Barn Roof Shed Construction and Design Guide

A barn roof shed is a fantastic way to add some extra storage space to your property while also paying homage to traditional farm architecture. The key to a successful barn roof shed is choosing the right design.

The gambrel roof style is a popular choice for barn roof sheds, featuring two slopes on each side that provide ample space for storage and a unique aesthetic. This style is ideal for sheds with a width of 12 feet or more.

When selecting materials for your barn roof shed, consider using durable options like metal or asphalt shingles to withstand the elements. A well-maintained shed can last for decades with proper care.

The design and planning of a barn roof shed is crucial to ensure it meets your needs and fits in with your property. A barn roof shed typically has a gable or gambrel roof style, which allows for maximum storage space and a classic look.

To determine the size of your barn roof shed, consider the space available on your property and the items you plan to store. A standard barn roof shed is around 12 feet wide and 20 feet long, but can be customized to fit your specific needs.

When choosing the materials for your barn roof shed, consider the durability and weather resistance of the options. A metal roof is a popular choice for barn roof sheds due to its strength and low maintenance requirements.

A gambrel roof is a great choice for a barn shed, and here's why. It has four roof planes, two on each side of the ridge, which creates a larger space under the roof structure.

The upper slope of a gambrel roof is built using a shallow angle, while the lower slope is steeper. This design keeps the overall height of the shed lower than it would be with traditional gable rafters.

If you're looking for a barn shed with plenty of storage space, a gambrel roof is a great option. The additional space under the roof can be used for storing tools, equipment, or even a workbench.

The roof material for this type of shed is usually dimensional shingles with a lifetime warranty, available in four different colors.

Building a jig is a crucial step in constructing your shed roof.

Cut 4 more truss pieces and line them up in your jig, then continue nailing on gusset plates. This will help ensure that your truss pieces line up correctly and fit your 10' wide shed.

Going 2' on center with your shed trusses is sufficient, but 16" on center is better for added strength and support, and the additional cost will be minimal.

If your shed wall studs are framed at 2' on center and you decide to go 16" on center with your trusses, you'll need 2 top plates.

Truss ends are toe-nailed to the top plate with 3-16d nails per end.

For a barn roof shed, you'll want to start with a solid foundation, which means framing your roof correctly. This involves adding siding, ceiling joists, and loft flooring, which will make it easier to install your roof sheeting.

You'll need to add additional bracing across the trusses for more support, making sure each truss is exactly at its on-center location across the top.

To get started, measure off 10' on a chalk line on your floor, which is the width of your shed. From there, you can draw lines between three points to represent the top of the trusses, measuring down 3 1/2" off each line to represent a full 2x4. This will give you the measurements for your gambrel truss pieces.

For a gambrel shed, you want to consider how wide you want it to be. Please don't use these guidelines for building a shed wider than 12 feet.

The maximum width for a gambrel shed is 12 feet, but you can use a 10 foot wide barn as an example, which is a safe and practical size.

You should have a truss manufacturer build your gambrel trusses for sheds wider than 12 feet, for safety reasons.

For a gambrel shed roof, you'll need several key components to get the framing right. The roof truss is typically made from 2×6 lumber, spaced 16 inches on center.

Cutting the right lengths is crucial - for a 10' wide shed, you'll need 44 pieces of 2×6 lumber, each cut to 4' 2 1/2" long. The rafters should have 22.5 degree angle cuts on both ends, in opposite directions.

Gussets are also essential for a strong roof truss - they're made from 1/2" plywood, cut to size as shown in the illustration. Assemble the roof truss using 2" deck screws, and space it out 16 inches on center.

When installing the roof truss, use 3 1/2" nails to secure it to the top wall frame. Notch the top end of the 2×4's around the rafters to create a solid connection.

Ridge vents are installed at the peak of a sloped roof for extra airflow while extending roof life and enhancing energy efficiency.

Ridge vents can be a game-changer for your roof's overall performance. They're installed at the peak of a sloped roof, which allows for extra airflow and helps extend the life of your roof.

You can install gable end vents on both ends up close to your ridge, or a ridge vent can be installed as an alternative. This will help improve airflow and keep your roof in great shape.

Ridge vents are a simple and effective way to enhance your roof's energy efficiency.

The Lean-to Style Single Slope is a great option for a roof framing project. It's a simple design that's easy to build and requires minimal materials.

You can choose from 45 different sizes, ranging from 4x4 to 12x20. This flexibility makes it a great choice for small to large projects.

The roof pitch is a standard 1.5:12, which is a common and practical design. I've worked with this design before and it's always a good choice.

You can also customize the overhang to fit your needs, with options ranging from 2 to 6 inches and even 12 inches. This is a great feature if you want to add some extra protection from the elements.

The height of the Lean-to Style Single Slope is also customizable, with options ranging from 60 inches to 12 feet. This is a great feature if you need to accommodate different types of doors or windows.

Here are the available height options:

You can also choose from single and double doors, which is a great feature if you need to accommodate different types of usage.

The construction process for a barn roof shed is relatively straightforward. You'll need to follow the instructions in the How To Build A Shed eBook that comes with the plans.

The eBook shows you how to build the gambrel roof rafters, which are a key component of the shed. This will involve measuring and cutting the rafters to the correct size.

You'll also need to install the floor and wall framing, which is covered in the helpful video series. This will provide the foundation for the rest of the shed.

To transfer measurements to 2x4's, draw lines between the three points representing the top of the trusses, and measure down 3 1/2" off each line to represent a full 2x4.

Each truss piece will be 3' 10" long on the top measurement, and the angles cut will be 22.5 degrees off each end, which can be easily achieved with the use of a speed square.

Cut 4 pieces to form the first truss, and lay them out together to ensure a 10' wide gambrel truss.

Building a strong foundation for your walls is crucial in any construction project. 2×4 lumber is used for wall framing.

The wall studs are spaced 16 inches on center, which means that there is a stud every 16 inches along the length of the wall. This is a standard spacing that provides adequate support for most types of walls.

Cutting the right lumber is essential. For side wall frames, you'll need four 2×4's cut to 10 feet long for the top and bottom plate. Two 2×4's need to be cut to 9 feet 5 inches long for the top double plate. Twenty-six 2×4's are cut to 7 feet 6 inches long for the wall studs.

Assembling the side wall frames requires 3 1/2 inch nails. You'll need to nail the wall frames into the floor and adjacent wall frames using the same type of nails.

Cutting the lumber for the front and back wall frames is similar, but with some differences. Four 2×4's need to be cut to 9 feet 5 inches long for the top and bottom plate. Two 2×4's are cut to 10 feet long for the top double plate. Eighteen 2×4's are cut to 7 feet 6 inches long for the wall studs.

The door opening is a special consideration. The bottom plate on the door opening should not be nailed in place, as it will need to be cut and removed later.

Having a stable foundation is crucial in construction, and one way to achieve that is with a leveling package. This package includes professional leveling up to 12" during installation.

Up to 6" of leveling is already included with your purchase, but the package can provide an additional 6" of leveling for added stability.

A stable foundation is essential for a structure to last, and a leveling package can help ensure that.