Signature Exteriors

Pitched garage roof

Best Roofing For Your Home’s Garage

Whether you are planning on constructing a new garage or simply renovating an old one, choosing the best roofing option for a garage is essential, just as it is for your home. You need to keep in mind that the roofing option you will eventually choose shouldn’t just be about matching the roof of your home. Still, it should also serve its intended purpose – to effectively protect everything in it from external elements while enhancing the look and style of your home.

Here are some different roofing options that you can use for your garage and will be a great combination with some of the best house siding out there. Whether you’re building a new garage or just renovating one already in existence, this article is just what you want to find.

High Pitched Garage Roofs

High-pitched roofs generally have a pitch above 2.12, and they are usually about six or more inches high for every 12 inches across. They enhance the overall exterior design of a building and add some durability.

High pitched roofs can be styled differently, from hip roofs to dome roofs to gable roofs and lots more. Constructing a high-pitched roof requires specific types of garage roofing material, irrespective of the style chosen. High-pitched roofing can be the best option for a garage if you live in areas with high rainfall or snow.

High pitch garage roof

Pros As A Garage Roof

Since they have high slopes, it is almost impossible for elements such as moisture to remain on them for a long time, thereby preventing leakages that can occur due to water remaining on the roof for a long time.

Choosing a high-pitched roof for your garage can equally mean better energy management. During summer, a high-pitched roof can help cut down the cost of cooling bills for the garage to allow for more ventilation.

Cons

While the high-pitched roofs offer some benefits, they can also be problematic, depending on your location. Choosing a high pitched roof might not be the best choice in places prone to high winds and hurricanes. High winds can peel off the roofing materials and, in extreme cases, detach the roof from the garage walls, causing the garage roof structure to collapse. Also, in some cases, constructing a high-pitched roof can require a larger budget as some styles require more garage materials for completion.

Learn More

There is a lot more to learn about pitched roofs! We’ve dedicated an entire post to different pitched roof styles.

Pitched Roof Types

 

Low Slope/Flat Garage Roofs

Roofs with a pitch below 2:12 are considered low-slope flat roofs, and they can be less expensive as well as beautifully enhance your garage trim. There are three types of flat roofs to choose from, which are built-up roof (BUR), modified bitumen roof (MBR), and rubber membrane roof (EPDM). Remember that not all kinds of material will work for a flat roof.

Flat garage roof

Pros As A Garage Roof

Since they are not too steep, they can be cheaper to maintain than their high-pitched counterpart, as you can efficiently perform DIY maintenance on them, unlike the high-pitched roof that would require the services of a professional most of the time. If you’re on a tight budget, a low sloping roof can help ease the strain on your budget as they usually do demand fewer garage roof materials.

Choosing a low-sloping roof means you can generate cost-effective energy as these roofs support the installation of solar panels.

Cons

Choosing low-sloping roofs can be budget-friendly at the initial stage, but the cost of maintenance could be high in the long run. A low sloping roof means there is an increased possibility of experiencing leakages as flat roofs tend to accommodate moisture, degrading the roofing material over time. For this reason, it is best to seek other options if you live in a location prone to high rainfall.

Learn More

Different garage roofing materials are dedicated to providing leak coverage on low-sloped roofing systems. Take a look at this blog post for more details on EPDM and TPO roofing materials.

 

Like what you read? Check out our guest writer: 

Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.