Terri Ramsey Beavers Whether you intend to build a new garden shed or just want to renovate the current one, its roof is considered to be the most important part you have to focus on. Remember that the roof can protect your shed from outside weather elements.
Therefore, the new apex shed roof covering or pent shed roof covering must be reliable and durable besides being cost-effective and visually appealing. But there are just many shed roofing materials out there and it can be hard to choose the best one. This is the reason why you need to know all the available shed roofing materials on the market. This article is a guide to help you to choose the right shed roofing materials.
Bitumen
Bitumen roof sheets are regarded as one of the favorite shed roofing materials for most homeowners. This is suitable for a wide range of various garden structures, especially with standard corrugated profiles. You can find bitumen sheets in a variety of finishes and colors, meaning you can find a style that meets your needs.
No doubt, bitumen roofing sheets are cost-effective. Regardless of their low price, they are easy to install and highly durable. You just need to have a couple of basic tools, fixings, and fittings to install them. Quite often, they are cut to certain sizes, but there is a chance that you may need one or even two sheets to cover your shed roof effectively.
The lifespan of bitumen sheeting is at least twenty years, so many people like them because of this. They are durable, aesthetically pleasing, and affordable, and also need very little maintenance when you install them. The sheets are also highly resistant to weather elements and simple to replace at the expiry of their lifespan.
Metal
Another type of shed roof covering is the metal roofing sheets which are also popular with most homeowners. You can find them as corrugated sheets and box profiles. Metal roofing sheets have exceptional resistance to the weather and are durable. They may not have a similarly broad selection of finishes and styles as other types of shed roof coverings, but you still have several profiles and colors to choose from.
These sheets are reasonably priced and they combine a modern and click aesthetic with great strength. They are also relatively easy to install. You just need a couple of tools and accessories to carry out the process effectively. You may also only need a few sheets to cover the shed, meaning you can save money and time.
Metal sheeting can sometimes last at least twenty-five years once you install and maintain them properly. They require little work when you install them compared to other types of shed roof coverings. This gives you long-lasting protection for the shed.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a relatively new product and they are great for lightweight and simple garden structures like lean-tos, sheds, and canopies. They usually come in various finishes and styles, and polycarbonate roofing has grown in popularity because it’s more cost effective than traditional roofing options.
Polycarbonate offers many benefits considering that it’s lowly priced. It also provides some advantages like allowing a lot of natural light to enter your shed, especially when you choose a clear finish. Also, installation is intuitive and simple and you can do it with a few tools and accessories. The material is versatile, meaning that you can buy it in a variety of sizes including a customized cut-to-size service. This gives you the specific sizes you need for your project. As a result, you can remove the need to cut the sheets on-site.
You should also note that polycarbonate sheets also have a great impact resistance. This makes these sheets an excellent option for your roof covering, especially if the shed is located in a place where there are risks of falling debris or in a heavily-wooded area. It’s also highly scratch-resistant, so animals like birds and cats cannot leave many marks on it, and falling hail cannot leave a trace.
EPDM rubber roofing
Another popular option for shed roof covering is the EPDM rubber. This type of roofing is not as felt or tiles roofing, though it’s still a great roofing solution. Unlike some of the shed roof materials you can find on the market, EPDM can be utilized on flat roofs. It also has a lot of advantages that make it ideal for non-pitched structures.
It’s worth mentioning that EPDM rubber roofing provides a variety of benefits that most homeowners look for when it comes to choosing shed roof materials. This material is cost-effective and quite simple to install. Many manufacturers offer easy-to-follow instructions that you can use to install yourself. The lifespan of EPDM rubber covers tends to vary, but most of them it’s fifty years old.
Further, EPDM rubber roofing is also durable, can resist heavy impacts, and is resistant to tears or warping. This material is also fully waterproof. And, because you can install it in a single large sheet, you don’t need seams to offer weak areas for water to get into your shed. EPDM also offers a clean finish and has enhanced performance.
Shed felt
This is a good flat shed roof covering. You can find it in a wide range of colors and styles. This roof covering material also gives you various aesthetic options to suit your garden and home. Its greatest advantage is that it is cost-effective and simple to install and maintain it.
It’s simple to apply felt to your shed roof. And, you can secure roof felt onto the shed quickly by utilizing the basic hand tools and accessories. The lifespan of the felt shed roof tends to vary, but it’s usually between 10 and 30 years. This can depend on the exposure to extreme weather and the proper installation.
As you can see, a felt roof is durable and can offer you effective protection against the elements, such as water ingress. But felt is sometimes not the most durable roofing option, and can have a lot of wear and tear in the long run. Also, it can be susceptible to damage when there is extreme weather.