How to Choose a Shed Roof
Shed Roof Design Factors
So you've come to the conclusion that you want to build a shed. You've decided on the foundation type, the walls and windows and other design aspects of your shed. Your final decision is what kind of roof do you want. How do you know what shed roof design will be the best for your shed? You'll find some helpful information in this article.
Lean-To Roof
A lean-to roof is simply a flat roof that pitches downward from the backend of the shed to the front. Lean-to sheds are commonly built up against a building or fence so that the rear wall is also the wall of the structure. Because of this construction the roof is only single flat surface. If you don't need a large shed or if don't have the room for anything large than you may wish to consider the lean-to shed. The angle of the lean-to roof should be sufficient so that snow and rain easily fall off.
Gable Roof
The gable style shed roof construction has a peak and two sides. If viewed from the end of the building the gable roof forms a triangle with the top of the wall. The angle of the roof generally varies from 20 degrees to 70 degrees. The gable roof is probably the least expensive and easiest to build. The steep slopes of this type of shed roof design allow snow, rain, and leaves to slough off the surface easily.
Gambrel Roof
The gambrel roof design is constructed with a single peak with two angled sides that give it a barn resemblance. The gambrel roof design consists of two different degrees of pitch on each side of the peak. It has a similar appearance to a bell when viewed from the end. The overall structure has a symmetrical barn type look. These types of roofs are popular with a lot of people as they look aesthetically pleasing and provide more loft storage and head room than other types of roofs.
Hip Roof
The hip roof is a variation of the gable roof except that it has four sloping sides instead of two. It consists of four sloping sides that angle away from the peak. The roof is quite stylish. If you would like something that stands out from the norm then this type of roof would be good choice. One downside to the this type of roof design is that the overhead storage capacity is quite limited If you're thinking that you want space to store lengthy items such as ladders in the overhead space then this type of roof would not be a good choice. It is mostly suitable for summerhouses and pool houses where there is no need for any extra storage space in the roof area.
Saltbox Roof
The saltbox design is somewhat similar to that of the gable design with two planes and a peak. The big difference between the saltbox design and the gable roof is that the roof sides are of unequal length and size where one is short and steep and the other is long and flat. The longer side offers a lot of headroom. This type of roof design has the ability to hold up against heavy winds. If your location is subject to frequent, heavy winds then this could be a good design for you
In summary, you'll need to give some thoughtful consideration to the type of roof you want for your shed as it will have a major impact in the overall look and functionality of the structure. You can view the various designs discussed in this article at shed pictures.
About the Author
If you want to learn more about the different types of roof design and roof materials go on over to http://www.ShedPlansInstantly.com where you can grab my popular FREE 10 Day Mini-Course titled "Ten Essential Secrets of Shed Building". Your first lesson will be delivered instantly.
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