Cryptic crossword clue
They help to waterproof shed Sturgeon ordered 12

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word GROUNDSHEETS

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "They help to waterproof" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case they help to waterproof = groundsheets.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does GROUNDSHEETS mean?

GROUNDSHEETS noun
  1. A sheet of waterproof material that is spread on the ground, often beneath a tent, and upon which a person may sit or sleep.

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