What kind of roof, by climate, do you need for your shed?

A shed is a simple roofed structure that has many potential purposes. Sheds can be used for storage, as workshops, as a shelter for animals, and more. Building a shed can allow you to free up space in your garage, house, or garden. Sheds are helpful for more than just organizing clutter, they can be ideal spaces for securing potentially materials and equipment that require special handling. A shed can be designed as a retreat for relaxation, meditation, or exercise. Additionally, a shed makes a great space to work on your favorite hobby or a messy project. Sheds can even be fun playrooms for kids! The possibilities of sheds are endless, and no matter what purpose your shed has, it needs a proper shed roof that is appropriate for the climate. For inspiration on simple outdoor roofed structures, visit this link. To learn everything you need to know about shed roofs, continue reading.

If you are wondering how to build a shed roof, there are a few different roof styles that you first need to choose from. The styles are described in order of complexity, from the most simple and DIY-friendly to the most sophisticated and complex.

To select the right style for your shed roof, you need to consider the climate and weather conditions, your budget, your aesthetic vision, and the purpose of your shed. If you are building the shed as a DIY project, you need to choose a style that is appropriate for your skill level.

The shed roof style is named for the most common application - topping sheds. A shed roof, which is also known as a lean-to or skillion roof, consists of a single plane that slopes down in one direction. While this style of roof can be used on a free-standing building, it is particularly useful for sheds that are connected to another structure like a house, garage, or barn. The degree of the slope can vary, but sheds usually have shallow slopes between 20-30 degrees. With higher slopes, rain and snow will shed easily. This design is simple, cost-effective, easy to install, and quick to build. With shed style roofs, insulation is important because the roof can become very hot or cold depending on the season. If the shed roof is strategically positioned to maximize sun exposure, the roof could be an excellent location to install solar panels.

A shed can also be made with a gable roof, which is a very common style of roof. Gable roofs consist of two sloped planes that meet along a central ridge. Depending on the pitch of the roof, the attic space can be used for additional storage, organization, or headroom. Gable roofs can be designed with a few variations, depending on the length and position of the planes. There is plenty of room for creativity within this classic style. Gable roofs are easy to build, strong, and low maintenance. The pitch of gabled roof planes allow for rain and snow to shed easily.

A shed can also be built with a gambrel roof that is also referred to as a barn roof. It consists of 2 short, shallow sloping planes that extend as steep slopes that meet the walls. Gambrel roofs are more complex and therefore require more advanced building skills. A benefit to gambrel roofs is that the interior of the roof is spacious so the attic space can be used for a variety of purposes.

Finally, a shed can be topped with a hip roof. A hip roof consists of equal length slopes, one on each side of the shed, that come together to form a ridge. This style of roof is ideal for areas with high winds and heavy snowfall; however, hip roofs are complex and often expensive to construct.

There are a variety of materials available for woodshed coverings. Shed roofs can be topped with metal sheets, shingles, tiles, cedar shakes, Fiberglass Mineral Surface Roll Roofing (MSR), wood or metal board-and-batten, or one of Onduline’s specialty products.

To select the right material for your shed roof, you need to consider the climate and weather conditions, your budget, your aesthetic vision, and the purpose of your shed. The material needs to be compatible with the style of roof you have selected. If you are building the shed as a DIY project, you need to choose a material that is appropriate for your skill level.

Metal roofs are beneficial because they are lightweight, long-lasting, and weather resistant; however, metal roofs can be expensive.

Shingles are easy to install and can give an architectural impression. Three-tab shingles are inexpensive and easy to install. Asphalt shingles are heavy and long-lasting. Rubber shingles are versatile and durable.

Slate, concrete, and ceramic tiles are classic roofing materials that are generally impervious to the elements. The materials are heavy and they can require special technical expertise for installation.

Cedar shakes are rustic cedar tiles that are naturally insect repellent, sun resistant, and durable in extreme conditions. They are energy efficient, recyclable, and eco friendly.

MSR is a product made from fiberglass and asphalt. The material is versatile, durable, cost-effective, and ideal for low-sloped roofs.

The board-and-batten application is available in wood or metal and is designed to provide protection against bad weather.

Onduline creates specialty roofing materials that are cost-effective, lightweight, durable, wind-resistant, visually appealing, and easy to install with standard tools. Onduline is an international provider of roofing materials, and they have several products available in the United States market that are ideal for shed roofs of any style and for every climate. Onduline’s ONDURA® PREMIUM SERIES is a selection of corrugated bitumen panels in various thickness and sheet sizes. The material does not corrode, radiate heat, or resonate noise. With an ONDURA roof, your shed will stay cooler on sunny days and quieter during storms. ONDURA material can be applied to roofs with slopes greater than or equal to 2:12 ratio. Compatible Onduline flashing, tapes, ridge caps, closures, and trims allow builders to create any shed roof style. This guide details the installation process. Check out this testimonial to read a goat shed success story. Onduline’s TUFTEX® series is available as a corrugated polycarbonate thermoplastic polymer, corrugated PVC SeaCoaster, and corrugated PVC UltraVinyl. These solutions are many times stronger than fiberglass panels, they provide protection against all types of weather, and they are flame resistant and impermeable. Even in the most caustic environments, they do not rust, rot, chip, or peel. This guide details the installation instructions. Check out this testimonial to read a greenhouse shed success story.

Tropical climates are warm and receive lots of sunlight. Some tropical climates are wet and others are wet and dry. In wet tropical climates, it is important to have a shed roof that is generously sloped to allow rain water to fall off. Gable, gambrel, and hip style roofs are ideal. The most DIY friendly option of these 3 is the gable roof. The original shed roof style can work if the slope is sufficiently steep. In a sunny tropical climate, the shed roof material needs to be heat resistant and designed to not radiate heat so that your building stays cool on hot days. It is also important to ensure the ways in which the roof material segments are joined together creates a waterproof seal. Onduline’s products are ideal, high-quality, and cost-effective options. Metal sheets and slate tiles can also be used and will withstand the elements in a tropical climate.

In arid and semiarid climates, summers are usually hot and winters range from cool to warm. The rainfall levels are generally low. In a dry climate, a shed roof can be a classic shed style or any of the other options. It is a good idea to select a roof material that will not conduct heat so the inside of your shed stays as cool as possible. Of course Onduline’s products meet this requirement as an affordable, lightweight, and easy to install option. Additionally, concrete and ceramic tiles are appropriate for a dry climate.

Moderate climates fall into three categories: mediterranean, humid subtropical, and marine west coast. These climates range in temperatures throughout the year, have dry wet seasons, and sometimes experience storms or inclement weather. A shed roof in a moderate climate can be in any style, but if you choose a class single-planed shed style roof, it must have a steep slope to allow water and snow to flow off. The roofing material must be sturdy to withstand the weight of snow, and it must be compatible with all of the different temperatures and humidity levels throughout the year. Many of the roofing materials are valid contenders in moderate climates, but the best option is of course an Onduline roof.

With increasingly severe and unpredictable weather, it is important to prepare your shed for the possibility of more extreme conditions than previously experienced. A gable, gamble, or hip roof is ideal in an extreme climate. To design a shed roof that can withstand high-velocity winds, heavy rain, exceptional snowfall, and high heat, you need a high-quality, versatile material. Thankfully, Onduline has everything you need.

Onduline is the perfect choice for your shed roofs. All of the products are compatible with climate extremes, easy to install, durable, and cost-effective. For more than 75 year Onduline has supplied lightweight roofing materials worldwide. Onduline distributes to over 100 countries from 32 subsidiaries and 8 production facilities; including one in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The Onduline North America team brings nearly 45 years of local history, beginning in Virginia in 1976 with its corrugated asphalt panels. The TUFTEX® plastics operations were founded in 1988, moving to Fredericksburg in 1995. Together the products in the ONDULINE®, ONDURA®, and TUFTEX® brands provide material for just about any pitched roofing job you can think of and a variety of other projects. If you are ready to build a shed with the most durable and effective roofing materials, contact Onduline today!