Cracked roof felt

Mander · 2 Oct 2020

Another one from the "I'm an idiot" files:

I bought a tiny shed/garden store with a little felt roof. The instructions said to fold the roof felt over the edges of the roof panel and nail down on the underside, with no specific instructions on how to do the corners. So I tried to use my sewing experience and make mitred corners, but the felt cracked and split on the actual corners.

Short of taking the roof off and buying a new piece of felt, is there anything I can do to fix or patch it? My concern is that water will get under the felt and cause the roof to rot earlier than it should.

Harry Bloomfield · 2 Oct 2020

Tease the damaged corner(s) up, so you can slip some heavy duty plastic under it of some sort. I don't know the correct spelling, but Visquene (Vizqueen) is perfect. If clout nailing roofing felt, I first cover a hut roof with Visquene, as an extra layer of protection, for when the roofing felt eventually fails. Properly installed, the correct way to fit roofing felt is to use adhesive, but I have found it lasts no longer than clout nailed felt on a hut roof.

Bosswhite · 2 Oct 2020

Inject roof and gutter sealant into tear , nail tear together and cover with more sealant

https://www.toolstation.com/roof-gu...JSoky_dYsroGK6Xmjy_jhEMymXPLku3hoCzCQQAvD_BwE

Mander · 2 Oct 2020

So the tube of stuff I intended to use was no good, and I didn't want to go out to get more. But I realised that the felt is flexible when warm so I took the roof off, cut a patch of leftover felt to go under the tear, and used a hair dryer to warm it up until I could smoosh it back together. It looks much better. Probably a totally redneck solution but I'll check it in a few days and see if it holds up.

IMG_20201002_135315608_HDR

Mander
2 Oct 2020

Next question is whether I need to fill in the gap between the roof and the wall, and if so, what should I use?

IMG_20201002_171702258_HDR

Mander
2 Oct 2020

Bosswhite · 3 Oct 2020

Again I would suggest the caulk sealant

Brigadier · 7 Oct 2020

Could do with fashioning some sort of drip strip, or the water could run over the eggs of the roof and into the shed anyway.

Sunshine32 · 7 Oct 2020

Brigadier is correct.

I wouldn’t have fastened the back of the felt to the underside of the roof as you have. I would have fastened it to the back wall of the shed. That way, rainwater has a clear path to run down the back of the shed and not find it’s way under the felt and into your shed.

JohnD · 7 Oct 2020

are you still able to lift the roof off?

Mander · 7 Oct 2020

Sunshine32 said:
Brigadier is correct.

I wouldn’t have fastened the back of the felt to the underside of the roof as you have. I would have fastened it to the back wall of the shed. That way, rainwater has a clear path to run down the back of the shed and not find it’s way under the felt and into your shed.

Hmm, I was following the instructions that came with the shed. It's the first time I have put such a thing together.

I could remove the roof itself but now that the felt has been warmed up and squidged onto the roof piece I don't think I could take it off without removing it. I am pondering trying to add some small angle brackets to the inside corners so that the roof fits a bit more closely to the frame (though of course it now seems that the only screws I have in the house are too long). So another trip to the hardware store is definitely in my future, or rather another online order...

Sunshine32 · 7 Oct 2020

Mander said:
Hmm, I was following the instructions that came with the shed. It's the first time I have put such a thing together.

I could remove the roof itself but now that the felt has been warmed up and squidged onto the roof piece I don't think I could take it off without removing it. I am pondering trying to add some small angle brackets to the inside corners so that the roof fits a bit more closely to the frame (though of course it now seems that the only screws I have in the house are too long). So another trip to the hardware store is definitely in my future, or rather another online order...

Well see how it goes and if you get water coming in then you can deal with it then I guess.

oldbutnotdead · 8 Oct 2020

Is it a flat roof? How thick is the OSB sheet? On the 2 sides and the back edge you could do with 50mm or 75mm weatherboards spiked to the roof edge- about 10mm above the top of the roof & the rest below, that'll stop water running round the corner and into the roof sheet.
At the low edge 50mm board again but the top level with or slightly below the felt. The side boards can rake down so they meet the front board, you may be a bit limited by clearance for the door

Ltnman · 9 Oct 2020

Most DIY sheds come with felt that is like tissue paper, as you have found out. Give it 2 or 3 years and you should be replacing the felt.

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Cracked roof felt

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