Whether you’re building a new home or considering an addition, the shape of the roof is one of many decisions you have to make. One of many roof types is the shed roof, also called a skillion roof. Weighing the pros and cons of a shed roof helps you decide if it’s the best option for your upcoming build.

Think of a shed roof as a flat roof at a steeper slope. You can also think of it as one half of a traditional gable roof.

Whereas a hip roof and other popular roof types have at least two sides, the shed roof has a single slope that can vary in steepness depending on the design.

This style was once used mainly on sheds, but it’s becoming more popular on residential homes. Sometimes, the entire roof is a shed-style roof.

On other homes, only a section of the structure uses a shed roof. You might use a shed roof on a new addition to your home even though the rest of the house has a hip roof or another design, for example. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to roof the newer section.

Since the shed roof has just one flat surface, it’s a very simple design that makes it easy to build. Your contractor doesn’t have to worry about various surfaces meeting, multiple ridges or lots of valleys that make the job more challenging.

That means your contractor can build your roof much faster than many other roof styles, and you have a clean, simple look when it’s done.

The simplicity of the shed roof design also makes it more cost effective. This style uses fewer materials, which cuts down on that part of the cost.

It’s easy for roofers to build, so they can complete the job faster for less labor time, and there aren’t any complex parts of the job to make the price skyrocket.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective roof option, the skillion roof may be a good choice.

Because of the slope on a shed roof, it allows for almost any type of roofing material. You can go with traditional shingles, metal roofing, rolled roofing, clay tiles or cedar shakes, for example.

This gives you more options for finishing the roof in a style you like with a material that has the durability and maintenance requirements that fit your preferences.

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