How to Replacing Shed Roof Felt

Shed roof felt is one of the most common roofing materials on sheds, helping to protect them from different weather fronts and preventing deterioration. It also helps to keep the water out and reduces the chances of damage to the underlying wood.

It’s recommended that you replace shed roof felt around 10 years of age, explains Homebase, although some felts can last much longer. It’s a good idea to invest in quality, professional grade felt rather than the cheaper, tissue-thin varieties, as this will give your shed a better, more robust protection and help to avoid any future problems down the line.

Replacing old shed felt can be a daunting task but there are some simple steps you can follow to make it easier. Start by preparing your tools and materials and ensure that they are in clear sight so you can access them safely when you need to. A tool belt may be handy if you don’t want to constantly have to go up and down the ladder.

Remove the existing fascia boards from the shed roof, being careful to ensure you don’t damage the underlying structure. Once the boards are removed, you can tidy up the overhang at each corner by folding down the roofing felt and nailing it in place at 10cm intervals along the gable ends. Once this is done, you can re-attach the fascia boards by screwing or nailing them in place.

Lay your first piece of felt across the roof – rough side up – and smooth out any wrinkles. Next, crack open a packet of clout nails, which are specially designed for this job and use them to secure the felt in place. These large headed nails will hold the felt securely and the shallow pointy end – typically 15-20mm mm long – will drive into the wood without penetrating the shed interior.

Once you’ve secured the first piece of felt, it’s time to roll out another and repeat the process until you have a full length of shed roof felt covering the entire shed. This will include a 50mm overlap at the eaves and 75mm overhang on the gable sides.

Now, you can apply the adhesive to the surface of the shed roof felt, ensuring that it is not too thick and is spread evenly over the whole area. This will ensure that your new shed roof felt sticks well and looks great.

You should also be careful not to use too much felt adhesive or you could risk the glue sticking to your hand as you work. This can be dangerous as it could cause skin irritation.

Cut the new felt in place to match the guideline you have drawn on your shed’s roof. This is easy enough to do using a tape measure and a straight edge. Then, mark the position of the felt pieces on both ends of the shed and then use a tape measure to cut them down in line with these marks.