Shed Roof Tiny House Design and Construction Tips

Designing a shed roof for your tiny house requires careful consideration of the slope and pitch. A slope of 4:12 is recommended for shed roofs, which means for every 4 units of horizontal distance, the roof rises 1 unit.

The pitch of a shed roof can be steeper or shallower, but a steeper pitch is generally more energy-efficient. Steeper pitches also reduce the risk of water accumulation on the roof.

The length of a shed roof is typically determined by the width of the tiny house and the desired overhang. A good rule of thumb is to add 12-18 inches to the width of the house for the overhang.

A shed roof's simplicity makes it an attractive option for tiny house builders, as it requires fewer materials and less labor.

Additional reading: How to Build a Slanted Roof Storage Shed

You can turn a shed into a tiny house by assessing the current shed or purchasing a new one, and then creating detailed interior plans to fit your needs.

To create detailed interior plans, you'll want to decide on the interior materials and whether you'll need to supplement the framing. This will help you visualize the layout and make any necessary adjustments.

The type of shed you use will impact the design and planning process. For example, a flat roof is simple to construct and can lend to a more modern home design. A gambrel roof, on the other hand, can provide more internal space but may not be the best choice for everyone.

Here are some common roof profiles to consider:

Ultimately, the design and planning process will depend on your personal preferences and needs. Be sure to consider factors like available space, budget, and local building codes when making your decisions.

A home is more than just a place to live, it's a system that needs to be designed and built with care. Your roof is a crucial part of this system, controlling four key things: rain, air, vapor, and thermal transfer.

A roof's primary function is to keep water out, which can cause a lot of damage if it seeps in. Water will ruin your tiny home if it's not properly sealed.

Air flow is just as important, and it's not as simple as just sealing it up. A well air-sealed house is crucial for efficiency, and it's actually more important than insulation.

Vapor and moisture-laden air can lead to mold if not controlled, and the layer that prevents air from entering often prevents moisture from entering too.

Worth a look: How to Air Seal Roof Shed

When deciding on the style of your tiny house, consider the roof profile. A flat roof is modern and simple to construct, while a gambrel roof has more internal space but may not be the most visually appealing.

A gable roof with clean lines is classic, but a shed roof might be a better choice if you're overwhelmed by compound miter cuts. People often put the loft in the higher end of a gambrel roof to maximize space.

Discover more: Gambrel Shed

You can put a bathroom in a shed by adding a partition wall or creating a separate walled space for the toilet. This requires a fresh water supply and connection to the property's sewer or septic system.

A waterless composting toilet is an alternative to these costly hookups. You can cool your shed without electricity by installing operable windows with insect screens, applying tint to the windows, and adding soffit or gable vents.

You can choose from various roofing materials, including asphalt tarpaper and rolled roofing, which are suitable for a shed roof. This type of roofing is easy to install and provides a durable finish.

The type of roofing material you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your tiny house. Consider the style of your roof, as it can greatly affect the available space inside your house.

Here are some common tiny house roof profiles:

Framing your tiny house roof is a big step, and it's one that took me the longest when I built my own tiny home. I had to climb up and down and deal with complex angles that needed to be cut.

The combination of these factors meant it took me a while to get it right. The top plate of the wall, ridge beam, and rafter are the three main components to your roof framing.

You'll want to start by ensuring everything is actually square before proceeding. I start by installing a temporary 2×4 on the outside of the house to temporarily hold in place my first set of rafters and my last set of rafters. This establishes your start and end points to make sure that you’re placing them exactly in the right spot.

A 12/12 roof means that for every 12 inches of run it will rise 12 inches. You'll frequently hear about roofs being described in this way.

Discover more: How to Cut Shed Roof Rafters

Installing your ridge beam is a crucial step in building a shed roof tiny house. Install it at both ends of the rafters, ensuring everything is straight and at the correct angles.

Double-checking your work at this stage is essential to prevent errors down the line. Getting your rafters right at the start and end will set you up for success as you fill in the rest of the rafters.

When laying down roof sheathing, you may encounter seams without wood behind them to support the attachment.

A vented roof allows for air to move along the underside of the roof, entering in the soffit vents and out the ridge vent. This is the traditional approach to building a roof.

Vented roofs prevent ice dams by keeping the bottom side of the roof the same temperature as the outside in the winter. In the summer, a vented roof actively cools the space between the roof and your insulation.

The natural air flow in a vented roof dries any moisture vapor as the air flows through. This is a big benefit of vented roofs.

Vented roofs are the traditional approach to building a roof, which means they're a tried-and-true method.

Installing the ridge beam is a critical step in building a sturdy roof structure. You'll want to ensure it's installed at both ends, checking that everything is straight and in the right place.

Double checking the angles is crucial, as getting the rafters right at the start and end will set you up for success as you fill in the rest of the rafters.

Adding blocking to your roof structure is a crucial step that ensures the stability and integrity of your roof. This involves installing additional support to hold the roof decking in place, particularly at seams where there may not be wood behind it to attach to.

You'll need to lay down the decking carefully, taking note of where the seams fall. The seams of your sheets may not have wood right behind them to support the seam and attach to with a nail, screw, or staple.

To address this, you'll add extra blocking to support the roof decking seam. I've done this in my own roofing, and it's essential for a secure and long-lasting roof.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Wood for Shed Roof

A minimum roof pitch of at least 2/12 is recommended, but going shallower or even flat can be done with an EPDM roof.

This type of roof requires extra work and attention to detail to prevent leaks, as I've heard from tiny house friends who've gone this route.

A 4/12 pitch is a safer bet, especially for tiny houses that might not always be level when parked.

This pitch helps prevent water from pooling on the roof when it's slightly canted to one side.

Most underlayment is only designed to be exposed to UV rays for 30-60 days, so it's essential to add roofing material soon after sealing up your roof decking. This helps prevent the underlayment from breaking down.

You have several options for roofing materials, including metal roofs, asphalt shingles, and more. Each type has its own installation method, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions and focus on getting transition points like ridges, valleys, and dormers right.

Corrugated metal roofing is an attractive option, but it's not without its drawbacks. Through fasteners can leak, and attaching them involves driving a screw through the surface, which can poke hundreds of holes into your roof.

Here are some key considerations for corrugated metal roofing:

Corrugated metal panels are a popular choice for roofing due to their durability and availability. They're also relatively easy to install, but there's a catch.

You'll need to drive a rubber gasketed screw through the face of the panel, which can lead to a major drawback: through fasteners can leak. This is a concern because it can compromise the integrity of your roof.

Slightly higher cost is another consideration when choosing corrugated metal panels. You'll also need to cut the metal to the right size, which can be a bit of a challenge.

Transition points can be tricky to handle with corrugated metal panels. However, with some planning and patience, you can get the job done.

Here are some key pros and cons to keep in mind:

Adding material to your roof is a crucial step in the roofing process. Most underlayment is only designed to be exposed to UV rays for 30-60 days.

You'll want to add the roofing material soon after getting your roof decking on and sealed up. This is because underlayment can start to break down if exposed to UV rays for too long.

Each type of roofing material has its own unique installation method, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions. Transition points like ridges, valleys, and dormers require extra attention to get right.

Think about how water will flow off your roof when deciding how to add your roofing material. Typically, you'll start at the bottom and work your way up, covering each layer with the next one.

You can repurpose an existing shed as a tiny house, but only if it's on a solid foundation and the framework is in good shape. Building out a shed can be a faster and less expensive route to completing a tiny house.

For a shed to be suitable, it needs to be sized for your needs. This means considering the space you require and the layout you want for your tiny house.

Using an existing shed can be a great option, but you'll need to assess its condition carefully.