1. Choose your shed roof style

You’ll need to start by deciding what style of roof suits your needs, requirements, and tastes. There are a variety of styles to choose from, however, the most common two are:

  • Gable Roofs: Gable roofs, otherwise known as apex roofs, have a central peak with two sloping sides that meet down the middle along the length of the garden shed. 
  • Skillion Roofs: Skillion roofs, otherwise known as pent roofs, have a single sloping roof that slopes from top to bottom. 

2. Decide on the pitch of your shed roof

The second thing to consider is your roof pitch. If you have decided to build a Gable, Skillion roof or other sloping design, it is recommended that you make your roof pitch at least 15 degrees to allow water to easily run off of your roof. 

If you have set out to make a flatter roof for your shed, consider using metal roofing material or adding a rubber membrane to help your roof withstand the weather and avoid any water seeping in.

The general rule of thumb is that flatter roofs require more maintenance to keep them watertight!

3. Choosing your shed roofing material

There are a number of different material options for shed roofs depending on your chosen style and budget. The most common materials include: 

  • Roofing Felt: Felt is cheap and easy to apply and can also be an ideal base for other roofing materials to provide extra protection against the elements.
  • Shingles: Shingles offer a traditional look and require little maintenance. 
  • Corrugated metal: Metal offers a more durable roofing solution that can be easily painted and customised. Although, corrugated metal is prone to rust and will need regular maintenance. 
  • Rubber roofing: A very simple and inexpensive roofing material, rubber roofing can be bought in large rolls and easily cut to fit your roof. 
  • Concrete or clay tiles: Tiles offer a smart finish to your roof, although they are better suited to roofs with higher pitches due to their weight.

Now that you have your shed roof design sorted, you can get started on building your shed roof!

4. Making the rafter boards

Before you get started building your roof, first you’ll need to mark out the position of the rafter boards along the top of your shed walls. You will only need to do this if you are building your shed roof from scratch.

Next, you will need to measure and cut your rafters to size. The length of the rafters will vary depending on your chosen roof style and pitch. The steeper the slope, the longer the rafters will need to be. When cutting your rafters, make sure that you cut the end of each rafter board at the same angle so they can easily fit together.

To make sure that your roof is secured to your shed walls, you will need to cut a triangular notch at one end of each of your rafters. This notch is often called a ‘birdsmouth’ notch. 

You are now ready to make the trusses. This can be done by tracing the upper section of your rafter peak onto sheets of plywood. Cut out the triangular sections you have made and apply a layer of adhesive to the back of each piece of triangular plywood. Align these plates with the joint where the two rafter boards meet and secure. These trusses can then be fixed into place with nails or wood screws. 

5. Assembling the shed roof

The next step is to attach your rafter boards and trusses together. 

Attach a rafter to each end of your shed frame, and secure in place with nails positioned at an angle through the board and into the wall plate. Once the two end rafters are secure, you can run a piece of string between them to guide the placement of the rest of the rafters. Fix the remaining rafters in place to complete your frame. 

6. Attaching your roofing materials 

With your shed roof frame in place, you can now apply your roofing materials and add the finishing touches. 

Attach a layer of plywood sheathing to your shed roof frame. This sheathing will provide additional support and help to prevent water from leaking into your shed. 

To create a finished looking edge, apply facia boards to your roof edges. For Gable and Skillion shed roofs you will need 2 facia boards, one for each edge. Flat roof sheds will need a facia board for each side. 

Your chosen roofing material can now be attached to the sheathing to complete your shed roof.

 

For more information and handy shed building tips and advice, have a read of our latest blog posts or get in touch with us today by contacting us online, call 01233 822042 or email sales@acesheds.co.uk.