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How to Felt a Shed Roof

Felting a shed roof is an important part of protecting any garden shed from harsh weather. It also ensures that your shed looks great all year round. It may seem tedious, but it can be pretty straightforward if you know what you’re doing.

Our step-by-step guide includes everything you need to know. This includes the tools you need to remove and add new felt roof tiles.

To start, prepare these items:

  • Craft knife
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Roofing Felt
  • Felt and wood nails
  • Paintbrush
  • Felt Adhesive

Step 1: Removing old shed roof tiles

A woman putting down the old shingles on the roof

(Image Credit: Flickr)

Dismantle any existing timber fascia boards and put them to one side. Then, use a claw hammer to remove any nails holding down the old roofing felt. Ensure the surface is clear of any nails sticking out and any debris lying about. If you see any obvious hazards, remove or flatten these first.

Step 2: Measure the amount of felt you will need

Green Mineral Shed Felt – Premium Shed Roofing Felt
Green Mineral Shed Felt – Premium Shed Roofing Felt

Before installing the felt, measure the dimensions of the roof first to know how much you’ll need. Start with the width – measure from the eaves on one side, up and over the apex (if necessary) and down to the other edge. Make a note of this measurement, and then add 10 I’m to the figure. This is because you’ll want your felt to overhang by 5 cm on each side so you can tuck it underneath the purlins.

Rolls of felt can vary in width, but usually, they’ll be about 100cm wide. Most shed roofs have three strips of felt covering them lengthways. One on the right-hand side of the roof, one on the left and one spanning the ridge of the apex in the centre. You’ll want to allow the strip in the centre to overlap the strips on either side by approximately 10 cm.

Next, measure the roof from front to back, gable to gable. Add 15 cm to this number to allow for tucking the felt under the fascia boards (this equates to 7.5 cm on each side).

Step 3: Cutting

Generally, your width measurements will determine how many rolls of felt you need. And your length measurements where you need to cut each strip.

Cut the felt roll lengthwise at the designated point. Ensure you’ve accounted for the extra overhang using a craft or a Stanley knife.

Step 4: Applying the new felt roof covering

Green Mineral Shed Felt – Premium Shed Roofing Felt
Green Mineral Shed Felt – Premium Shed Roofing Felt

After you’ve cut the right-sized felt, roll it up again and place it on your outdoor shed’s roof. You’ll want to start with one of the edge rolls. Roll it out again across the roof and make sure it overhangs by 5 cm beyond the eaves.

You may want to mark a pencil line across the length of the roof so you know exactly where the felt should go. Make sure the felt is rolled out in a straight line, and then nail it in at 10-cm intervals across the length of the roof.

Pull it tight once it’s nailed in on the inner side so it lies flat along the length of the shed roof. Next, nail along the eaves – on the side of the shed rather than the top. The intervals between these nails can be wider – use one every 30 cm.

Repeat this exact procedure for the other side of the wooden shed.

Step 5: Felting in the middle

Once the side panels are secured in place, lay the final felt strip over the ridge at the apex. Make sure it overlaps the two felt strips on either side. Use felt adhesive to ensure security between the middle and the two outer strips. You can find this at any local hardware shop.

Lay it thick with a paintbrush on the two outer strips rather than the middle. Cover solely the area where the middle strip will overlap them. Stick the middle down and give it a good press down to make sure it’s in place.

Then, finish it off at the point where the edge of the middle strip meets the outer strips. Use nails again at 5 cm intervals.

Step 6: Tidy the corners of the overhangs

Green Mineral Shed Felt – Premium Shed Roofing Felt
Green Mineral Shed Felt – Premium Shed Roofing Felt

Fold the excess felt at each corner of the roof outwards to make a flap. Then, fold it back along the eaves and nail it into place. See where the overhang creases at the apex. Is it at the front and back of the building? Use your knife to cut a slit in the felt at the centre point. Nail either side into the wood, and then flap the other side over, covering it, and nail this in, too.

Along the gables, we recommend nailing the overhang in at 10-cm intervals. Once you’ve nailed it down securely, you can re-attach the fascia boards to keep your shed looking tidy. Doing so can help hide the folded roofing felt at each gable end. Use wood nails to secure it all in place and then trim off any excess material.

Maintenance Tips

After applying roofing felt tiles, maintenance is crucial to ensure longevity and effectiveness. Here are essential upkeep tips:

  • Regular inspections: Periodically check for tears, cracks, or loose edges. Address any issues promptly to prevent water leakage.
  • Cleanliness: Remove debris like leaves, dirt, and branches from the roof surface. Doing so will prevent water pooling and deterioration of the felt.
  • Repairs: Patch or seal any damaged areas using roofing adhesive or sealant. This technique will help maintain the waterproof barrier.
  • Protective coating: Apply a UV-resistant roof coating. This will protect the feet from sun exposure and extend its lifespan.
  • Trim overhanging branches: Prevent damage by keeping tree branches away from the shed. This will avoid abrasion and falling debris.

By following these maintenance steps, you can prolong the life of your shed roof felt. Most importantly, ensure your shed, be it an apex or pent roof shed, remains watertight and durable.

But of course, you can’t add a new felt if you don’t know how to fix shed roof. For felt that lasts, explore our great selection of roofing felt shingles. They are excellent investments for your cherished garden rooms, including summer houses.