While I was up in the loft last evening, fitting some loft insulation, I noticed a 6 inch rip in the roofing felt. I could view the roof tiles through it.
There is no evidence of water ingress. Can I safely patch this up with duck tape or do I need a more watertight solution?
Thanks Bruce
Providing it sticks OK, I would have thought that should be fine. It's not as if roofing felt is subject to massive amounts of running water - you'll find old houses don't even have it at all. Keep an eye on it to make sure it stays stuck down.
Thanks. What causes the rips -- birds, strong winds?
Bruce
If you want to do a proper job, get some felt and Ruberoid adhesive, cut off a length of felt to fit between the rafters, preferably pushed on to the top of the rafter at each side by 1/4" or so, rehearse fitting it and tucking it over the top of the existing lower unholed length of felt, cut away any felt that's hanging down from the hole (leave as much as poss), liberally apply adhesive to the underside of the holed felt, up and down the edge next to the rafters, fit new felt and prop it in place with battens arranged like a plasterboarder's "dead man" on each side and the middle of the felt, leave to set properly, remove props.
I'd patch it with a small piece of roofing felt laid across the gap, held down with gaffer tape. If possible, wedge it in mechanically.
Gaffer tap alone is more flexible than felt, so any movement will tend to be concentrated at the tear and will work to pull the tape off. A patch of felt laid on top or underneath acts as a stiffener.
Yes, I accept what you say. But I would have to buy a full roll of roofing felt. I'll have a look in Wickes. They'll probably have some sort of heavy-duty repair tape, I expect.
Bruce
Probably as installed. ;-)
Big footed roof tiler, Who should have repaired it in the first place when the roof was being tiled.
How big a rip is it ?. If its a small rip, just push back and stick tape over. If its a large rip, its best done from out side but a lot of trouble.
If theres no water coming in you dont need to do anything. Lots of old houses have no felt at all.
NT
Thanks. I've bought some flashing tape from Wickes, =A35. I'll patch it up with that.
Bruce
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