How to Build and design Shed Roof

Shed roofs are a reliable and high-performing option for modern residential roofing. Also picked up for temporary sheds, these single-pitched roofs are also known as pent, lean-to, mono-pitched, and skillion roofs. They adjust well with rectangular plans and allow easy construction. They are either free-standing or connect easily to the pre-existing roofs.

- ©Ar. Amrut Deshmukh, Esprit Architects

These easy assembly roofs can be worked out in a smooth process as follows:


1.Site Preparation:

The work area of construction, cleaned for obstructions and junk, is prepared. Roof components of the shed-roof design, unpacked on-site, are checked against the Bill of Materials.


2.Starting the Project:

A. Side attached shed-roof:
i.On the pre-existing fascia, point the start and endpoints of the structure using a marker, with dimensions taken from outside the gutter bracket.
ii.Project these points to position the posts on the ground.

Side attached lean-to type roofs for a typical house verandah in Pondicherry, India

B. Free-standing shed-roof:
i.Head-beams, cut to length, are fitted with connectors as per the engineered drawings.
ii.An interim brace holds the beams in position until the structure is squared using bracing. The posts are cut and arranged as per the specifications to complete the shed-roof.

©Tima Miroshniche on Pexels
3.Angle of the roof:

To decide upon an appropriate roof-pitch, the designer focuses on wind-direction and stormwater damage prevention. Most shed-roof designs have a pitch of 10-15° and steel helps conclude the rises and falls of the roof.

©Ruchika Deshpande
4.Rafters and Support-Beams

Rafters shape the shed-pitch. They provide increased support by transferring the roof's weight to the external walls for more durability. Support beams, placed perpendicular to the rafters, strengthen the construction process and support the rafters. From a designer's viewpoint, thickness and placement decisions form a crucial part of the process.

A typical roof section for an industry shed built using TATA Structura Hollow Steel Sections.
This image is an adaptation of the original drawing as designed and created by Ar. Ganesh Parkhi,
CP Consultants, Pune, to include the use of TATA Steel. The rights belong solely to the creator of
the image.

5.Guttering:

Rafters shape the shed-pitch. They provide increased support by transferring the roof's weight to the external walls for more durability. Support beams, placed perpendicular to the rafters, strengthen the construction process and support the rafters. From a designer's viewpoint, thickness and placement decisions form a crucial part of the process.

6.Down-pipe Positioning:

It is placed on the bottom side of the front gutter as required and marked internally. The down-pipe, fitted in a drilled pilot hole, is connected using silicone.

7.Overhangs:

Besides aesthetic preferences, overhangs govern climate-control, daylight access, wind impact and shield the walls from rain. A designer can go for large overhangs that should not face the wind or smaller overhangs as per the brief. Though large overhangs defend from the rain, they reduce daylight and wind exposure and are unsuitable for cold climates. Short overhangs give little shedding but provide good daylight and solar heat gain to facilitate temperate climates. Shed-roof designs must have a minimum overhang of 600mm and, if applied within 1.2M of the site-boundary, it may be reduced to 300mm.

8.Clean-up:

On completion, all foreign objects must be removed, especially from the rear gutters using hoses and brooms.

A shed-roof is designed to resist wind-uplift focuses on the wind-zone, slope, span support, weight, and fixing methods. The material should be compatible with the flashing and drain stormwater while maintaining its cost, performance, and appearance.

@Y.Yukta
About this author

Ruchika Deshpande

An architecture graduate from Pune University, 2020, Ruchika is a sensitive soul. Apart from her constructional understanding, an ardent desire to understand emotions through architecture drives her to write.