How to fit felt shingles on your log cabin or summerhouse

Adding the right roof material helps to prevent water from getting into your building, protects the timber from moisture exposure and provides you with a log cabin or summerhouse that will stand the test of time. 

In this blog, we explain how to install felt roofing shingles along with key tips on how to achieve a professional finish.

Why does the roofing material matter?

When you invest in a log cabin or summerhouse, the main focus is usually on wall thickness, glazing options and the overall size of the building. However, the roofing material is just as important when it comes to the performance and longevity of your building, as well as the way it looks. 

Low quality or poorly installed roofing materials can allow moisture to gradually get underneath and into the timber used to build your log cabin or summerhouse. Over time, small leaks and moisture ingress can lead to issues such as mould, rot, cracking and splitting, all of which can affect the long-term performance of your garden buildings.

Why felt shingles are the perfect option

When compared to standard roofing felt which is commonly used for shed roofs, felt roof shingles are a more durable, weather resistant and long-lasting solution for your log cabin. 

Installing a premium roofing material ensures that your log cabin or summerhouse stays in the best possible condition for years to come. 

Here are the key benefits of choosing roof shingles: 

• Cost effective option 

• Flexible and easy to cut 

• Available in a range of colours 

• Available in a range of shapes 

For more information about why you should install shingles on your log cabin, please read our blog: Why shingles are the superior roofing choice for your Tuin garden building.

Before you start installing felt roof shingles

Before installing the shingles, double check that your roof boards have been fitted correctly and visually inspect the roof surface. Then, gather everything you need, including: 

• Felt shingles (supplied in packs) – when you order your log cabin, you will be provided with the correct amount 

• Roofing nails 

• Hammer or nail gun 

• Stanley knife or scissors 

• Measuring tape and pencil 

• Ladder 

• Protective gloves and safety equipment

How to install felt roof shingles: A step-by-step guide

In this guide, we’ll be adding felt roof shingles to our Jannie log cabin, but this material can be used across our full range of garden buildings. We’ll be installing our Premium IKO Shingles in our green straight style.

Step 1: Preparation

Before you start installing your roofing material, there are a few factors to consider:

• Check the weather forecast: Avoid installing on rainy or windy days. Roofing shingles adhere best in mild, dry conditions. 

• Inspect the roof surface: Ensure the roof of your log cabin is clean, dry and even. 

• Optional underlay: For additional waterproofing, you can install roofing felt or an IKO underlay sheet beneath the shingles. We recommend doing this in coastal or more exposed areas. 

• Storage: Don’t leave your shingles in direct sunlight before installation. They have a bitumen strip which is designed to melt and stick the roof together, so you don’t want the strips to stick together before you’ve installed them on the roof. 

• Mix packs: Mix shingles from various bundles to avoid colour blocks being visible once the roof is finished.  

The shingles are provided in strips which contain three or four tiles in line depending on the type you have chosen. The strips are in 1m lengths.

Step 2: Add the first layer of tiles

Place the first full shingle strip onto the bottom of the roof of your log cabin. For the first layer, the flaps should be pointing upwards towards the centre of the roof.

Before you position the first shingle in place, think about the shingle overhang. This is how far the shingles will overhang the wooden roof underneath which allows for water runoff and for water to run off the roof into optional guttering.

Measuring the overhang

To measure the overhang and make sure it’s the same across the entire perimeter of the building, use a scrap piece of wood between 30-40mm in thickness and use it as a guide to make sure the overhang is consistent.

Once you’re happy with the position of the first tile, you can secure it in place using the felt tacks or clout nails supplied and position them just below the natural tears that separate the strips into tiles. 

Continue laying the first layer of tiles across the roof from left to right.

Step 3: Lay the second layer of tiles

Once the first layer is in position, you can start laying the second layer of tiles on top. This layer should have the flaps pointing down in the correct way. When laying the first strip, aim to centre the top tile over the join of the very first layer underneath.

When you get to the corner of the building, you might find you have a shorter section that needs to be covered, and the strip of tiles is too long. To solve this, all you need to do is place the full strip across the section, nail it into position and cut the excess off.

This process might leave unsightly gaps up the roof line but don’t worry about these, they will be covered once you start covering the ridge line in the final steps of installation.

Step 4: Continue adding layers

Continue adding layers of tiles up the height of the roof. Always aim to centre the layer going on above the joint in the previous layer. 

For detailed steps on installing felt shingles, watch our full video:

Step 5: Adding the ridge lines

To finish the roof shingles, you’ll need to cover the ridge lines where you might have unsightly gaps. This should be done once you’ve covered all four parts of the roof.

Cut the pieces to size

Take the strips of felt and cut them into three individual tabs. We recommend using a straight edge and square often found on handsaws and cut them with a Stanley knife. Cut the tile from the bottom as the knife will slide more easily this way. 

Cut a number of tiles and fit them all together rather than cutting a few at a time.

Adding the strips to the roof

To add the ridge tiles, find a long, straight piece of timber to create a straight guide up the roof when laying the tiles from top to bottom to keep them aligned. 

Start by laying a ridge tile at the bottom of the roof and one at the top to check the straight edge is in position. Double check the straight edge is level and tack it into place. 

You can then lay the ridge tiles in place from bottom to top and every tile will need at least two clout nails to secure it. 

Remember that the very first ridge tile should overlap both sides of the roof.

Step 6: Finish with the top of the building

To finish the top of the building, take one of the tiles you’ve cut and cut it into a circle. You can use a nail and a piece of string with a Stanley knife at the end to do this. The circle doesn’t need to be too perfect because you’re going to fold it in on itself.

Make a slit across half of the circle and fold it within itself for the tile that will cap off the ridge of your building.

For a full step-by-step guide on adding the ridge tiles to your log cabin or summerhouse, watch our video: