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07.05.2019
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Residential Sheds

Shed Roof Designs – 15 Style Options for Your Shed

It’s only when you start looking for a new shed that you realise there is an almost endless range of roof options to choose from. While your choice of roof will ultimately come down to personal taste, each style of roof has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, in this post, we are going to look at the 15 most popular shed roof styles in Australia and discuss the pros and cons of each.

  1. Lean-to (Skillion) roof

One of the most popular roofs because of its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The lean-to roof is a single slope roof with a large overhang. This is sometimes called a Skillion roof but technically these are a specific type of lean-to which has a slope greater than 6/12.

Pros

  • Cost-effective and easy to build
  • The steep slope allows rain and snow to run off easily
  • The overhang can be used to provide shade in the summer
  • Space at the front can be used for extra storage

Cons

  • The large overhang makes them susceptible to wind damage
  • The ceiling can be low at the back
  • Difficult to ventilate, can get hot in the summer
  1. Flat roof

The flat roof is perhaps misnamed because they are not flat at all. Effectively a shallower version of the lean too, the low profile of these roofs make them popular in urban areas with strict planning restrictions.

Pros

  • Cost-effective and easy to build (especially for a beginner)
  • The low profile is good for urban areas

Cons

  • Doesn’t shed the rain as effectively as some other roofs
  • Can get hot in the summer
  • Requires regular maintenance
  1. Gable roof

This is a common roof style which is both elegant and cost-effective. It consists of a pitched roof with two sloping sides which peak at the centre to form a symmetrical roof line. It is popular because it offers excellent storage space, is easy to build, is more elegant than a flat roof and can be easily ventilated.

Pros

  • Snow and rain are easily drained
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to build
  • Extra storage space in the eaves
  • Can be easily ventilated

Cons

  • Easily damaged by strong winds
  • The high-pitched roof may require planning permission in urban areas
  1. Barn style (Gambrel) roof

This is one of the most stylish roofs which is similar in style to a gable roof but has extra gussets which connect to the rafters. This type of roof is popular in North America and Australia due to its high storage capacity and strength.

Pros

  • The high roofline allows for extra storage capacity
  • The steep slope allows snow and rain to shed easily
  • Extremely strong

Cons

  • More complex to build, not suitable for a beginner
  • Susceptible to high winds
  • High profile is not suitable for urban areas
  1. Slanted (pent) roof

This is a single slope roof, similar to the skillion style, but with a much steeper slope, usually between 2/12 and 4/12. This roof is simple to construct and is a popular choice when searching for a shed to sit against a garden fence or wall.

Pros

  • Easy to construct
  • Drains rain and snow easily
  • The wide roof panels can be used to install solar panels

Cons

  • More expensive than a Skillion roof
  • Limited storage space
  1. Hip style roof

This is a popular roof style which you will see on homes and outbuildings across Australia. It consists of a centre ridge, but it doesn’t have gable ends. Instead, all four sections of the roof slope inwards from the walls.

Pros

  • Better able to withstand strong winds than a gable or flat roof
  • Rain and snow drain easily
  • A vaulted ceiling provides extra storage space

Cons

  • Complex to build
  • More expensive than a sloped or Skillion roof
  • Not suitable for beginners
  • Requires extra insulation
  1. Saltbox Roof

The saltbox roof is similar to a gable roof but one of the slopes is wider than the other creating an asymmetrical off-centre roof line. Similar to a gable roof it is easy to insulate and ventilate but is more expensive to build.

Pros

  • Resistant to strong winds
  • Rain and snow slide off easily
  • The high roof creates extra storage space
  • Easy to build for a beginner

Cons

  • More expensive than a gable or sloped roof
  • Low roofline at the rear compromises storage space
  1. Pyramid roof

This is similar to a hip style roof but all four sections are the same length which creates a pyramid shape when they join together in the centre. This roof is great for areas with high rainfall but the high roofline will require planning permission in urban areas.

Pros

  • Very stylish
  • Snow and rain runoff easily
  • The high roof provides good storage space

Cons

  • More expensive to build than a gable or slanted roof
  • More complex to build and not suitable for beginners
  • High roofline not suitable for some neighbourhoods
  1. Octagon style roof

Like its name suggests, the octagon style roof consists of 8 triangular sections which join at the centre. It is similar in style to hip and pyramid roofs but has more sections. This style of roof can be both shallow or steep making them suitable for urban and open areas.

Pros

  • A strong roof suitable for areas with heavy rainfall
  • High pitched versions have good storage space
  • The unusual design makes for a great centrepiece in your garden

Cons

  • Complex to build and not suitable for a beginner
  • More expensive than most other types of roof
  • Difficult to ventilate
  1. Dormer roof

Not strictly a roof but a window. Dormers can be added to almost all types of roof to add more light and ventilation. They are usually styled to complement the roof and can contain glass or ventilation grilles.

Pros

  • Allows more light into the attic space
  • Can be used to increase ventilation
  • Can help divert rain and snow
  • Easy to install on most roof types

Cons

  • Requires more maintenance
  • Adds to the cost
  1. Curved Roof

Curved roofs are a combination of flat and gable roof styles. They are practical and cost-effective, offer excellent storage space and low roof heights which makes them a popular choice in urban areas.

Pros

  • Low profile roof with good headroom
  • Resistant to high winds and rain
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to build

Cons

  • Requires more maintenance than a gable roof
  • Less attic space than a pitched roof
  1. Jerkinhead roof

The Jerkinhead is a combination of a hip and gable roof. It has a central ridge with shorter hip sections similar to a hip roof, which are then connected to the gable ends. It is a stylish roof which offers good storage capacity and great strength.

Pros

  • Very stable roof suitable for high wind areas
  • More practical attic space than a hip roof
  • More stylish than a gable roof
  • Not too complex to build

Cons

  • Slightly more expensive compared to a gable roof
  • Requires more maintenance
  1. Bonnet style roof

The bonnet roof sometimes called a kicked-eaves roof, is a modified hip roof with flared lower sections. This creates the look of a bonnet which is how this roof gets its name. The shallow angle of the roof makes is particularly suitable for urban neighbourhoods or areas with strong winds.

Pros

  • Large overhangs create shaded areas
  • Able to withstand strong winds
  • Easily sheds rain and snow

Cons

  • Expensive to build compared to gable and flat roofs
  • Requires more maintenance
  • Complex to build, not suitable for beginners
  1. Mansard roof

The Mansard roof takes elements from the barn (gambrel) and hip style roofs. It has four sloping sides which become shallower near the bottom, much like a bonnet roof. These roofs are often punctured by dormer windows to add more light and ventilation. It is a very stylish roof but the high roofline makes it unsuitable for some neighbourhoods.

Pros

  • Beautiful architectural styled roof
  • Can be easily ventilated
  • Offers good storage options

Cons

  • Expensive compared to other roof types
  • Complex to build and not suitable for beginners
  • Requires more maintenance
  1. Butterfly Roof

The butterfly roof is a contemporary style roof which is effectively an inverse gable roof. It has two sections which slope down to meet in the middle creating a V shape. The high sides can be used for storage but the space is not as practical as a traditional gable roof. This style of roof creates a unique centrepiece for your garden and will make a great conversation piece.

Pros

  • The low profile is ideal for open areas with strong winds
  • Can be used as a base for solar panels
  • Low roof height makes it suitable for urban areas

Cons

  • More expensive than other types of roof
  • The shallow profile is not suitable for areas with heavy snow
  • Contemporary design not suitable for some gardens
  • Complex to build

Conclusion

As you can see from the styles listed here, the right roof for you will depend as much on the climate as it does on style. While some roofs are suitable for areas with heavy rain, others are more suitable for hot dry areas. Planning restrictions will also dictate what roof style to go for. In urban areas, sheds with a roof height more than 2.4m will require council permission.

Our tip is to think about the climate first, then establish if council permission is required. That will help you narrow down the most suitable <a href=”https://www.actionsheds.com.au/products/residential-sheds/”>sheds</a> to a handful of contenders. Then it’s just a case of choosing the roof you like best within your available budget.

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