It is important to know the best way to cover an existing structure if you are building a new shed.Pick a roof style that suits your needs and preferences.Measure, cut, and arrange your rafter boards in the desired configuration from there.After that, it is simply a matter of installing your roofing material of choice for long- lasting protection against the elements.
Step 1: Pick a style for your roof.
Different roof styles are used for building sheds.gable, gambrel, skillion, and saltbox roofs are some of the most common styles.The design you go with will largely be a matter of aesthetic preference because each of the roof types is sloped.There are two symmetrical sloped sides on gable roofs.They are often seen on houses.The style of roofs used for barns is Gambrel.There are two sloped faces on each side of the gambrel roof.One of the simplest roof styles is the skillion roof.A skillion roof is a single flat plane that slopes from top to bottom.Saltbox roofs look like skillion roofs with an extra short slope and an upside-down check mark.They are still a popular choice even though they aren't seen as frequently as other styles.
Step 2: Determine the roof pitch you want.
The slope of the roof is referred to as the pitch.The roof of your shed needs to have a pitch of at least 3-12 in order to adhere to the building codes.You are free to choose the slope that best fits your plans.For every 30 cm of length, the angle of your roof rises 6 inches.Rain, sleet, snow, falling leaves, and other materials will find their way to the top of your roof if the slope is steep.
Step 3: The rafters are located on the top of the shed.
It is best to follow the same spacing as your wall studs when installing rafters.To draw a line on your wall plate timbers, use a carpenter's pencil or felt-tipped marker.In most cases, they'll be about 24 inches apart on the center.The placement of your rafters will affect the amount of materials used.If your shed already has rafters in place and you just need to put in or replace the roof, you can install your new roofing materials right away.
Step 4: Measure your rafter boards to find your roof style and pitch.
The angle and length of your rafters will depend on a number of factors.The rafters on a steeply-sloped roof will be much longer and have more end cuts than the flat roof rafters.Once you have determined the measurement you need, mark them directly onto the boards using a carpenter's pencil.If you want to build a gable roof with a pitch of 4-12 for a shed that is 200 inches wide, you need rafter boards that are 105.3 inches long on each side.To fit together at the peak, cut the ends of the boards to the right angle.
Step 5: Cut your rafter boards.
Aim to make each cut as straight and precise as possible by guiding the blade over the end of the board slowly.The saw settings should be adjusted according to the length and angle of the rafters.Take care of it all at once.You can attach the rafters to the frame of your shed.
Step 6: Make a birdsmouth notch at the end of the rafter.
A birdsmouth notch is a cut that allows a rafter to sit level on top of a wall plate.Put your rafter boards at the same angle as your roof, then draw a 90-degree angle up from the bottom edge of each board, with the lines corresponding to the height and width of the wall plate, respectively.To make the notch, cut along the lines.If you want to figure out the angle for your birdsmouth notch, you can place a piece of scrap wood the same width as the wall plate beside your rafter beam and trace it onto one side of the beam.If you want to include an overhang on your rafter beams, you need to raise your notch higher.
Step 7: Attach your rafter halves to the trusses.
Attach the rafter peak to the sheet of plywood with a skill saw and cut out the triangular plate.Attach a thin layer of construction glue to the backside of each plate and align it with the joint on the rafter boards.Drive nails or wood screws through the plate on either side to secure it.Adding strength and durability, gurats reinforce connection sites between individual wood members.
Step 8: Attach the rafters to the wall plates.
The first rafter should be placed at either the back or front of the shed.Driving finishing nails at an angle down through the board just above the birdsmouth notch will fasten the truss.3 nails for each sideAttach the opposing truss the same way you did the other one.Make sure the birdsmouth seat is secure over the wall plates and that the outer edge of the truss is flush with the walls.If you are working alone, make sure to nail an unused 2 in x 4 in vertically to both ends of your shed.While you focus on positioning the wall plates, this will help hold your end trusses upright.
Step 9: To help you set the other rafters, run a string between your end trusses.
Wrap the string around the rafter peaks with a nail.Attach the taut string to the second nail on the opposite end of the shed.Make sure the rest of your rafters are centered correctly with the help of the string.If you don't want to leave nail holes in your rafters, you can tie a knot at both ends of the string and tuck the knots into the joints where the rafter peaks meet.Pull your centering string tight enough to be straight, but not so tight that it places strain on your rafters.
Step 10: Use your centering string to set your remaining rafters.
Work your way from one end of the shed to the other to put your rafter trusses in place.When you are satisfied with the positioning of the truss, you can toe nail it using 8D finishing nails.Whenever you are ready for it, you should have a helpers around to hand you up.Once you have all of your rafters installed, remove your centering string.
Step 11: The rafter trusses should be covered with plywood.
Put your first sheet of plywood on the corner of the roof.The edges of the end rafters should be flush with the exposed rafters.Attach a nail to the plywood to hold it in place.Most constructions experts recommend using 16 in oriented strand board for small-scale roofing projects.You will get structural support for your new roof, as well as a flat, stable surface to attach your other roofing materials.
Step 12: Cut additional plywood.
You will most likely need to use multiple sheets and cut them to fit because Plywood is sold in large sheets.Start from the lower portion of the roof to cover the remaining space.The end of each section should cover half the width of the rafter it is resting on.The neighboring section will fit in easily beside it, and you will have a nice solid surface to nail into.The strand grain should run in a single direction if all your cuts are oriented the same.A consistent pattern of grain will increase the strength of the roof.
Step 13: Attach your plywood to the rafters with finishing nails.
Drive nails through the face of the plywood and into the rafter below.You should be able to get up the length of each rafter from the bottom edge.When you are done, look for any loose sections of plywood that may need additional nails.If you need to reach as far as you can safely with your hammer or roofing nailer, do it from your ladder.The strength of the OSB and the rafters will allow them to hold weights up to several hundred pounds.
Step 14: Cut the edges of your roof.
Once you have the sheathing in place, you will need to mount the boards to cover the rafters.To match the length of the shed, you need to cut your 2 in (5.1 cm) x 4 in (10 cm), or 6 in (15 cm).Attach the boards to the end of the rafter with 8D finishing nails.You need to put up 2 boards for gable, gambrel, skillion, and saltbox and other slanted roof styles.It is best to put a board on every side of a flat roof.If you want to guarantee an exact fit, be sure to use the same size lumber as you used for your rafters.
Step 15: Attach strips of felt.
Line up the loose edge of the roll with the bottom corner of your roof and glue it to the strip using a combination of staplers and tape.Once the paper is spread across the rooftop, add more staples every 1–2 feet.Depending on the size of your roof, you may need to cut excess paper from the end of each strip using a straightedge and utility knife.To ensure complete coverage, the bottom edge of each strip should overlap the top of the strip below it by at least 2 inches.Make sure your roofing felt is straight, flush, and Wrinkle-free before you cut it.As a cheap and easy surface solution, roofing felt can be used to attach asphalt shingles.
Step 16: If you want a traditional look on your roof, install asphalt shingles.
Cut several full-sized shingles in half widthwise with the aid of a straightedge and utility knife and nail them along the bottom edge of your roofThe starter strip will be served by these.Proceed to install the rest of the shingles from the bottom to the top.Three roofing nails are used to secure each shingle at the top.To make sure your rows are neat and orderly all the way across your roof, use a chalk line, straightedge and framing square.The top and bottom of each row have to overlap by 2 inches.
Step 17: If you want a more durable option, put in a corrugated metal roof.
Use tin snips, power shears, or an electric nibbler tool to cut your metal.If you lay out each section vertically, the ridges will slope towards the ground.Fasten each sheet by driving metal roofing screws into the ridges of the underlying rafter.You can find a variety of metal roofing options at your local home improvement center.The surface of metal roofing is vulnerable to rust and it will need to be painted every few years in order to maintain its appearance.
Step 18: Try out a simple and inexpensive roofing material.
Load a paint roller with a high- strength construction glue and brush it onto your plywood.After pausing, you should be able to fit enough rubber sheeting over the glued area.Continue until you have covered the entire roof, then trim the excess material from the edges with a straightedge and utility knife.Take a few moments to smooth the surface after applying your rubber sheeting to make sure it is free of bubbles.Large rolls of EPDM are designed to be draped over a roof in a single sheet and cut to fit.You can usually get a 10 ft roll for around $100.