Beginners Guide to Shed Roofing & What DIYers Need to Know Before Re-Covering

However, even for a typical garden shed, it's essential to understand the risks and responsibilities. This guide provides information but is not a substitute for professional advice. 

Always consider the following before you begin: 

1. Is the Shed Roof Structure Sound Enough to Re-Cover? 

Before you think about materials, you need to check if the roof structure can take a new covering at all. That means looking at the timber boards underneath the old felt or sheets and the general condition of the shed. 

This check needs to include both the roof structure and the inside of the shed - not all damp is caused by rain. 

Look at the roof boards: 

These are usually OSB or plywood and your new roofing material will be fixed directly to them. They must be: 

If the boards are damaged or feel weak, they need replacing before you can install anything new. Never walk or lean on your shed roof, assess carefully from a ladder.

Look for signs of moisture inside the shed: 

This is where people sometimes miss problems. Even if your roof isn’t leaking, you can still have damp, especially in winter. 

Look for: 

These are most often signs of condensation, not a failing roof. It happens when warm air inside the shed hits the cold underside of the roof and turns to water. 

If you’re seeing this: 

Read more about how to stop shed condensation here. 

Do i need shed roof insulation? 

Thermal insulation is typically only necessary if your shed is used as a workspace or needs to stay warm. If so, this is the stage to plan it – insulation goes before the new roof and it must include ventilation to avoid aiding or worsening condensation. 

Noise insulation for your shed is also worth at looking if it’s being used in the same way, as a workshop or workspace. 

2.a Do I Need to Remove the Old Roofing Material Or Can I Go Over It? 

This gets asked a lot for sheds - if the roof structure is sound, you can sometimes install new roofing straight over the existing layer - but only in specific cases. 

You can often go over the top if: 

This is a pretty common shed upgrade - you simply fix the new sheets through the old felt into the boards below. 

You’ll need to remove the old roofing if: 

2.b Disposing of the Old Shed Roofing 

If you do need to strip off the old roof covering, think ahead about how you’ll get rid of it – you don’t need a pile of wet, torn felt or broken sheets sitting in the garden while you figure out where it can go. 

3. Flat vs Pitched Shed Roofs - Not All Materials Work For Both 

There are 3 shed roof types most commonly used in the UK:

• Pitched roofs are by far the most common for garden sheds:
  • Apex roofs have 2 equal sloping sides that meet at the top 
  • Pent roofs have one longer slope
• Flat roofs are sometimes used when space or height is restricted, or when looking for an ultra-budget option  

The slope of your shed roof - even if it looks almost flat - makes a big difference to which roof materials will work.  

Roofs that don’t shed water quickly need continuous, watertight layers, while steeper roofs can take sheeted or shingle-style roofing. 

Standard Pitched Sheds (apex or pent, 5°+) 

Either of these roof types gives you more choice when it comes to choosing a material, as water will run off faster. So you can use: 

For a full rundown of all the pitched shed roof material options, check out this guide here. 

Quick Tip: How to Check Your Shed Roof Pitch 

You don’t need special tools - just a tape measure and a level. 

For most sheds, a quick visual check is enough: if you can see water naturally running to one side, it usually has enough pitch for sheet materials. 

Flat or Very Low-Pitch Sheds (under about 5°) 

These don’t drain well, so you need a covering that forms a sealed surface: 

These are usually the safest options for flat sheds because they don’t rely on rain running off quickly. For more on the best materials for flat shed roofing, click here. 

4. Which Shed Structures Can Take Which Roofing Materials? 

Even if your roof has the right slope, the shed itself needs to be strong enough to hold the material you’re planning to use. That depends on how it’s built.

Here’s how to judge what’s suitable:

• Lightweight flat-pack sheds (typical DIY store kits):
  These use thin timber and lightweight panels. Stick to lightweight coverings like felt, bitumen sheets, or shingles. Heavy materials may cause sagging or pull the structure out of shape.
• Larger or custom-built timber sheds:
  If your shed was built with thicker framing (like 2x2" or 2x4"), it can usually take a wider range of materials — including heavier options like tile-effect sheets or EPDM, depending on roof type.
• Brick or block sheds:
  These can support most roofing types, since the walls bear the load. Just follow the same pitch guidance when choosing the covering.

Rule of thumb: The more solid your shed build, the more roofing options you have. If in doubt, go lighter with felt or bitumen sheets, especially on small or older sheds.

5. Planning Ahead: Common Shed Roofing Pitfalls to Avoid 

Even when it seems straightforward, there are always a few things we find that regularly trip people up. Watch out for these before you start: 

Fixings and Finishing Pieces usually aren’t included 

Roofing materials are usually sold on their own and the extras you need will depend on your roof shape: 

 Without these finishing parts, the roof won’t be watertight. Always check what’s included before you order – if you’re not sure, have a chat with our customer service team and they’ll be able to guide you in the right direction. 

Order by cover size, not sheet size 

Sheets overlap each other and felt needs extra for overhangs at the edges and the top (the apex join, where both sides meet). Always check the “cover width” of the materials you're ordering - this is the size of the material cover after overlaps are accounted for - and add spare so you don’t run short. 

Don’t strip the old covering too soon 

Once the old roof is off, the boards are exposed. Only start if you’ve got all materials, trims and a dry day to finish. 

Plan for handling

Felt rolls are usually easy enough to carry alone, but long sheets or a full rubber membrane are awkward without help. Line up an extra pair of hands if needed. 

Think about the details 

Most shed leaks start at the edges and joins - the ridge at the top, the overhangs at the sides and where sheets overlap. Make sure you’ve got the right pieces to cover and seal these areas. 

Where to next? 

Or if you'd rather have a chat, reach out to our friendly team, we’re happy to help you figure out exactly what you need.