Wet shed - but how?

[Madame Mucksprout]

Hello,

Our new shed is a complete conundrum to me. Sadly we were ill advised when we bought it in Nov, they said it was treated, turns out (after I complied that it was mouldy inside and soaked) that it isnt.

We then had a wet shed that needed treating - long story short with LOADS of 24 hour a day heating I managed to get 2 layers of Cuprinol on it. I sealed the joints with silicone, put guttering on and will be installing a solar vent into the roof and jacking up to try squeeze a dpm between shed and batons.


BUT wierdly one wall is still leaking and soaked inside? How can this be? what can I do?

Also I swear the roofing felt is not waterproof as the roof (thick plywood) is wet and delaminating - but there are no tears to be seen and the nails seem secure. Could the rain possibly be creeping up under the overlapped felt and getting onto the roof? can water travel up?

Its so sad to see my lovely new shed rotting infront of me.

Any advice greatfully received -
Thanks

[Zelenina]

I know next to nothing about sheds, but I'm wondering if it could be condensation. Does the shed have any ventilation? If not, then sealing it could make the situation worse by removing any small gaps and pores that air could get through.

[veggiechicken]

Did you buy it from a "reputable" company? Did they erect it for you or did you?
Just wondered as it doesn't seem to be meeting your expectations and I wondered what the retailer had to say about the problems.

[roitelet]

Some pictures would help.

[noviceveggrower]

Pics like roitelet says will help. Is the water on the same side as the guttering? Do you have the name of the roofing felt you used? There are bods on here who will be able to tell you whether the stuff you've used is water proof.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Yes water can travel up between the felt joints, its called capillary attraction.

If the joints don't overlap enough they should be sealed with cold felt mastic.

[Madame Mucksprout]

Hi,
Ill get some photos tomorw, thankyou for your replies.

It was bought from a local supplies, they did tell me it was refurbished as it was a show model, but they also told me it was treated. When I called to ask advice as it was mouldy they said they 'wernt surprised' as it wasnt treated..... the 'treated' they sold it as is just enough to get it from thier barn to your house, from then on its up to me.
Im gutted, but my hands are tied.

the roofing felt came with it and some local men errected it for me.

May I ask if I can felt over the flt on there - like a double skin? that should resolve any leaks I cant find?

[noviceveggrower]

Do you have a receipt or invoice from the suppliers? Was thinking if it said on it that it was treated then you might have something to go back to them with.
I think you might have them with a fit for purpose clause in your consumer rights.
Don't be so gutted you bought the shed in good faith. I bought a very expensive shed, well OH did for my xmas present. We paid for the company to deliver it to my allotment site and put it up for us. Not only did they upset some locals by parking on their grass but there was a gap between the roof supports and the roof its self. OH refused to pay them until it was fixed. So they went and fixed the roof. I moved sites at the end of the year and sold the shed. It turned out that the company fixed the shed roof problem by using some very large screws to basically pull the roof and sides of the shed together.
You have asked the right bods for help. Very knowledge peeps on here who can offer advice and hopefully help you out

[Potstubsdustbins]

If it says treated on the invoice I reckon you have a case unless there is a statement saying it needs further treatment.

Fit for purpose would be a dodgy one as others erected it. That's the reason I won't fit their own boiler for someone I only do supply and fit.

As to over felting yes that is a perfectly reasonable way to go to seal the roof, just make sure the existing felt is dry before hand.

[jonohanson]

I have a similar problem with sheds where I live, we get heavy rolling prevailing winds straight on to our garden, and when it rains it forces rain through the T&G boards on my shed, this has resulted in wet walls on the prevailing side. Also where the roof apex meets there is a gap all the way along the ridge and I can see condensation forming on the felt from inside the shed.

My plan come the summer is to overboard the shed with featheredge boards, this will stop the seepage when the rain gets hurtled at the shed, then maybe expanding foam the ridge (not sure yet, but i'm sure this would stop condensation forming). I will also tar paint the joints on the roof felt, and dot each nail head just for good measure, I also had to batten the roof due to high winds removing one layer of felt already so will tar paint the batten joints. And as a final measure to cure and condensation issues, add a couple of weather proof vents.

[Madame Mucksprout]

ITS WET AGAIN!! - Pictures attached.
Oh no, I really thought Id done it! 2 coats of shed paint, sealent in all the joints and in some places between the feather boards.
Gone in there today after last nights downpour and its SOAKED!
gutted.

Ive got some photos, if anyone would take a look and could advise Id me really greatful.

The roof leak seems fixed and holding :-)

It is the back/side wall and the rear wall that are soaking wet!

It looks to me that the rain is climbng back in under the feather board, but I dont see how as Ive painted it so thougth that would seal the boards together.

I did squeeze some sealent between a few of the feather boards on the rear/side wall and that has held the rain out, but do I really have to do that on all the boards? (you may see it in the pic, its black sealent)
But sadly, the sealant and paint over the joint hasnt withstood the rain, and the back wall (middle height, not floor or roof) is soaked too.

That is the side that gets the most weather

Help

[Potstubsdustbins]

I notice you do not yet have a method of moving the water from the gutter and from what I can see the gutter slopes toward the rear of the shed.

During heavy rain water would be gushing from that open end like a water fall bouncing back off the adjacent fence and hitting the rear wall of the shed from all angles.

Before I did anything else I would find a way of rectifying that problem.

The pics give some idea of what can happen during a moderate shower never mind a down pour.

[Madame Mucksprout]

wow ! look at that! That on earth is happening to your butt?

No, I havent put a down pipe on yet, I thought that it I dropped the water far enough away from the shed then it should be ok.
But now Ive seen that Im a bit shocked?! Ill get onto fitting a down pipe straight away this weekend.

Any thoughts on the permeating water though the walls very gratefully received.

[Bigmallly]

Looking at your pic, the wet wall is opposite to the windows, I have spun one of your pics & notice a few gaps in the corner joints which could do with a bit sealant, I also can't work out what is going on with the felt as it looks to be overhanging the gutter:

[Madame Mucksprout]

Ah yes Big Mally (Well spotted).
The felt on the rear wall is a bit 'flappy' as Im finding some more 'baton' to attach to the roof board to nail the felt too - like the other side. (There wasnt any with the shed so the felt was initially just wrapped around the edge but that just threw water down the sides).

Ill get on straight away!

I think the gaps you can see are the black sealent (do they look black?). I ran out of clear so resorted to an old tube of black I found - I hope to paint over it).

Ill be down there later this morning to turn on the miriad of heaters and open the doors for a bit (to dry dry it out.

Ill do some more 'staring at it' ses if I can work out what else I can do to stop the rain coming through those walls.

Is it ok to run any thoughts by you guys?

Any specific photos that may help just say and Ill run down and take them - I really appreciate your time and help with this. I WILL fix it! even if I have to build a shed over my shed!