Have you ever wondered what type of roof is best for your outdoor structure? Well below we describe four common roof types; the pros and cons of each, and their best uses. Enjoy!
Gable
Gable sheds are one of the most popular choices in shed building. They are simple and economical storage solutions. Gable sheds have a single sloping plane of the same pitch on both sides of the ridge. The gable style roof pitch ranges from 12/4 to as high as 12/12 but a 12/6 pitch roof is very common in gable sheds. Gable sheds are unique in that they provide storage space up high in the truss area. If you have run out of room in your garage, they style of shed would be the perfect place to store all sorts of things.
Gambrel
A gambrel is a symmetrical two-sided roof with two slopes on each side. Unlike other roofs, a gambrel has a an upper slope that is positioned at a shallow angle, while the lower slope is steep. Many older homes and barns have this shape because the design provides a sloped roof while maximizing headroom on the second level and shortening what would otherwise be a tall roof. Gambrel sheds are great because of the amount of overhead storage space while maintaining a small footprint.
Lean-To
A lean-to shed has only a single sloped roof. One reason for doing this is to place it directly against a wall of a building. Lean to sheds are easy to build and are usually smaller in size. This is great for those who are on a tight budget. If you don’t need to store a ton of stuff, this may be a good option. This type of shed is also known as a shed roof style or flat roof.
Saltbox
It features a long sloped roof in the back of the shed while the front has a short, overhanging roof in the front. It’s an economical way to enlarge your shed. By adding more storage space on one side while maintaining a normal height on the other side you save building costs.
