will be the same thing. If buying timber, you get straight stuff at TP whilst the carp stuff is sold through Wickes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted December 20, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 20, 2019 1 minute ago, Kingzance said: Travis Perkins owns (or until recently owned) Wickes so it will be the same thing. If buying timber, you get straight stuff at TP whilst the carp stuff is sold through Wickes Though in my experience you need to take out a loan on your mortgage before visiting TP, unless you have a trade card/account :( 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Bearing in mind you asked the question months ago, this reply probably won't help.... I have built several storage sheds in our garden and always used felt/bitumen shingles. They come in a strip a metre long and seem to last forever. My first storage sheds were built probably 10 years ago and are still totally watertight with no sign of problems at all. An earlier shed that I bought had a felt roof that was hopeless after a couple of winters. May be worth considering next time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted December 20, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 20, 2019 1 hour ago, polybear said: Though in my experience you need to take out a loan on your mortgage before visiting TP, unless you have a trade card/account When I bought mine it was on a special offer at TP so was as cheap as anywhere else plus they delivered it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 On 20/12/2019 at 13:27, roundhouse said: When I bought mine it was on a special offer at TP so was as cheap as anywhere else plus they delivered it. I knew a girl that could get felt for nothing! (the old ones are the best) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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