Onduline Roofing Sheets, Any Good?

Frank99

Looking to replace old plastic sheet used as roof for shed however i'm noticing locally the choice is plastic, Bitumen or Onduline which the sales people were pushing at T perkinz.
The old plastic roof has lasted an amazing 29 years without a leak but it is one large 8ft x 6ft piece nailed on the top of the shed, the pieces now seem to be much smaller.

I was considering Onduline but not sure of it's reputation, somebody told me it loses colour after a few years.
Metal sheeting was a consideration also but i'm wondering if going plastic again might be the easiest as long as i can get one large sheet cut instead of 5-6 small ones.:doh:

EachPenny

Frank99 wrote: »

Looking to replace old plastic sheet used as roof for shed however i'm noticing locally the choice is plastic, Bitumen or Onduline which the sales people were pushing at T perkinz.
The old plastic roof has lasted an amazing 29 years without a leak but it is one large 8ft x 6ft piece nailed on the top of the shed, the pieces now seem to be much smaller.

I was considering Onduline but not sure of it's reputation, somebody told me it loses colour after a few years.
Metal sheeting was a consideration also but i'm wondering if going plastic again might be the easiest as long as i can get one large sheet cut instead of 5-6 small ones.:doh:

Onduline is ok, so long as you make sure it is properly supported. If you skimp on the supports it can start to sag and crack. The colour will also start to fade sooner than with some other materials like plastic coated steel (in my experience and opinion). But you do need to weigh up whether that fading is important - some people would consider it better to have a more 'natural' looking colour.

Personally I'd use plastic coated steel for longevity, but you do need to be aware of the condensation problem and buy sheets which have an anti-condensation layer, or else are laid on top of insulation (e.g. celotex)

Having multiple sheets rather than a single large one is not an issue, provided you take care to ensure the overlapping of the sheets is correct for the material you are using and the pitch of the roof. It is also important to pay attention to the fixing detail - whether the fixings need to go in the trough or the peak, and if into the peak that you don't over-tighten and cause stress or distortion on the sheet.

For that reason I again prefer plastic coated steel as the fixings go into flat troughs and seal using a neoprene washer. It is easy to get a good seal without damaging or distorting the sheet.

Jackmydad

I reckon Onduline is OK as long as it's laid on solid sheet material of some sort underneath. Ply or Stirling board etc.
I've used it on various sheds and chicken houses, and it's always sagged a bit when put on timbers, no matter how close the centres were.
I'd agree with EP though. Plastic coated steel.

getmore4less

No sagging on my little shed mounted on batons.
even repaired a hole from a tree branch caused.
Flexing in the building will cause fixing holes to grow.
My little shed move a bit

I would go rubber sheet next time.

snowcat75

Box profile every time, however the major disadvantage is condensation, If its a workshop then insulation or sandwich board is a must. Industrial buildings will only use Box profile, or fibre cement for a reason, in 25 years in the fabrication trade never seen anything than a 12x12 stable with a ten year life clad in onduline.

As for the longevity on BP coated sheets, In my life iv clad around 160000 sq' of profile not a single building have I ever had to return to and re-clad. expect 50 years+ on a Powder coated and galv sheet.