Staples In Shed Roofing Felt

[bainbrig]

Couple of blokes did our shed roof (new covering). Apparently, rather than using clouts on the side battens and up the middle (big roof, 12x8) they used a staple gun.

Is this common nowadays, and is it a Bad Thing?

Ta.

BB

[unigirl]

I don't know about the prevalence of this, but I wouldn't allow it. As far as I know, stainless steel, rust resistant staples are simply not available so I can't see the staples lasting long in this climate. The legs of the staples surely cannot have the depth to secure the felt to the wood adequately.

[unigirl]

On thinking about, isn't it possible that the wind would be able to tear off the felt more easily if the felt was secured by staples? I'd concede though that your guys may have been overly enthusiastic with the staple gun.

[bainbrig]

Yes unigirl, those were my worries too. They were cheap, but not so cheap you’d want to do it again.

[Groupie]

Get them back, Clout nails only

[The Builder]

Unigirl is partly right. Stainless steel staples are used all the time, but they tend to be only 10, maybe 15mm depth.

Deeper ones (usually used with an electric or air-driven tacker) are available. 50mm length would probably be about right for your shed battens. These are galvanised, so just as good as clouts.

I'm only talking about timber battens here, I wouldn't use them for fixing felt directly. A clout head sinks slightly into the soft felt to give a waterproof fixing. Staples on felt would be rather leaky.

[alavahalf]

.. I would have talked you into having a single sheet of EDPM .. no joints and no nails and your roof will then out live your shed.

[bainbrig]

Thanks Builder. Now we're going to have to phone 'our' builder and tell him why we used the cowboys....

BB

[The Builder]

Thanks, Bain.

I know it's more expense, but Homer's dead right. I recently finished my garage/workshop roof in EDPM. Full kit, plus all the instructions you'll ever need.

[alavahalf]

If you are capable of throwing a blanket over a donkey .. you can do a shed roof in EDPM.
.. Promise ..

[bainbrig]

Alava. Old, one-legged, half-blind, so I’ll be phoning my builder!