How to Build a Shed Roof

How to Build a Shed Roof How to Build a Shed Roof A roof provides protection to an outdoor shed and is one of the most important components of a shed. A shed without a roof enclosure will not have much life and is likely to fall apart soon. Building a solid, secure and water resistant roof is essential if you want to protect your shed from water leaks and other damages. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you build a shed roof.

Things you will need:

• Shed roof materials package
• Roofing nails
• Hammer
• Ladder
• Chalk line
• Measuring tape
• Saw
• Metal framing fasteners and brackets

Method:

Before your start construction, you need to obtain a permit for building the shed. Generally, permits are required when the shed you intend building exceeds a certain size. Check local building codes to ensure that you do not violate any laws.
Start working on the roof once you have built the rest of your shed. Cut two beam supports and fix them above the front and rear wall top plates. Now cut the shed roof frame and fix it above the beam supports. The beams should be little thicker than your shed walls. For example if you have your walls about 3 inches thick, then the beams would ideally need to be about 4-5 inches thick. Using bolts, fix the beams so that they stay firm.
Cut four end rafters. Fix them with bolts and brace temporarily. Cut the remaining eight intermediate rafters and fix four on each side. Measure and cut noggings to fit between the rafters. You would need about four rows, which are to be placed on each side of the sidewall top plates.
Now cover the roof with ½-inch plywood, with a maximum of 8 feet apart on each rafter. Place sheets from roof beams to end of rafters. If required, cut the sheets to fit exact size. Place purlin on all joins running parallel with roof beam.
Use nails and fix three rows of purlin to each side of the roof. Each end of the purlin should ideally overhang by one inch. The top row should be fixed three inches down from the peak.
Prepare rafters to match the length. Level each rafter to about 16 inch spacing. You can consider increasing the spacing to 24 inches, if the gap between the ridge and exterior wall appears inadequate. Mount rafters by fixing them at the ridge and at the exterior walls.
Choose appropriate roof sheathing for your shed. You can select from plywood, metal or fiberglass. Install purlins between the rafters at each horizontal joint. Nail the ends of roof sheathing from below to bottom purlins. Fix the barge boards to end of purlins. The barge boards are to be joined at the top. Cut six inches after the rafter ends.
Add fascia on the rafter ends and a perforated soffit on the underside of the rafter between the fascia and the exterior wall. Use wood for roof sheathing and then add the roof shingles.
Try to use at least a 20-year shingle. If possible, make your shed shingles the same color as you have on your house. The color coordination will make the shed look much more appealing. Your shed roof is now ready.