Building your own shed can be a fun project for the whole family! The whole process can take about 2 or 3 days depending on how many people you have helping and the size of your shed. Trying to plan everything out before starting is also a good idea.

Build roof for shed

Building a shed roof is an easy project that you can complete in just one day. It can be done using basic carpentry skills and materials you probably have on hand. The instructions below are for building a shed with a pitched roof (a slanted roof). If you’re looking for instructions on how to build a lean-to shed, see How to Build a Lean-To Shed.

If you’re new to carpentry, this is a good project to start with because it requires only basic skills and tools. If you don’t have those, read How to Build a Simple Shed: 5 Tips for Beginners before you start building your shed.

Materials Needed:

1″ x 4″ lumber (actual size 3/4″)

2x4s or larger lumber (for rafters)

How to Build a Shed Roof

Building a shed roof is a fairly simple process. The steps are similar to those for building a gable roof. You need to start with two walls and then add rafters on top of them. Here are the steps:

1. Measure the length and width of your shed, then mark it on the ground.

2. Dig out the area where you want to build your shed (6-12 inches deep).

3. Lay down 4x4s or other framing material for your walls, making sure they’re level and straight so that your shed will be square when it’s done.

4. Place 2x4s around each side of the walls as bracing, making sure they’re equally spaced apart so they don’t sag over time due to uneven pressure from snow or ice accumulating along the roof line during winter months.

5. Add plywood sheets over all 4x4s so they’re completely covered by sheeting material (plywood or OSB). This will give you extra support for when it comes time to lay down shingles or other roofing materials (see step 6 below).

How to Build a Shed Roof: 4 Steps

1. Lay out the rafters on top of the shed and mark them with a straightedge and pencil.

2. Cut each rafter to length with a circular saw or reciprocating saw, depending on what type of material you’re working with. If your shed plans call for rafter tails, measure down from the peak of the roof and mark where the cut will be made. You can also use this method if you’re building a lean-to style shed that has no ridge board or collar ties.

3. Cut the rafters to length using a reciprocating saw or circular saw with a blade specifically designed for cutting wood.

4. Assemble each pair of rafters together using 16d nails driven every 12 inches along both sides of the joint. The two rafters should overlap by at least 1 inch in order to create an overhang at the base of each pair of rafters. If your plans call for saddle notches in the center where two pairs of rafters meet, drive one nail through each notch before attaching them together with 16d nails driven every 12 inches along both sides of the joint.

How to Build a Lean-to Roof for a Shed

A lean-to shed is a great option for those who want to build a shed, but don’t have much space. It’s also a good choice for anyone looking for an easy to build shed option. A lean-to shed is basically just a shed that has its side wall leaning against another structure (like a house or garage). This means that you don’t have to worry about having enough room for a full width of your shed.

In addition, building a lean-to style shed allows you to keep the cost down by using less material and needing fewer tools and materials.

The plans below show how to build a lean-to style shed with plywood siding and corrugated metal roofing, but you can use any type of siding or roofing that suits your needs. The plans also show how to build the frame of the lean-to out of 2x4s, which makes it easier than using 2x6s throughout the entire project because they’re more expensive.