Shed Roofing

Replacing shed roofing has become a maintenance task for homeowners over many years in the UK. Today, modern rubber shed roofing systems are designed to last, and with a 50-year service life expectancy, some will outperform the shed itself.

At PermaRoof UK, we are here to help – not just with the latest products and systems, but with expert advice and installation guidance. Whether you’re doing it yourself or searching for a professional installer we’re here to support you every step of the way.

PermaRoof UK can help you with your shed roofing project, whether you’re recovering an old garden shed or adapting an outbuilding for other uses. We stock rubber shed roofing to deliver a long-term approach and offer a lifetime membrane guarantee in our range of shed roof kits.

In our online store you’ll find standard sized complete kits, ready to fit and including everything you need. Perfect for DIY, fast and easy to install on a garden shed roof.

• Range of off-the-shelf shed kits
• Bespoke kit builder
• Lifetime shed membrane guarantees
• Full support and DIY installation guides

Choosing the right shed roofing system is important – to ensure that it ticks the boxes in terms of durability and performance for its intended use. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the key considerations and the options available for your shed roof. 

Whether you’re planning a garden building conversion and changing the use of your shed or are simply fed up with replacing shed roof waterproofing, you’re in the right place.

Today, there is a wide variety of available modern materials to replace outdated traditional shed roofing. While this is good news for the homeowner, it can sometimes be difficult to choose the right system. The go-to felt shed roof is fast-becoming a thing of the past, yet many homeowners still want a DIY option.

Rubber shed roof membranes offer the perfect way forward with a sustainable solution – fast and easy to fit, durable and hard to damage and offering a 50-year service life expectancy. No more felt going to landfill and no more leak repairs.

Getting your project off the ground

Shed roofing projects come in all shapes and sizes and our award-winning sales and customer support teams provide project-specific expert advice, product guidance and installation support. Whether you’re doing it yourself or looking for a reliable contractor, we can help – regardless of the size of your project.

When you’re scoping out the project and thinking about materials, considerations need to made right from the start:

Determine the purpose of the shed

While this may seem obvious, the intended use is important in the decision-making process. Is it for storage? and if so, what will be stored there? Is it for a hobby room or relaxing space? The purpose of the shed will influence your choice of materials, insulation and roof waterproofing needs:

• Storage shed: durability and water-tightness will be priorities
• Garden room: Aesthetic appeal and highly reliable waterproofing will be top of the list.
• Workshop: Insulation and noise reduction could be key factors. High performance waterproofing and minimised condensation will be a must when using and storing power tools.

Planning permission and incentives

While permission is not always needed to replace existing systems, building compliance is mandatory in the UK, so an awareness of current standards is crucial, whether you’re making seemingly significant changes or not. For a new shed or a garden room, applying for planning permission is a likely requirement.

In some UK regions, incentives may be in place for using certain materials, particularly sustainable ones. Local authority criteria and requirements may differ, so a visit to the local planning department is a good idea. It can highlight both constraints and incentives in the use of certain materials, particularly insulation or eco shed roofing systems.

Shed roofing deck integrity

The condition and integrity of the roof deck should be considered when planning to replace existing waterproofing on a shed roof. If the deck is damaged, perhaps from a previous leak, then this should be repaired or replaced to avoid problems later. EPDM rubber membranes have a 50-year service life expectancy and require full contact adhesion for the best results.

Cost vs. value

It is tempting to go for a cheap fix when recovering or repairing a shed roof. However, sustainability and long term value are becoming increasingly more important to UK homeowners. Rubber shed roofing systems offer a lifetime solution to waterproofing, meaning that the likelihood of needing to replace the shed roofing again is at an absolute minimum.

This saves the homeowner both time and money over the expected lifespan of an EPDM shed roof. Compared to felt, for example, EPDM is likely to last three or more times longer. For sustainability goals, this also significantly reduces landfill waste as EPDM is fully recyclable once it eventually reaches the end of its exceptional service life. Liquid shed and flat roofing systems also deliver a long life expectancy and offer seamless coverage, resulting in a cost-efficient solution for more complex shed roofing projects.

The importance of accurate measurements

Whether you choose a rubber shed roofing system or take a liquid approach, most are quantified in meterage or feet, some in linear metres and some square meterage. Shed roof kits are sold in standard shed sizes (in feet and metres) and adhesives are calculated typically in square metres (for average coverage).

It is therefore critical to measure accurately. Measure the long and short sides using a long tape where possible to avoid miscalculations. Double check measurements and have a second person present or to check the measurements separately.

Once you have accurate measurements in metres and have made the square meterage calculation, you can use these to order the correct shed roofing kit, other materials quantities or input them into our EPDM roof kit builder tool.

Some shed roofing materials are more DIY-friendly than others and your skill and confidence in installing shed roofing yourself will be a consideration. If you’re ready and confident to go the DIY route, we’re here to help with systems designed to be straightforward for a DIYer with skills.

Installing the waterproofing on shed roofing is well within the means of a competent DIYer with good levels of confidence and skill. Systems like RubberCover provide a simplified approach to installation, with one-piece membranes, cold, water-based adhesives and install accessories, making them ideal for DIY. We’ll support you with expert advice, a complete shed roofing kit and step-by-step installation guides.

Our extensive resource library has been developed to cover preparation and installation. We’re here to support you every step of the way if you decide to handle the waterproofing yourself. If you decide DIY isn’t for you, a professional EPDM installer will be able to complete your waterproofing easily and quickly – it may not cost as much as you think…

EPDM is the perfect system for DIY installers, fast and easy to fit in one piece for most typical UK shed roofing projects. There are specific stages in the process of installation and we’re here to guide you through. We have an extensive library of installation guides, videos and online tutorials – browse them all below.

Preparation

Carry out any required repairs or replace the timber shed roof deck as appropriate. For decks in good condition, make sure they are clean, oil, grease and preferably dust-free. Any existing roof covering should be fully removed for the best results and for full adhesion of EPDM rubber membranes.

If you have installed appropriate insulation or recovery board over the top of the old covering, it can stay in place, but ensure that there is no debris left on the roof deck that may cause damage.

Check the materials

Unpack your shed roofing kit and check it to make sure everything is included. In a standard shed kit, you’ll find the membrane, spray adhesive and sealant (plus your instructions). Other types of roof kit may include edge trims and fixings. Lay out the membrane to rest over the shed roof for at least half an hour to allow packaging creases to dissipate.

Installation process

Note that non-timber shed roof decks typically require the use of primer to prepare the surface. Water-based adhesives are used for timber decks only. Liquid systems provide a good alternative option for sealing a concrete roof.

Make sure that the membrane is positioned evenly across the apex of the shed roof with sufficient overhang around each side. Fold the membrane back over itself to expose one side of the shed roof.

Spray or liquid adhesive is applied to both the back of the membrane and to the roof deck. This must then be allowed to ‘go-off’ for a few minutes until it becomes tacky to the touch. Roll the membrane over the tacky roof deck and smooth with an EPDM roller or soft to medium bristled household broom to remove any trapped air.

Repeat on the other side of the roof, reattach the shed battens or replace with new, adding the sealant as recommended to complete the seal.

The PermaRoof Resource library is packed with free information to help guide our trade and DIY customers through your shed roofing project. The video library contains step-by-step tutorials in all aspects of installation or download installation guides, technical and product information, safety data and much more in PDF format. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, give us a call and we’ll be glad to help.

It’s now time to get your shed roofing project started. We stock everything you need in our online store and offer fast, UK wide delivery to help keep your project on track. We work with some of the biggest names in the construction industry, providing genuine, high performance branded systems, complete with technical certifications and manufacturer warranties.

The award-winning teams are on hand if you need assistance with your order, so please get in touch if we can help – try the PermaRoof UK way.