How To Build a Shed Roof-Build A Shed Roof

As an integral part of your backyard project, knowing how to build a shed roof is an essential lesson in shed construction. 
Whether you opt for a gable, saltbox or gambrel roof line, you’ll need to frame it in properly to provide solid support for the roof itself.

Beside the style of roof, you’ll also need to decide whether you would rather use roof trusses or build the roof as is on site.  Both have advantages and both might be difficult, exacting work.

Roof trusses will be built (slightly) off site on the garage floor or level driveway.  They basically consist of rafters preassembled in a triangular pattern and duplicated.  Once you have the first truss lain out and attached together, the remaining pieces are simply a copy of that first one.  It’s as easy as that.  Roof trusses are also attached using aluminum mending plates.  This eliminates the need for nailing and the adjustments that nailing can make.  Mending plates are just hammered into the wood almost like a timber tape.  Make sure that you take the time to attach both sides.

If you prefer not to assemble trusses ahead of time, you can install a roof beam running the length of the shed.  Then each rafter piece will meet at the top of that beam and extend from there out past the side walls.  Each rafter will need to be cut and then nailed or screwed to the various places.  Roof beam supports will need to be put in on either end and the rafters will need to be notched to sit on the wall.

You can build a shed roof easily with either the truss or the beam and rafters method.  Remember to have a 12 inch overhang from the shed wall to direct rain away properly, and not to have too steep a slope – often 18 to 19 degrees is the best choice.

Now that your framing is in place, you can attach the sheathing or underlay onto the framing.  This is what your roofing material will be nailed onto.  Be sure it is pressure treated plywood that you’re using as you’ll want the shed to last through many winters without changing the roofing.

Learning how to roof a shed roof is perhaps the easiest lesson of them all.  Lay your preferred roofing product onto the plywood.  Shingles and steel roofing come in sections and can be installed in whatever pattern you like.  Remember to include roofing felt and drip edge underneath for excellent coverage.
Eaves troughs can be added to the side, directing water into rain barrel.  Also 1 inch x 4 inch pieces can be nailed into the soffit or underside of the overhang to provide coverage and adequate ventilation.  Facsia board along the edge of the rafters or trusses is another finishing step.

Once you know how to build a shed roof with these simple sets of instructions, you will have the project finished in no time.  The inside of your shed will stay warm, dry and secured with a solid, new roof.

Related posts:

1. How To Build A Pole Barn Many people enquire how to build a pole barn because...
2. Building a Concrete Shed Foundation-How To Build A Shed Foundation Before putting up your backyard storage shed, learn how building...
3. Backyard Gambrel Roof Sheds Backyard gambrel roof sheds are a popular choice of storage...
4. How to Build a Shed Door | Building A Shed Door The steps involved in how to build a shed door...
5. How to Build a Pole Shed | Building A Pole Shed Learning how to build a pole shed can be a...