Dog kennels leaking roof

[Chee]

Hi folks,
I recently bought a double kennel for the dogs. Measure up 12ft x 8ft with 3 osb boards acting as the roof. The roof has a slight pitch at a guess 12-15 degrees, I used felt on the roof with a 4 inch overlap on joints and clouts to secure. Inside one of the two kennels is always soaking and the water drips in quickly, the other kennel & the runs have no leaks. Iv searched for the source but can't find it. Iv even replaced parts of the felt looking for it.
Does anyone have any tips on how I can find this leak? I'm desperate to get it sorted so the dog isn't going to get soaked.

Thanks.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I had a similar problem with a shed, found out the water was running from a point a metre away from one of the felt nails and then tracking down the nail through the roof.

The clouts only have to work loose by a fraction and that can be the problem as well, especially on osb, does not seem to grip as well as solid roofing boards.

You could use one of the tins of roofing bitumen/sealer and brush over any joints and nail heads, that will probably sort any minor leaks.

In the end I put corrugated steel on mine, good felt was going to cost nearly as much and had a lifespan of only 5 years or so.

 

[steveo3002]

another option is updm rubber sheet , i also go fed up with replacing felt , seems crazy to bash nails in it

my rubber is only 6 months old so far but seems like a good idea , no joins or nails you just glue it on , and ive pulled n poked the offcuts and it seems tough stuff , sposed to last 50 years lol

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I had our flat roofs done with fibreglass. Company used water resistant flooring chipboards as a base (they said it needs a smooth surface) then two layers of fibreglass cloth followed by gel coat. I wouldn't consider anything else now for a flat roof. Next door neighbour had EDPM and is regretting having cowboy firm install. They simply laid the sheet and attached around the edges. Unfortunately during strong winds it find it's way under the sheet and it flaps up and down as it's inflated and deflated. If using EDPM ensure glued in place all over rather than attached just at edges.

Paul H

 

[wristpin]

4" overlap not enough and anyway should be sealed with mastic or bitumen in the overlap and any nails put through that sealed band, but that shallow angle not really enough. Fibre glass is the long term answer.

 

[nickk]

i just renewed the felt on my dogs kennel always use a batten on the felt fixing so the nails go thru the wood first so the wind doesn't tear & loosen the felt around the clout.

 

[Chee]

I think I'll look into the rubber sheet. I did think about using corrugated sheet but they can be noisy in the rain. When I move kennels I'm going to put more of a pitch on the roof. I'm in the middle of knocking down walls, fencing and cutting trees in the garden so I'll try get it sealed this weekend to tide me over until I move the kennels into their permanent position. It just seems to be constantly raining which isn't handy for roofing repair!