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We were lucky enough to inherit a large summerhouse when we bought our house, but the roof has started to leak.
I've never re felted a roof before, but seems pretty logical. Have measured and know how much felt I needed, all seemed simple, but now I'm seeing things saying stuff like 'torch on is better' and 'you need 3 layer felt'.
Do I? Looks like single layer on there at the moment?
And I gather that cheap felt isn't that good, so what readily available stuff is best to go for?
I need 7 1m x 5.2m runs. I'm happy to pay for good quality stuff.
Do I need to glue it all over, or just at the seams?
Investigate and try to use butyl type rubber if you can - felting is messy and prone to leaks , more difficult to lay without cracking or damaging it.
Depending on the pitch of the roof I'd do it in onduline
It comes with a 15 year guarantee and looks a load better than felt IMHO.
G
EPDM roof kit like that linked to by Kayak23, superior to felt IMO.
Ah sorry, meant to say, It needs felt. Rubber/EDPM really won't suit.
Have you considered using roofing shingles instead?
My go-to for re-roofing sheds etc is onduline but that may not be the right aesthetic for a summer house. Cheap felt is a complete waste of money - bit like cheap tools if you need good funtionality in the long term.
I've just fastened onduline on over the top of felt which also reduces the overall aggro of the task.
Apologies - nothing to offer in respect of actual re-felting...
I've used shingles on mine, bitumen and tacks hidden under the overlaps.
It was a pain to do and leaks - I suspect it's the tacks on the 'ridge tiles'. They were fitted as per instructions, but I'll probably put a blob of bitumen over each one at some point
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What condition are the roofing boards? Using bitumen impregnated boards would be a good start, sealing/taping the seams. Depending on pitch, you could fit cedar shingles- I did a roof 12 years ago and it's still water-tight.
I used a polyester based felt on a shed 17 years ago and it's looking a bit tired but hasn't leaked yet. Think it was from Wickes. Used more clout nails than usual. As others have said cheap felt doesn't last, tears easily.
Good quality felt, eg one with added fibres to stop it ripping,
Measure full width of shed across the slope and add on a foot for overlap,
Unroll felt on grass and mark that length,cut with a hooked blade stanley knife,
roll up felt and place on roof and unroll, to check length and overlap, if ok cut enough felt to totally cover roof half and half coverage.
Secure felt at lowest point of roof and pull taught,
then use clout nails to secure along front, and a few at top of sheet,
next sheet fits over this,half and half,and nail down and continue if a flat sloping roof,if an apex roof do both faces and apply top apex sheet.
Finally fix at sides and apply facia boards and cut off surplus felt.
Wear a hat grit from the felt gets in your hair, clout nails will hurt if you kneel on them only happens once or twice and then you look out for them.
Get a nail Pouch with a hammer loop,
Kneeling on the felt without knee coverings you risk grit in your knees it hurts, wear jeans or knee pads.
Sheds etc are high work off a ladder or if you climb on always work upwards not downwards its a long way to fall and hurts bad.
Cut back any overhanging branches, ensure there is space at all sides of shed to work.
Finally in hot weather the felt goes all soft and is easier to work with.