Preserving / re-roofing a shed

Preserving / re-roofing a shed

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NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,310 posts

258 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Our shed has suffered some neglect for the last few years but is basically solid.

Problems are:

It was painted but has peeled pretty badly, so I'm going to sand it off and paint it with some kind of preservative but I'm wondering what would be the best stuff to use - Cuprinol alone do about 5 different things and I have no idea what the difference is!

The felt on the roof is in poor condition and needs replacing. Am I right in thinking it's just overlapped felt side to side held down with galvanised large headed nails and wooden battens, possibly sealed with some sort of bitumen paint on the joins?

Some of the wooden battens under the floor look like they may be suffering from rot - any tips for replacing these without dismantling the shed? (an option already explored and discounted!)

Cheers!

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

255 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Our shed has suffered some neglect for the last few years but is basically solid.

Problems are:

It was painted but has peeled pretty badly, so I'm going to sand it off and paint it with some kind of preservative but I'm wondering what would be the best stuff to use - Cuprinol alone do about 5 different things and I have no idea what the difference is!

Get the phone number off one of the tins and ring their technical department, they'll advise the best one for your situation.

The felt on the roof is in poor condition and needs replacing. Am I right in thinking it's just overlapped felt side to side held down with galvanised large headed nails and wooden battens, possibly sealed with some sort of bitumen paint on the joins?

Yes, start at the bottom, overlap the felt by about 4 inches, use ELH (extra large head) clout nails, felt adhesive as well if you like. Using wooden battens will help spread the wind loading on the felt, preventing it lifting; just watch out for water "ponding" above the battens.

Some of the wooden battens under the floor look like they may be suffering from rot - any tips for replacing these without dismantling the shed? (an option already explored and discounted!)

That will depend on how they're fixed to the sides of the shed. You may be able to saw odd boards out, or you ma have to take 3 or 4 four out to be able to replace one.

Cheers!
HTH

robinhood21

30,844 posts

239 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Overlapped felt will do the job. No need to stick the overlaps down, just use the large head galvanised clout-nails.
Purchase new floor support battens (tantalised) and slide them in next to the old ones.
The modern equivalent of creosote will probably outlast any of the new water based variants for the exterior of the shed.

ETA: Did not see your post MR M.

Edited by robinhood21 on Monday 17th August 11:27

mgtony

4,064 posts

197 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
robinhood21 said:
Overlapped felt will do the job. No need to stick the overlaps down, just use the large head galvanised clout-nails.
Purchase new floor support battens (tantalised) and slide them in next to the old ones.
The modern equivalent of creosote will probably outlast any of the new water based variants for the exterior of the shed.
Unless you sand right back to the bare wood, a stain will not be much use. If previously painted, sand back to a sound surface, use a decent exterior primer, undercoat and top coat.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

255 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
robinhood21 said:
Overlapped felt will do the job. No need to stick the overlaps down, just use the large head galvanised clout-nails.
Purchase new floor support battens (tantalised) and slide them in next to the old ones.
The modern equivalent of creosote will probably outlast any of the new water based variants for the exterior of the shed.

ETA: Did not see your post MR M.

Edited by robinhood21 on Monday 17th August 11:27
No worries

Dogwatch

6,273 posts

229 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Wickes' do a 'How to' leaflet on re-felting which also explains what their various offerings are and (roughly) how long they will last. As usual, the better the system the longer it will last.
The summerhouse I did last year is supposed to be good for 20+ years, a bit excessive for a shed perhaps!

TooLateForAName

4,838 posts

191 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
As an alternative to felt, you could use edpm - basically pond liner.

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,310 posts

258 months

Monday 17th August 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies guys.

I had planned to buy a belt sander to take the paint off as I'd rather stain/preserve it than paint it...