Recommendations for premium look roofing for shed/workshop build

[moconnell]

Hi all,

I'm finally (almost) ready for adding a roof to my green oak 5x4 m shed/workshop build. Its a gable roof over raised tie trusses but has a lowish pitch of 19 degrees.

I was thinking about slate at one point but Im just under the recommended limit but expect i could 'get away with it'. But worried about how long it will take as i really want to be done by end of this summer.

So Im looking for advice on roofing material/tiles that you know give a premium look and feel. I like the metal seemed style roofing but am open to suggestions and idealling suppliers?

 

[JohnD]

I suggest something that is in keeping with the age and style of your adjacent house.

 

[Odds]

A slate roof on a small shed. Really?
Most folk tend to go for roofing felt - 10-or-20mm usually does the trick.
Any reason why that won't work for you?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You can get fake seams stuck on an edpm or single ply roof, for the uninitiated it looks like a zinc standing seam roof. Or of course there is zinc and although it will outlive you it comes at a price, a cheaper metal alternative to zinc is GreenCoat PLX.

 

[moconnell]

A slate roof on a small shed. Really?
Most folk tend to go for roofing felt - 10-or-20mm usually does the trick.
Any reason why that won't work for you?

I mean it's a solid oak timber framed build - it deserves a bit of money spending if not excessive. Similar build in Scotland went mad and did same but looks awesome

I've got a couple of smaller shed which use 'normal' roofing felt but I feel lucky if I don't have to replace it every 7 years. I want the thing to last I don't know - 50 years? I've not used 'premium' felt so not sure...but like the ease of fitting felt ofc.

 

[moconnell]

You can get fake seams stuck on an edpm or single ply roof, for the uninitiated it looks like a zinc standing seam roof. Or of course there is zinc and although it will outlive you it comes at a price, a cheaper metal alternative to zinc is GreenCoat PLX.

is that green-coat a DIY option?

 

[moconnell]

I suggest something that is in keeping with the age and style of your adjacent house.

1930 council house with concrete maybe asbestos tiles - I don't think its an option but its pretty hidden from neighbours by fences and laylandii at the back anyway..

 

[JohnD]

I suggest something that is in keeping with the age and style of your adjacent house.

or reroof the house to match.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

is that green-coat a DIY option?

No it's not.

 

[moconnell]

View attachment 345092


or reroof the house to match.

honestly thatch is amazing but I live in place where it might get torched by local neds

 

[Odds]

I mean it's a solid oak timber framed build - it deserves a bit of money spending if not excessive. Similar build in Scotland went mad and did same but looks awesome

I've got a couple of smaller shed which use 'normal' roofing felt but I feel lucky if I don't have to replace it every 7 years. I want the thing to last I don't know - 50 years? I've not used 'premium' felt so not sure...but like the ease of fitting felt ofc.

s'all good man - nice job.

Maybe shingles would be better than felt in that case but all's well that ends without a leaky roof and looks good.

 

[moconnell]

That's not mine but just looks good..

 

[mrrusty]

I'd go with slate. Mine is 20 degrees. Our house (1902) has an original single storey extension with a slate roof at 17 degrees - no problem. If you membrane the roof and then slate, even if you do get a bit of blow-by it would still only run down the membrane.

I highly recommend using slate hooks for a DIY slater - one fixing for each slate, and the hooks hold the toe of the slate down - much easier than trying to nail every slate and avoid kickers. I found using +4mm over slate width for the setting out widthways and 98mm headlap for a 100mm hook worked well.

Mine is 6.5 x 3.6 and I slated it in 2 weekends with a helper to pass the slates up. The slates pic is actually my garage at 36 degrees - same slate

 

[JohnD]

It's not something I've done, but maybe sarking boards, counterbattened and felted with the slates on top, would look good and withstand the weather.

Sarking is not common in England and I don't know what minimum slope would be. Some of our Scots roofers may help.

I used to have premises where the pitched roof of the workshop had insulating slabs as sarking.

 

[moconnell]

I'd go with slate. Mine is 20 degrees. Our house (1902) has an original single storey extension with a slate roof at 17 degrees - no problem. If you membrane the roof and then slate, even if you do get a bit of blow-by it would still only run down the membrane.

I highly recommend using slate hooks for a DIY slater - one fixing for each slate, and the hooks hold the toe of the slate down - much easier than trying to nail every slate and avoid kickers. I found using +4mm over slate width for the setting out widthways and 98mm headlap for a 100mm hook worked well.

Mine is 6.5 x 3.6 and I slated it in 2 weekends with a helper to pass the slates up. The slates pic is actually my garage at 36 degrees - same slate

Is that s similar to mine size wise ..sounds OK.. where did you get your slates?