If you’re adding a carport, shed, porch, garage, sunroom, patio, gazebo, covered deck, or some other type of outbuilding to your residential property, choosing the right roofing materials is an important factor, regardless of whether the structure is simply being used to store outdoor tools, provide seasonal enjoyment, or enclose valuable vehicles. While it might make sense money-wise to be thrifty on outbuilding roofing, in the long run, spending a bit more now can save you plenty over the years in energy efficiency and durability in various weather conditions.

3 Factors for Selecting Roofing for Outdoor Structures

1. Make It Blend – Although the outbuilding is a separate structure from your home, you still want it to match well with your home’s exterior design and color. A smooth roof design transition is even more important if the structure is being attached to your home. At the Roofing Annex, we’ll help you in creating “eye appeal” for your property by guiding you through such considerations like roof line options, roofing materials to complement your home’s roofing system and incorporating roofing features like skylights or vents.
2. Roofing Purpose – Often times, the usage of the exterior structure helps determine the roof style. For example, a gable roof is typical for a screened sunroom because it accommodates lots of windows for bringing in outdoor light. On the other hand, if you want a carport, shed, or garage for keeping out the sun and protecting its contents from environmental elements, then a more hard-wearing roofing design would be best.
3. Cost – This is where the Roofing Annex can save you money over the life of your outbuilding. With our roofing expertise, we can rack up your savings by giving you energy efficient options, cost comparisons on roofing system options, and pros and cons on roofing material choices. For example, shed roofs or traditional gable roofs are affordable roof design styles, while a hip roof is more expensive. We can also discuss options like combination roofs, such as a flat roof accented with a small gable, or eco-friendly green roofs.

Outbuilding Roofing Types

Generally, homeowners choose the same type of roofing used on their home for their outdoor structures. That’s because the roofing on their house was chosen to meet their design preference and perform well in the area’s climate conditions. Types of roofing, like asphalt shingles, cedar shake shingles, tile, slate, metal and synthetic roofing, all perform well on home exterior structures.

You may have heard of or seen other roofing materials in your local home improvement store that are more economical and feature do-it-yourself installation. However, you should be aware of their drawbacks.

• Rolled Roofing: While not very attractive, roll roofing (named as such because it’s purchased in a roll) is often used to cover sheds, garages, or flat structures. Although it’s cheap roofing material, it has a short lifespan, typically between five to eight years.
• Corrugated Plastic Roofing: Although longer-lasting than roll roofing, it offers no insulation value and is not the best choice for an outdoor structure that is being used year-round unless some type of insulation is added.
• Fiberglass Roof: While relatively inexpensive and a good choice for sheds, patios and carports, fiberglass shingles are not well suited for climates with lots of sun or hot temperatures because they easily become brittle and tear.

When considering a roof for other structures being added to your property, your best bet is to call the Roofing Annex at 855-552-6639. We’ll help you figure out which type of roof will work best for both the type of outbuilding and your budget.