The roof of a garden shed has a lot to offer. As many shapes as there are, they are also visually and structurally relevant. We have put together for you below all the options for covering, insulating and renovating.

A tile roof looks beautiful and is very durable

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. cover the garden shed roof
  3. Alternate deck materials
  4. Renovate garden shed roof
  5. Insulate garden house roof
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • Sheet metal, wooden shingles, roof tiles or green roofs - there is a large selection for the garden house roof
    • Stone and wooden roofs require more solid lathing than bitumen shingles
    • If the garden house (€24.90) is to be used as winter quarters for plants, the roof should be insulated

    Properly cover the garden shed roof

    If you want to cover your garden house roof in the usual way and cheaply, you can rely on the combination of roofing felt and shingles.

    The advantages of this method are that it is uncomplicated and inexpensive. The roofing felt is used to seal the roof surface directly, over which shingles or simply straight strips of bitumen are laid in overlapping layers. Here is a clear guide to this common roofing method:

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    Cover garden house roof with alternative material

    Instead of the usual bitumen shingles, you can also cover your garden house roof with alternative materials. Here is an overview of examples with advantages and disadvantages and the conditions for their applicability:

    sheet wooden shingles roof tiles Green roof
    benefits lightweight, shatterproof authentic, weather-resistant, noise-insulating solid, extremely durable ecologically valuable, natural temperature and noise insulation
    disadvantage functional optics, heating up, loud (precipitation) heavier heavy and expensive regular maintenance, expensive in commissioned work
    conditions none Depending on the type of wood, minimum load capacity required Minimum load capacity and inclination Minimum load capacity of the roof

    sheet

    Sheet metal is cheap but visually not very convincing

    Sheet metal is in itself a very traditional roofing material. And recently it has also become increasingly popular for garden houses, carports or canopies.

    Benefits:

    The main advantage of sheet metal is that it makes no demands on the statics of the roof and is very unbreakable and stable.

    Disadvantage:

    Of course, the functional look of sheet metal is not for romantics. If you want to use your garden shed not only for storing equipment, but also for the occasional coffee party, you should also be warned about the high level of noise generated by precipitation. In case of doubt, this can also be reduced by using certain insulating materials.

    Sheet metal roofing material without a special coating can also heat up considerably.

    Due to their very tight properties, tin roofs also need effective rear ventilation to prevent condensation from accumulating.

    Here are a few examples of sheet metal deck variants:

    pan profiles

    The modular sheet metal pan profiles in the shingle look put the bare, rather unfamiliar appearance of the material into perspective. Another advantage of sheet pan profiles is their long service life, their easy installation and their relatively low price.

    trapezoidal sheet metal

    Trapezoidal sheet metal is also being used more and more to cover garden shed roofs. The cover material consists of sheet steel plates, which are extremely strong and stable due to their trapezoidal cross-section. Trapezoidal sheets are available in many different colors and with different coatings. The latter can significantly reduce the risk of corrosion and make cleaning extremely easy.

    wooden shingles

    Wooden roofs go well with wooden garden houses

    Especially in southern German regions, wooden shingle roofs are an integral part of the cultural image. Wooden shingles are suitable for a garden house for various reasons.

    Benefits:

    The great thing about a garden house roof covered with wooden shingles is the authentic, natural and pleasantly soft-edged look. With roll containers on the sides, an almost traditional character is created. In addition, wooden shingles are a biological building material that can be highly valued in times of resource scarcity.

    Contrary to some spontaneous doubts, wooden shingles are also extremely weather-resistant. The gentle absorption of precipitation noise and the woody, homely smell are absolute advantages of wooden shingles.

    Disadvantage:

    As with all hard roofs, wooden shingles place certain demands on the roof statics. The load capacity required depends on the type of shingles and the wood used. The density and thus the weight of the most commonly used types of wood such as spruce, oak, larch or cedar vary. But the shingle thicknesses can also vary.

    roof tiles

    Strictly speaking, roof tiles - i.e. solid, mineral roofing pieces - only mean the concrete variants. ROOF TILES are the natural variant made from pure clay that is fired at very high temperatures. When they are pressed to form a fold, one speaks of roofing tiles.

    concrete roof tiles

    Benefits:

    With roof tiles made of concrete, the garden house gains in visual and structural stability. Roof tiles are generally unbeatable in terms of durability and weather resistance. The advantage of concrete roof tiles compared to clay tiles is that they are available in different colors. So if you want to design your garden house as a miniature of your house, you are well advised to do so.

    Disadvantage:

    Like all roof tiles, concrete roof tiles are of course very heavy. The statics of the roof must be able to withstand this, and a beam substructure may be necessary. A minimum pitch of around 28° is also required for most roof stone variants. For garden houses in bungalow style, you can remove the stone roof tiles. Of all the roofing materials presented, roof tiles are also the most expensive.

    brick

    Bricks are beautiful and durable

    Benefits:

    Of course, the unmistakable, earth-brown color of bricks is typical and full of character. This gives a garden shed a very authentic flair. In addition, in terms of solidity, the same advantages apply as with concrete roof tiles.

    Disadvantage:

    The red-brown color of clay bricks is full of character - but it is also the only one available. If you don't care about the color and tradition, you can actually put the clay bricks on hold. Of course, like concrete roof tiles, they are heavy and expensive.

    Green roof

    Green roofs are a bit more expensive but very beautiful and useful

    Greening roofs is very trendy these days. A garden shed is also ideal for many different reasons.

    Benefits:

    Where do you start? In times of urgent greening, green roofs are advantageous for the sake of the environment. Because a green roof not only looks greener, livelier and closer to nature - it is too. It provides a habitat for animals (especially insects), helps to clean the ambient air and serves as a natural, energy-neutral temperature insulation for the inside of the house. Greening is also an effective protection against damage and noise pollution caused by precipitation.

    Apart from its purely practical advantages, idealists can also make a statement with a green roof.

    Disadvantage:

    In order to green a roof, it must be able to withstand a load of at least 100 kg/m2. And while a green roof can largely be left to its own devices, it does need to be checked on from time to time. For example, to remove woody saplings.

    Then there was the question of cost. Of course you can build a green roof yourself. But if you want to commission professionals with the greening, you usually have to dig deep into your pocket.

    Renovating the garden house roof

    A garden shed roof is in need of renovation above all if it has become leaky and/or its substructure of rafters and planks is dilapidated. In the case of individual leaks, it may be sufficient to replace the covering in places. A completely new battening may be necessary if the initial construction is insufficiently water-protected and the resulting rotting occurs.

    Even if you want to exchange a roof covering made of conventional bitumen shingles or sheets for more solid ones made of stone or wood, you usually have to build a more stable new battening with particularly effective moisture protection and, if necessary, a lower beam construction for more load-bearing capacity.

    Replace used cover material with new ones. In particular, the first layer of roofing felt should always be renewed. To prevent moisture from penetrating the roof edges, you should attach verge plates here. Installing a new ridge sheet is also recommended.

    A garden house roof should be repaired in good time before it rains

    Insulate the garden house roof

    You should insulate the roof and the walls including the floor (this is where most of the cold gets through in winter) so that you can also use your garden house as a hobby house and winter quarters for potted plants. Above all, if you want to add insulation later, it makes sense to do it in one go with any necessary renovation. The insulation can be attached either from the outside or from the inside on the walls and floor as well as on the roof.

    insulation from the inside

    It lends itself to subsequent insulation, but involves a reduction in space. That's why it's easier to do. Insulation material is brought between the rafters and covered with solid material.

    Insulation mats made of mineral wool are suitable as insulating material for the garden house roof, because they are mold-resistant, fireproof and breathable. Rigid foam panels made of Styrodur or EPS panels are also ideal because they are easy to process. Ecological alternatives are wood wool, hemp mats or simply straw. To ensure that rodents are not attracted and eat away at the insulating material, you should ensure that the outside seal is tight. You can mount wooden panels or simple building boards for the cladding.

    insulation from the outside

    Insulation from the outside (on-rafter insulation) insulates more effectively, but is more complex to implement, especially if it is applied later. The roofing material then has to be removed and temporarily stored. In itself, however, the procedure is similar to that for the interior insulation. However, under the insulating panels of any material, a vapor barrier film should be applied.

    frequently asked Questions

    Which roof is possible for a garden house?

    The conventional and simplest variant is a normal gable roof, which is covered with roofing felt and bitumen covering. Flat roofs (especially recommended for green roofs), domed roofs or pyramid roofs are also possible roof shapes. In addition to simple bitumen shingles, lightweight sheet metal modules, authentic wooden shingles or solid roof tiles can also be used as roofing.

    How can you cover a garden house roof particularly cheaply?

    The cheapest single-deck variant is usually the classic bitumen shingles. But also roof foils or metal roofing membranes like KSK are relatively cheap alternatives.

    When and how should you renovate a summerhouse roof?

    Plain and simple when it is ailing and/or leaking. Depending on how deep the damage is, the more thorough you have to renovate. This means: if there are only local leaks and if the main part of the batten is still okay, you can simply replace the relevant elements of the roofing. If there is complete moisture damage under the covering, it may be necessary to replace the entire battening.

    How can you green a garden house roof?

    The ecological advantages of a green roof can be put to good use in the garden house. However, it must have a certain carrying capacity. A special shape is not a requirement, but flat roofs are particularly advantageous. To justify the roof is covered with a root-resistant green sheeting. Particularly drought-resistant plants are planted on a gravelly substrate. With a bit of skill, you can build a green roof yourself or entrust it to professionals.

Category:

Garden design