Recommend me some durable shed roof material

Maxson

I put my shed up in 2017 and it's about time I re-did the roof felt. The time has gone by fast and this time I want to do something that will last longer. The problem is there are options, lots of options!

I've seen recommendations for EPDM rubber sheet but that the roof under the felt is strips of wood on individual frames and not really suitable for it so I would have to screw sheets of say OSB to the roof before gluing to that. Plus strengthen the roof timbers to take my 100kg weight up there as it's not up to that currently and I only needed to lean on it to put the felt on but the glue process seems to need you to actually climb up there. Not keen on climbing on rooves TBH.

Such as this one: https://www.wickes.co.uk/Skyguard-12ft---20ft-Garden-Building-Roof-Kit/p/9000260516

Then there is this sort of shingles effect long term bitumen tiles. I quite like the idea of it as easy to install and good looking plus it has a 10 year guarantee.

This: https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-Grey-Roof-Shingles-2m²---Pack-of-14/p/137239#

Then there is this metal roof cladding. I watched some youtube on shed building and most Americans recommend metal clad roofing and they should know as their houses are built like big sheds. It should be the longest lasting as it's steel and probably easier to do than gluing on rubber sheet after adding sheets of OSB.

This corotile here: https://www.roofingmegastore.co.uk/corotile-lightweight-metal-roofing-sheet.html

I'm going to make the roof stronger anyway having reinforced the sides and ridge with 2x2 and 3x2 previously when I was making shelves and bike storage. It was a little bit wobbly for my liking before that.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Quorden

Can't comment on the other solutions you're looking at but just to your point about thinking Shingles are easy to install.

Whilst the instructions are easy to follow I wouldn't say they're the easiest thing to put up given that each strip is only about 1m in length so unless your shed fits those lengths exactly there will be cutting involved in each layer you do, plus you have to (or I did anyway) tack in each strip individually.  Be aware also that you have to over-lap each layer by about 3 or 4 inches, I know I underestimated how many packs I needed to do the job.

Lastly given you're not keen on climbing roofs (likewise) you'll have an issue tacking down the higher levels I think and the covering of the apex is pretty impossible to do unless you're up there.

Other than that they're great

Grenage

What's wrong with the felt; it looks fine.

I did my parents shed roof with decent felt and it lasted 20 years.

stuart45

Get a really good quality felt. When people buy a shed it's often covered with a cheap felt. If you can rip it with your hands easily it won't last long.

Maxson

Grenage said:

What's wrong with the felt; it looks fine.

I did my parents shed roof with decent felt and it lasted 20 years.

Those photos are from the year I built the shed. The felt feels fragile at the edges now and some of the nails at the edge have torn through. What is this felt that lasts 20 years? Someone told me they got some 10 year felt from toolstation but when I looked there was no such thing.

stuart45

Something like this. IKO Green Ultra Durable Super Shed Felt Roll - 1 x 8m | Wickes.co.uk
Needs to be reinforced. You can tell the difference when you try and tear it.

Maxson

Quorden said:

Can't comment on the other solutions you're looking at but just to your point about thinking Shingles are easy to install.

Whilst the instructions are easy to follow I wouldn't say they're the easiest thing to put up given that each strip is only about 1m in length so unless your shed fits those lengths exactly there will be cutting involved in each layer you do, plus you have to (or I did anyway) tack in each strip individually.  Be aware also that you have to over-lap each layer by about 3 or 4 inches, I know I underestimated how many packs I needed to do the job.

Lastly given you're not keen on climbing roofs (likewise) you'll have an issue tacking down the higher levels I think and the covering of the apex is pretty impossible to do unless you're up there.

Other than that they're great

Thanks for the advice. I also wanted it to look a bit nicer than basic felt and shingles do that.

Niv

EDPM every time for me from now on. Even though my shed roof is strips of T&G wood so I can see the pattern of the wood if I look at the roof, it is by far the best shed roof material I have used. Felt is inferior imo. 

EDPM is easy to cut and fit too - quicker than felt.

Ajmason42

What about the corrugated bitumen stuff and over lay what you have. I did that on a shed roof over 15 yrs ago and still dry inside plus they do various colours so you get a choice. Wickes  sell it and I’ll be doing our new shed with it next year. 

donemedosh

I did my small workshop roof with onduline bitumen corrugated sheets. They were easy to fit & look quite good been up about 5 years & still look like new.

gamston

i use EDPM now on sheds dormers etc, log sheds (for my firewood) i use bitumen sheets, for me Felt never lasts long
the only problem with EDPM is the cost of the trim, and you really need the trims as they set the roof off nicely, 
I've got roofs that have been up 12yrs and they still look as good as new, if it was felt i would be replacing it for the second time