Whether you’re looking to spruce up your garden’s infrastructure or appearance, you need to give some thought to what roofing options you have for them. These roofs don’t need to be as complex as the roof of a house. But they do need to provide cover while being waterproof. Different features and outbuildings will have different physical and aesthetic needs, especially with regards to the amount of weather that you have.
Features
Lean-to’s are framed structures that use at least one of the outer walls of your house as a support (hence the name). Usually lean-to’s are usually preferred with clear roofs. Multiwall polycarbonate is a good option for lean-to’s because it is stronger than glass while being lighter. Multiwall polycarbonate can be bought clear but can also be purchased in tinted translucent sheets as well if you want a shady solution. In particular, 16mm polycarbonate sheets is ideal for lean-to’s.
Another good option for lean-tos are corrugated sheets. Clear sheets, like Corrapol’s plastic resin Stormroof sheets, can provide the same clear appearance as multiwall. Corrugated sheets have undulations to prevent the capillary effect from acting on water. This forces water down the roof and into the gutters and drains.
Pergolas and Arbors
Pergolas are frames with a latticed roof that permits the growth of viny plants. Arbours are similar though they usually have a seating area. They can add a lot of character to a garden without taking up a lot of space. Again, both are served well by 16mm Triplewall polycarbonate as well as Corrapol Stormroof.
Greenhouses
Greenhouse glazing should be a combination of two factors – the roof and the windows. The roof of a greenhouse is a great place to use a high thickness of multiwall polycarbonate. Because of its structure, multiwall polycarbonate provides excellent insulation while its clear colour allows for maximum light transmission for the plants inside. 25mm or 32mm Multiwall is best for greenhouses, offering five and seven layers of insulation respectively.
As for the windows, polycarbonate can be used there as well, though instead of in multiwall format something like Clear Amber’s Axgard polycarbonate glazing would be preferable. This is a thick, solid sheet of polycarbonate. Since polycarbonate is both more durable and has a better insulation factor than glass, it makes more sense to use polycarbonate glazing sheets.
Sheds
Whether it’s just a doghouse, a one-person shed or a fully sized log cabin, shed felt is usually the best choice for roofing sheds. Shed felt is a modified version of the roofing felt that’s found underneath the tiles of pitched roof houses. It’s tough and waterproof, and can be easily applied by cutting it to the right dimensions with a utility knife and nailing in sections with clout nails.
However, for larger sheds you may instead want to use felt shingles instead. Shingles are made of roof felt but resemble tiles. They are usually nailed down in strips and provide a few of the advantages of tiling on top of being felt.
For both shed felt and shingles, if you live in a particularly windy area it may be worth your time to use adhesive to fix them in place alongside clout nails. This combination will protect the felt from wind uplift.
Alternatively an opaque corrugated sheet like Corrapol-BT can be used. Corrapol-BT is made of bitumen-impregnated board. The advantage of corrugated sheets is that it allows for a roof to be constructed on rafters alone without the need for supporting timber boards.
Agricultural buildings
When it comes to agricultural buildings like stables or barns a GRP corrugated sheet like Corrapol-GRP is the preferred choice. It is only slightly translucent, nearly opaque, so it lets in a small amount of light without being totally transparent. This is an excellent light transmission level GRP refers to glass reinforced plastic, better known as fibreglass.
Garages
Corrugated sheets are the iconic garage roof. You can use GRP, bitumen board, plastic resin, or even polyvinyl chloride plastic. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses and aesthetic role. Bitumen sheets are cost effective and provide privacy; plastic resin sheets are extremely durable and provide light transmission. PVC sheets are easy to work with, while finally GRP sheets provide a middle ground between the others. If your garage roof has a high pitch, you can consider polycarbonate sheeting as well.
Carports
Carports are small open air car shelters that function like umbrellas for cars. Though plastic resin corrugated sheets can be used for carports, multiwall polycarbonate sheets are better. 10mm Twinwall and 16mm Triplewall are best for carports.
At ERoofing we stock all of these options along with many accessories and support products such as ridges and glazing bars. If you’re looking to invest in some outdoor structures you need to do it properly, and these roofing sheets and shed felt will help you immensely.
