Choosing the Right Shed Roof
So, you have finally decided to build a shed. You’ve decided on the foundation type, the walls and windows and other design aspects of your shed. Now you have to decide on the roof design. What kind of shed roof design is ideal 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 slope of this roof should be angled enough to allow water, snow, and other materials to fall from the roof easily.
Gable Roof
The gable roof design has two equal sides supported by a peak If viewed from the end of the building the gable roof forms a triangle with the top of the wall. The slant or pitch of the gable roof can vary from 20 to 70 degrees. The gable roof is probably the least expensive and easiest to build. Because of the steep slope of the gable roof, rain and snow fall off easily and quickly
Gambrel Roof
The gambrel roof design also known as the barn roof consists of a peak and two sides configured with two different angles. On each side there is an angle approximately half way which causes an even steeper pitch. It looks like a bell when viewed from the end. The overall look of this type of structure resembles a barn. The reason the gambrel roof design is so popular is because of its pleasing appearance and capacity to provide more overhead storage than other types of roofs.
Hip Roof
The hip roof can be considered a variation of the gable roof, however, it has four sloping sides instead of two. It has a peak and four angled sides – two large ones and two small ones. This type of roof has a unique style. So, if you have an eye for aesthetics, you will love this type of roof. One downside to the this type of roof design is that the overhead storage capacity is quite limited If you’d like to have space overhead for storing long items such as ladders you won’t find that this style of roof offers much room. It is often used for summerhouses or cabanas where storage space is not the main concern.
Saltbox Roof
The saltbox roof is constructed in a similar way as a gable roof with a peak and two sides. The main difference between the saltbox and gable design is that the sides of the saltbox are of different size and pitch. There’s plenty of headroom available in the longer side. This type of roof design has the ability to hold up against heavy winds. If the location of your shed is in a area that is subject to heavy winds, this may be a good choice for your roof design.
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.
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