Leak in felt shed roof

awec

Have a small leak in my shed roof, looks like the water is coming in through one of the holes made by the nails holding it down.

What's the easiest fix here? The shed is only a few years old.

Was thinking of loosening the nail, siliconing around it and then nailing back down (essentially creating a layer of silicone between the nail head and the felt). Any other ideas?

OfflerCrocGod

I have a similar problem with my house roof, so I'd love some suggestions!

Purgative

@awec That's what I'd try first.

@OfflerCrocGod It's a tile on felt roof? Are the tiles intact? Is the felt intact? Is it a new roof?

Lumen

Throw a tarp over it and re-felt it properly in spring. 😁

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118083629#Comment_118083629

Where do get them?

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118083653#Comment_118083653

Get what, tarp or felt?

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118083629#Comment_118083629

The felt looks fine, I don't really know what has happened here or why this one single nail is letting water through.

I did notice though that if you go inside the shed you can see this nail is actually visible as it comes through the roof timber in an area where a bit of timber is missing at the very edge of a length, maybe this means it doesn't have enough grip and is not holding down tight enough.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118083679#Comment_118083679

Either tbh

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118083726#Comment_118083726

The way mine is done the nails/tacks are meant to go into the rib of timber supporting the roof. Not just into the roof. So they should be all in a line, the extra depth in the rib timber underneath hides and takes the depth of the nail/tack.

What happened to mine is the roof sagged and the gaps opened in the timber. Then the felt is old and I assume cracked in places. It actually ripped off in a storm. I tacked it back (badly) in the storm, but really needs to be redone. Its very leaky and damp. I not sure if I should just replace the whole shed or refurnish it. Probably the latter since most of the timber is good. I should throw something like a tarp over it. I've been putting it on the long finger for ages.

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118084996#Comment_118084996

I think I got my big 8x5m tarp from Goodwins

https://www.goodwins.ie/categories.html?name=tarpaulin&type=simple

A bit cheaper than Screwfix

https://www.screwfix.ie/c/tools/tarpaulin/cat8940029?cm_sp=managedredirect-_-handtools-_-tarpaulin

As for felt, same, any builders providers will have it, depends on what you want...

https://www.goodwins.ie/categories.html?name=felt&type=simple

...but I think the common problem with sheds is the absolute cheapest felt being used, which either falls apart completely or opens up tears around the clout nails. Premium felts are designed to sort of close around the nail and not tear.

Obvs torch on felt wouldn't have that problem at all cos they're be no nails...

listermint

Take the nail out , glob external weather grade silicone in the hole. Glob around the nail and put the nail back in close but not on the original hole. That nail has no purchase. No need to be ugly tarping or refelting for something this small.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118086718#Comment_118086718

Thanks for that.

OfflerCrocGod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118083584#Comment_118083584

@Purgative Yes it's a tile on felt roof. I went up to take a look and I don't see anything wrong with the tiles, they look intact (I have an attic conversion, it's during the conversion that this leak was spotted). The felt isn't, there is a nail through it just like the OP, that's the source of the leak. I was thinking of cutting the nail ---

--- OK, I went in under the eaves with a diagonal pliers and cut the "nail" that punctured the felt. It turns out it's just a staple. So I'm guessing staples were used to hold the roof membrane, as it was build during the winter/autumn, before the battens were put down? Sorry by felt I meant roof membrane...and the staple came lose from the truss and acted like a channel for water when it rains.

I pulled the staple from the membrane but I'd still like to seal the hole in the membrane. I wonder if waterproof gorilla tape would do the trick? It's only a small puncture.

Purgative

@OfflerCrocGod Purely personal view but I'm not a huge fan of Gorilla tape or glue. I'd use something like Tec7. If it was a big area , they do a special paint - its like painting tar, used it on a flat roof about 3/4 years ago, been fine.

Best of luck.

Beanstalk

As above - That Tec 7 seven roof stuff blue bottle is brilliant. Horrible tarry stuff with fibreglass in it but very flexible and you can apply even if its wet.