DIY Builds
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko Pexels Logo Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko

What is the best material for a shed roof?

Sturdy and waterproof materials are the best for use on a shed roof or garden building. Here at Roofing Superstore, we'd recommend using felt, bitumen roof sheets, bitumen shingles, plastic lightweight roof tiles, or wood shingles to secure an attractive, long-term waterproof roof.

roofingsuperstore.co.uk - Re-roof your shed roof: A DIY Guide | Roofing Superstore Help & Advice
How do I stop my carport from sweating?
How do I stop my carport from sweating?

If possible on your property, consider the use of a fan as one way to keep the air moving, which encourages evaporation to occur. Even if you...

Read More »
Last updated Nov 1, 2022
What type of labor will you need to make furniture?
What type of labor will you need to make furniture?

Furniture Assembler As the job title suggest, these workers put together various pieces of furniture and accessories following assembly...

Read More »
Last updated Oct 10, 2018

Time to refresh your shed roof? We’ve compiled some information on each type of material we recommend for your roof, so you can make the right decision on how it looks and performs in the future. Shed roof felt is the most common shed roof material whereas there are other alternative shed roof materials that you may not have considered trying, like shingles or lightweight plastic roof tiles. Installing these alternative shed roof materials can make your shed or outdoor building a wonderful, good-looking talking point that you will be proud of.

Which material can I use for my shed roof?

Sturdy and waterproof materials are the best for use on a shed roof or garden building. Here at Roofing Superstore, we’d recommend using felt, bitumen roof sheets, bitumen shingles, plastic lightweight roof tiles, or wood shingles to secure an attractive, long-term waterproof roof. Transparent or translucent roof sheets are a good choice for lean-tos and some outdoor buildings but you’d see the board on the other side of the plastic when fixed to a shed roof so we don’t recommend this.

Table of contents:

Shed roof felt

Shed roof felt is one of the easiest materials to fit to a roof and can be done by anybody with a bit of DIY experience. When installing felt correctly on a shed roof you can achieve a waterproof membrane that fits seamlessly with the surroundings or stands out, dependent on the colour of felt you choose. Installation can be as simple as removing the previous shed roof substrate and the fixings that accompany it, simply roll out the felt to the length and fix it into place with nails. We recommend IKO’s Super Shed Felt for its ease and its look. We would recommend staying far away from torch-on for DIY users since you’re involving fire and expensive equipment! We recommend IKO’s Super Shed Felt for its ease and its look. We would recommend staying far away from torch-on for DIY users since you’re involving fire and expensive equipment!

Roof shingles for shed roofs

Shingles are also a great option for shed roofs as they offer an inexpensive, good-looking finish. With many colours and textures to choose from, both bitumen shingles and wood cedar shingles can finish your shed roof to a high-quality standard. Felt shingles will fit any shed roof with a pitch of 15º or more and they don’t require any maintenance. The same applies to cedar shingles, suited to a 14º to 90º pitch, however, they give an authentic wood finish that would compliment a traditional-looking shed. Installing a shingle shed roof is very simple and requires little DIY know-how. Wooden cedar shingles require about 1kg (1400 nails) of 31mm x 1.8mm silicone bronze annular ring nails for 6 bundles of shingles. Bitumen shingles require galvanised nails with a minimum 10mm head to secure them. They must be long enough that 20mm of the nail penetrates the shed surface. For example, these galvanised nails will work. Take a look at the video above to see how to install roofing shingles on a shed.

What do I need to build a shed from scratch?
What do I need to build a shed from scratch?

How to Build a Shed Material list. Step 1: Build shed's foundation. Step 2: Assemble the floor frame. Step 3: Add floor sheeting. Step 4: Frame the...

Read More »
Last updated Nov 27, 2020
What makes a house unsellable?
What makes a house unsellable?

Factors that make a home unsellable "are the ones that cannot be changed: location, low ceilings, difficult floor plan that cannot be easily...

Read More »
Last updated Sep 30, 2019
These are the Best Shed Plans!
These are the Best Shed Plans!

Comprehensive and Intuitive to follow. Build That Shed!

Learn More »
Promotion

Bitumen roof sheets

Both Coroline bitumen roof sheets and Onduline bitumen roof sheets are strong and long-lasting, making them a perfect fit for any shed roof. The large panels are available in red, green, black and brown, and when installed correctly are guaranteed to be waterproof for 15 years! All you need to fix these to your shed roof are fixings, caps and washers, minimising installation time.



Each colour of roof sheet has its own matching fixings for a smooth and clean finish. Suited for Onduline and Coroline roof sheets, there are universal verges, eave trays, apron flashings, ventilator strips and roof windows for more complex installations. Be sure to buy the correct fixings for either Onduline or Coroline sheets though as these sheets vary in thickness.

Plastic roof tiles

In strips of tiles for easier and faster installation, lightweight roof tiles are made from part-recycled plastic and weigh just 6kg per m2. The fact that they’re so lightweight means they’re easier to handle when placing them on your shed roof and the shed itself doesn’t need to hold unnecessary weight on the roof. The tiles simply slot together to form an authentic-looking tiled shed roof finish. There are eight colours, including the ungranulated ‘budget’ black which is the cheapest option. These lightweight tile strips are fixed using three screws per tile strip, fitted from the bottom of the roof upwards. Don’t forget to give a slight overlap to make sure they remain waterproof. By choosing tiles there’s an additional element to installation as dry verges must be fitted to both ends of the shed roof to finish the look properly and ensure weatherproofing. If you’d like more information on what products are available to you to re-roof your shed roof, contact our roofing helpline on 01752 692 760 or use our live chat in the bottom right-hand corner.

roofingsuperstore.co.uk - Re-roof your shed roof: A DIY Guide | Roofing Superstore Help & Advice
What's the best wood to use to build a shed?
What's the best wood to use to build a shed?

Pressure-treated lumber is sold for use as foundations for pressure-treated wood sheds and is the best material for any part of the shed that gets...

Read More »
Last updated Aug 26, 2019
Are metal homes worth it?
Are metal homes worth it?

Durability – A metal barn or shelter is far stronger than a wooden building. Metal buildings won't rot or warp over time, and they stand up to...

Read More »
Last updated Feb 21, 2021
Is it cheaper to build a garage or buy a kit?
Is it cheaper to build a garage or buy a kit?

Garage kits are often less expensive than prebuilt garages. There are many options available, and it's easy to find the garage that best suits your...

Read More »
Last updated Sep 5, 2022
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »
Promotion
What type of paint should I use inside my shed?
What type of paint should I use inside my shed?

We recommend using garden paint that will provide durable protection throughout the year and keep the timber protected. If you are looking for a...

Read More »
Last updated Nov 30, 2020