Waterproofing Your Garden Outbuildings with Onduline: Prepare for Summer Enjoyment

As summer approaches, many of us are eager to make the most of our outdoor spaces. Garden sheds, summer houses, and other outbuildings play a crucial role in enhancing our garden experience, providing storage for tools, a quiet retreat, or even an outdoor entertainment area. However, the British weather can be unpredictable, and ensuring these structures remain dry and protected is essential for their longevity and your enjoyment.

Onduline roofing offers an excellent solution for waterproofing garden outbuildings. Let's explore how this versatile material can help you prepare your garden structures for the summer months ahead.

What is Onduline?

Onduline is a lightweight, corrugated roofing material made from organic fibers that have been saturated with bitumen under high pressure. This creates a durable, waterproof sheet that's ideal for garden buildings.

Some key benefits include:

Lightweight yet strong: Easy to handle during installation but durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions
Eco-responsible: Made from approximately 50% recycled materials, depending on the roof sheet.
*Refer to the EPD
Waterproof: Excellent water-resistant properties make it perfect for British weather
Low noise: The Onduline material used to make the roof sheets has sound absorbing properties which helps to minimise rain noise compared to metal roofing alternatives.
Long-lasting: Typically lasts a minimum of 10 years with proper installation and maintenance

Popular Applications for Garden Outbuildings

Garden Sheds
The most common garden structure, sheds often suffer from leaky roofs that can damage tools and equipment. Onduline provides excellent protection while being simple to install on existing shed frames.

Summer Houses
These more decorative outbuildings benefit greatly from Onduline's aesthetic appeal. Available in various colours (typically black, red, green, and brown), Onduline can complement the design of your summer house while ensuring it remains a dry retreat during unexpected showers.

Workshop Spaces
For those who use their outbuildings as creative spaces or workshops, maintaining a dry environment is essential for protecting materials, tools, and projects. Onduline's waterproofing capabilities make it an ideal choice.

Animal Housing
If your outbuildings house pets or livestock, Onduline offers the dual benefits of keeping animals dry while being quieter during rainfall than metal alternatives.

Installation Tips for Summer Preparation

Timing Is Everything

Early summer is the perfect time to install or replace outbuilding roofing. The typically drier conditions make installation easier and ensure your buildings are protected before any summer storms arrive.

Proper Preparation

Assess the current condition: Remove any existing damaged roofing and check the supporting structure for rot or damage.
Measure accurately: Onduline sheets come in standard sizes, so careful measurement ensures minimal waste.
Gather the right tools: You'll need a hammer, roofing nails with plastic washers, saw, measuring tape, and safety equipment.

Installation Best Practices

Ensure adequate slope: Onduline works best with a minimum 10° pitch to allow proper water runoff.
Use appropriate support: Install battens at the recommended spacing. Check the product installation guide for specific details.
Allow for overhang: Remember to leave an overhang at the eaves to ensure water drips clear of the walls.
Correct fixings: Use correct Onduline fixings, whether nails or screws at every corrugation at overlaps and eaves, and alternating corrugations elsewhere.
Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation to prevent condensation build-up inside your outbuilding.

Enhancing Your Garden Space

With your outbuildings properly waterproofed, you can focus on enhancing your garden space for summer enjoyment:

Create an Outdoor Entertainment Area

A waterproof summer house can be transformed into a perfect entertainment space for those summer barbecues and garden parties that might be interrupted by a passing shower.

Garden Storage Solutions

Protect garden furniture, cushions, and accessories in your waterproofed shed during unexpected rain, allowing you to quickly set up your outdoor space again when the sun returns.

Peaceful Retreat

Transform your summer house into a reading nook or relaxation space, confident that your books and comfortable furnishings will remain dry regardless of the weather.

Maintenance for Long-Term Protection

Once installed, Onduline requires minimal maintenance:

Regular cleaning: Clear debris from the roof surface to prevent moisture retention.
Check fixings: Occasionally inspect to ensure nails remain secure.
Trim overhanging branches: Prevent damage from falling branches or excessive leaf build-up.

Environmental Benefits

Choosing Onduline also brings environmental benefits:

Energy-efficient production: Requires less energy to produce than traditional roofing materials
Lower carbon footprint: Made from approximately 50% recycled content (refer to the epd)
Non-toxic: Contains no asbestos or other harmful substances

Conclusion

Preparing your garden outbuildings for summer with Onduline roofing provides peace of mind and protection for years to come. The material's combination of durability, ease of installation, and aesthetic appeal makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to waterproof their garden structures.

By taking the time to properly waterproof your outbuildings this season, you're ensuring that summer showers won't dampen your outdoor enjoyment. Whether you're storing garden tools, creating a summer entertaining space, or establishing a quiet retreat, Onduline offers the protection your garden buildings need.

Invest a weekend in this practical improvement project, and you'll reap the benefits throughout this summer and for many seasons to come.

Waterproofing your garden outbuildings with Onduline