For decades, roofing felt remained the only solution for the roofs of garages, sheds and outbuildings - cheap, easy to install, but extremely short-lived. Today the market offers dozens of modern materials that are superior in all respects: from service life to resistance to temperature changes. However, choosing an alternative often turns into a puzzle: which is better - a flexible membrane or corrugated sheeting? Is it worth overpaying for liquid rubber or is budget ondulin enough?

In this article we will look at 5 most reliable covering materials for garage roofs, which will completely replace roofing felt, let’s compare them in price, durability and installation complexity. You will receive step-by-step installation instructions each option, learn about typical mistakes when working with them and be able to choose the optimal solution for your budget. And at the end - answers to frequently asked questions that car owners have when repairing their roof.

Why roofing felt is becoming a thing of the past: 3 key problems of the material

Ruberoid is still used today due to its low price (from 30–50 rub/m²), but its disadvantages outweigh this benefit:

  • 🔥 Flammability: Bitumen impregnation makes the material extremely fire hazardous - just a spark from welding or a blowtorch.
  • ⏳ Service life 3–5 years: Under the influence of UV rays and temperature changes, roofing material cracks, swells and allows water to pass through.
  • 🧊 Fragility in the cold: At −15°C and below, the material becomes brittle, and in the spring, thawing ice floes tear it to pieces.

In addition, roofing felt requires multi-layer installation (minimum 2-3 layers), which increases the weight on the roof and complicates installation. Modern materials solve these problems by offering guarantee from 10 to 50 years when installed correctly.

⚠️ Attention: If your garage is built from flammable materials (wood, OSB), the use of roofing felt is strictly not recommended - the risk of fire increases 3-4 times compared to non-flammable membranes or corrugated sheets.

TOP 5 alternatives to roofing felt: comparison by price and characteristics

We have selected materials that are optimally suited for garage roofs in terms of price/quality ratio. All of them superior to roofing felt in durability and strength, but differ in cost and complexity of installation.

Material Service life Price per m² (2026) Difficulty of installation Flammability
Ondulin (Euroslate) 15–20 years 250–400 rub. Low Burns at +250°C
Corrugated sheet (galvanized) 25–30 years 300–600 rub. Average Non-flammable
PVC membrane 30–50 years 400–800 rub. High Non-flammable
Liquid rubber 10–15 years 500–1200 rub. High Burns at +300°C
Soft tiles (bitumen) 20–25 years 600–1500 rub. Average Burns at +200°C

Ideal for most garages ondulin, corrugated sheet or PVC membrane — they combine reasonable price and long service life. Liquid rubber and soft tiles are more suitable for roofs with complex geometries or when needed seamless waterproofing.

📊 What material are you considering for your garage roof?
Ondulin
Corrugated sheet
PVC membrane
Liquid rubber
Soft tiles
I haven't decided yet

Ondulin: a budget replacement for roofing felt with a 15-year guarantee

Ondulin (or Euroslate) are wavy sheets of cellulose impregnated with bitumen with polymer additives. The material is lighter than roofing felt, does not rot and can withstand snow loads up to 300 kg/m².

Pros of ondulin:

  • 💰 Low price: Cheaper than corrugated sheeting by 20–30%, and lasts 3–4 times longer than roofing felt.
  • 🔨 Easy installation: The sheets are attached with self-tapping screws to the sheathing and do not require welding or glue.
  • 🌧️ Good waterproofing: Waves create additional joints that prevent leaks.

Cons: Over time, it fades in the sun (loses color), and can become deformed at +80°C. Not suitable for flat roofs - requires a minimum slope 10°.

Prepare the sheathing in increments of 40–60 cm|Buy special nails with rubber washers|Make the overlap of the sheets at least 15 cm|Treat the joints with sealant-->

Step-by-step installation instructions:

  1. Clean the roof from old roofing material and level the surface.
  2. Install timber sheathing 50×50 mm in increments 45 cm.
  3. Lay the sheets from bottom to top, starting from the leeward side. Horizontal overlap - 1 wave, vertically - 15–20 cm.
  4. Fasten with special nails (20 pieces per sheet) - into each wave at the joints and through the wave in the middle.
  5. Seal joints with silicone caulk or tape Onduflesh.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use ordinary self-tapping screws - they tear the material due to thermal expansion. Only nails with wide washers!

Corrugated sheeting: non-flammable and durable (30 year warranty)

Corrugated sheet - galvanized steel sheets with trapezoidal or corrugated profile. Ideal for garages with a roof slope of 8°. Withstands snow loads up to 600 kg/m² and doesn't burn.

Benefits:

  • 🔥 Fire safety: Suitable for garages with electric welding or stove heating.
  • ❄️ Frost resistance: Does not lose properties at −50°C.
  • 🛠️ Easy repair: A damaged sheet can be replaced without dismantling the entire roof.

Disadvantages: Noisy during rain (solved by sound insulation), requires care when cutting (edges need to be treated with anti-corrosive agent).

Installation technology:

  1. Lay a vapor barrier film (if the roof is insulated).
  2. Install the timber sheathing 50×50 mm in increments equal to the profile width (usually 30–50 cm).
  3. Lay sheets overlapping 10–15 cm, fasten with self-tapping screws with rubber gaskets (6–8 pieces per m²).
  4. Treat joints with sealant Soudal or Tytan.
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If the garage roof has a slope of less than 12°, use corrugated sheeting with a wave height of at least 20 mm (marking N-20 or NS-35) - this will prevent water from flowing into the joints.

PVC membrane: premium solution for flat roofs

PVC membranes (for example, Logicroof, Alkorplan) are flexible polyvinyl chloride sheets reinforced with polyester mesh. Ideal for flat roofs garages, as they form seamless coating.

Pros:

  • 💧 Absolute waterproofing: The seams are welded with hot air, eliminating leaks.
  • 🧪 Chemical resistance: Not destroyed by oils, gasoline or salts.
  • ⏳ Service life 50+ years: Manufacturers' warranty - up to 30 years.

Cons: High price (from 800 rub/m² with installation) and the need for special equipment for welding seams.

How to lay:

  1. Prepare the base: concrete screed or OSB boards.
  2. Roll out the membrane, leaving an overlap 5–10 cm.
  3. Weld the seams with a heat gun at a temperature 400–600°C.
  4. Secure the edges mechanically (with slats) or glue them to the base.
What happens if you lay a PVC membrane without welding?

Without welding, the seams remain vulnerable - after 1-2 years, condensation will begin to accumulate under them, and in winter, ice will tear the joints. The manufacturer's warranty will be void if installed in this manner.

Liquid rubber: seamless waterproofing in 1 day

Liquid rubber (for example, RubberFlex, Elastopaz) is a bitumen-polymer mastic that is applied by spraying or roller. After hardening, it forms an elastic coating without seams.

Where to use:

  • 🏗️ Complex roofs with pipes, ventilation or parapets.
  • 🔄 Old roof repair without dismantling roofing felt.
  • ⚡ Quick installation: Processing 50 m² takes 2–3 hours.

Limitations: Requires a perfectly dry base (humidity no more than 4%), dear (from 1000 rub/m² with work). Not suitable for roofs with a slope greater than 25° - drips when applied.

Application instructions:

  1. Clear the roof of debris and remove loose roofing material.
  2. Apply primer (eg Bitumast) for better adhesion.
  3. Spray liquid rubber in 2 layers (total thickness 2–3 mm).
  4. Reinforce problem areas (joints, corners) with reinforcing fiberglass.
⚠️ Attention: Liquid rubber can only be applied at air temperatures between +5°C and +30°C. In cold weather, the mastic does not polymerize, and in hot weather it dries too quickly, forming bubbles.

Typical mistakes when replacing roofing felt and how to avoid them

Even the most expensive material will not last long if the installation technology is violated. Here 5 most common mistakes and their consequences:

  1. Saving on sheathing: If the pitch of the beams exceeds 60 cm, ondulin or corrugated sheeting bend under the snow → cracks and leaks.
    ✅ Solution: For ondulin, the sheathing step is - 45 cm, for corrugated sheets - 30–50 cm (depending on the brand).
  2. Ignoring the ventilation gap: Without a gap between the insulation and the roof, condensation accumulates → rotting of the rafters.
    ✅ Solution: Use counter battens thick 20–30 mm to create a ventilation duct.
  3. Incorrect overlap of sheets: Too little overlap (less 10 cm) leads to water flow.
    ✅ Solution: For ondulin - overlap 15 cm, for corrugated sheets - 10–15 cm (depending on the slope).
  4. Lack of waterproofing film: Without it, condensation destroys the insulation and wooden elements of the roof.
    ✅ Solution: Place the film Izospan D or Tyvek under the sheathing.
  5. Using inappropriate fasteners: Ordinary self-tapping screws tear ondulin, and nails without washers pierce corrugated sheeting.
    ✅ Solution: For ondulin - nails Ondulin-Smart, for corrugated sheeting - self-tapping screws with EPDM gaskets.
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The most common cause of leaks is poor-quality sealing of joints. Even with the correct overlap of the sheets, water seeps through the micro-gaps. Always use silicone or polyurethane based sealant.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to lay new material over old roofing felt?

Yes, but only if the old roofing felt didn't swell and doesn't go away from the base. Optimal options for such installation:

  • Liquid rubber (applied directly to roofing material after cleaning).
  • Ondulin (if the roof slope is from 10° and the sheathing will support the additional weight).

Lay corrugated sheeting and PVC membrane over roofing felt it's impossible - it will rot under the new coating.

What material is the cheapest after roofing felt?

In terms of price/quality ratio, the leader is ondulin (from 250 rub/m²). Only roofing felt is cheaper, but it will last a maximum of 5 years. Corrugated sheeting will cost 300–400 rub/m², but will last 2 times longer than ondulin.

If your budget is extremely limited, you might consider bitumen mastic (from 150 rub/m²), but it will last for 3–7 years.

Do I need to insulate my garage roof?

Insulating a garage roof is advisable in three cases:

  1. If the garage heated (furnace, electricity).
  2. If above the garage attic or workshop.
  3. If you live in a region with frost temperatures below −25°C (insulation will reduce the formation of condensation).

For insulation use mineral wool (cheaper) or expanded polystyrene (more durable). Layer thickness - from 50 mm.

What roof slope is the minimum acceptable for ondulin and corrugated sheeting?

Minimum slopes for popular materials:

  • Ondulin: 10° (with a smaller slope, continuous sheathing and additional waterproofing are needed).
  • Corrugated sheet: 8° (for brands N-60 and N-75).
  • Soft tiles: 12°.
  • PVC membrane: 0° (suitable for flat roofs).
How to treat joints to prevent leaks?

The choice of sealant depends on the material:

  • For ondulin and corrugated sheets: Silicone sealant Soudal or butyl rubber tape Onduflesh.
  • For PVC membrane: Special glue Logicroof or hot air welding.
  • For liquid rubber: Reinforcing fiberglass + additional layer of mastic.

Do not use regular construction silicone - it will crack after 1-2 years!