How to repair a felt roof

Step One: 

If there’s a small gap or crack in your felt, the quickest and easiest method of mending a roof is with specialist adhesive. Products like Evercryl Emergency Roof Repair Cartridge have been designed for this kind of emergency work and can even be used in wet conditions.

Step Two:

For larger sections of felt roof, patching is the most cost-effective and time-saving method. When patching, the first step to repairing a felt roof is to cut away the section which has become damaged. We recommend doing this by first scoring with a specialist Stanley knife and then cutting through. Whilst cutting through, be careful not to chop into the roof underneath. 

Step Three:

Using the old piece that you’ve cut away, measure the size of felt required to cover. Make sure to cut an area that’s larger than the original piece as this will overlap, ensuring your repair is watertight. Once you’ve cut the new piece of felt, hold it over the damaged area and draw around the area with chalk.

Step Four:

For the next step, you’ll need professional roofing adhesive to secure the felt. Apply the adhesive to the existing felt, working right up to the chalk lines – this will be used to bind the new piece to the roof. After this has been completed, put your new patch of felt into place. To do this, work from the middle out; this is important as it will remove any trapped air. 

Step Five:

Using the adhesive, seal around the edges of the felt, making sure it’s securely joined to the surrounding area. To finish, apply a layer of Aquaseal Liquid Roof – this adds a waterproof membrane for a watertight finish.

HOW TO REPLACE A ROOF TILE

Step One: 

First, locate the broken tile(s). When you’ve done this, it’s time to start the removal process. The best way to do this depends on the age of your roof. Modern tiles are usually attached by a nib, which simply hooks over a wooden batten. Older tiles may be secured with a nail; these will need to be removed using a slater’s ripper, a specialist tool that can be found for an affordable price online or at your local builders’ merchants. 

Step Two:

To remove, start with the highest broken tile. When you’ve done this, work across and then down to remove any further damaged tiles. Take care to only detach one at a time and carefully carry it down to the ground – this is the safest way of working and will help to avoid any accidents or injuries. 

Step Three:

When all the tiles have been removed, you can begin replacing them. This time, work from the bottom up, moving across a row before ascending to the next. Hook the nib over the exposed batten and gently slide into place, being careful not to damage the surrounding tiles. Continue this process until you reach the last tile.

Step Four:

For the final tile, we recommend that you first carefully lift the tile above and slide the new one underneath. Next, lift the tiles that will be adjacent to the new one and repeat the process. To securely manoeuvre it into place, gently wiggle and move from side to side. This will allow you to hook the new tile over the batten while also ensuring there are no gaps.

Whether you’re working on a tiled or a felt roof, this step-by-step guide will help you to carry out crucial repair work. If you enjoyed this article, then why not take a look at our other posts? We’ve published a variety of useful guides that include ways to upgrade your garden and tips on installing wooden flooring. 

Alternatively, if you need help with other areas of your roof, we have an extensive range of repair products for different tasks. Take a look at the full range for products like 903 Bitumen Trowel Mastic, which can be used to seal metal guttering and pipes. 

Do you have any other tips for repairing a roof? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.