This guide offers advice about the many different types of shed roofing materials. Are you installing a new shed or looking to re-roof your current one?
Domestic roofing materials tend to be the most common for re-roofing sheds and summer houses. That said, we will also show you an example of a previous project we did using Zinc Anthracite
Which Materials To Use For My Shed Roof?
It’s important to select a good material that is waterproof and can brave the elements. These can include felt, wood, bitumen sheets and plastic tiles. Below we examine the best materials for shed roofing with installation tips.
Plastic Shed Roofing Tiles
Plastic shed roof tiles are becoming a popular option for re-roofing your garden shed. These tiles are very lightweight which will reduce the weight on your shed. The plastic tiles overlap and interlock which makes it impossible for water to enter.
Each plastic tile strip only requires three screws to fix them to an overlapping strip. The ridge tiles are very flexible which makes them ideal to adapt to different pitches.
When using plastic roof tiles you will need to install dry fixings for the tile edges. This will help to keep the roof watertight and stop pests entering your shed.
Felt
If you are looking for a low cost material that is easy to fix then shed felt may be the option. This is the most popular solution for garden sheds currently. Anyone with a little experience should be able to cover their roof with felt.
The only tools you will need is a hammer, nails, a knife and the felt itself. You first need to remove the old system and any fixings. Once done, you simply unroll your felt and begin fixing to your shed roof. Felt will give your roof a waterproof membrane in no time. You can buy many different colours to blend in with your shed and surrounds.
Clay Roof Tiles
Clay tiles can add a lot of character to your shed roof and blend into the local surrounds. This is a popular material due to it’s vast ranges of colours and sizes. One of the downsides of using Clay tiles is they tend to be heavy in comparison to other materials. It’s important to ensure that your shed structure can support the weight. Of course there are many ways to reinforce the structure to support the extra weight.
Another thing to consider is the pitch of your shed roof which needs to be at least 35 degrees. Anything under that then Clay tiles are not suitable. An extra benefit of opting for Clay as your shed roofing material is the longevity. Clay tiles tend to have a lifespan of at least 40 years.
Bitumen Roof Sheets
Bitumen roof sheets are another cost effective and easy option for your shed roof. Coroline are among one the most popular roofing sheets on the market currently. If you buy the correct length sheets then you should only need the fixings to install this system.
The Coroline Bitumen sheets are lightweight and very durable. A good installation should keep your shed roof waterproof for up to 15 years. It’s important to make sure that the overhang of your sheets do not exceed 70 mm. If they do then you will need to cut each sheet using a saw and lubricating spray.
To secure this system you will need to place a fixing at the top and bottom of each corrugation. You will also need to place a fixing at every other corrugation in the middle of each sheet.
Shingles For Shed Roofs
Shed roof shingles are another popular material for garden sheds. It’s important that your roof has a pitch of at least 12.5 degrees. Shingles are a lightweight tile strip which is easy to install and cheap.
Shingles are one of the lightest materials but are also very durable. This system is ideal for waterproofing outdoor areas such as sheds. Coroshingle tile strips are quite popular currently. You will first need to install a detail strip around the eaves and verge. It’s important to leave around a 50 mm overhang to nail into the shed gutter or fascia board.
Each tile pack covers an area of 2 m2 but can vary depending on which shingles you buy. Most will come with an interlocking system that make them easy to install. Once you install the tiles you will need to add another detail strip at the ridge.]
Alternative Shed Roofing Materials
Above are some of the most common materials but there are many alternatives. Wood shingles can leave a beautiful finish to your shed. Many choose to opt for a rubber roofing material such as EPDM. There are many metal materials that can suit your new roof project.
The main image at the top of this pages is a recent shed roof project we did using Anthracite Zinc as a material. A Zinc roof will be on the pricey side but will last for around 50 years.