A residential space made of separate buildings or structures often comes with different roofing needs for each building and structure. As a homeowner, you’ll have to decide on the different roofing styles, materials, and budgets to work with for each roof you install. Choosing the right materials for the different roofs in your space can be a daunting task, especially if you’re doing this for the first time.
I build garden rooms, sheds, and outbuildings for a living, so most of my roofing experience comes from smaller structures rather than main house roofs. I work with EPDM rubber, metal roofing sheets, and slate tiles depending on the build and the client’s budget. I’ve also been brought in on a few house roofing projects over the years, not as the lead but working alongside professional roofing contractors, and I’ve picked up plenty just from watching how they approach the job. Between my own outbuilding work and what I’ve learned standing on scaffolding next to roofers who do this every day, here’s how I’d approach choosing materials for your different roofs.
Consider Ease of Installation and Maintenance
Choosing a roofing material that’s easy to install and maintain can make all the difference in your roofing experience. When choosing, it’s important to consider a roof material that doesn’t require costly repairs or constant attention. Instead, go for materials that would stand up to the elements without sustaining any serious impact.
On garden rooms and sheds, EPDM is my go-to. It’s a single sheet of rubber membrane, so there are no joints or seams for water to find its way through, and it’s forgiving to install even on a slightly imperfect deck. Metal roofing sheets are another one I use a lot, particularly on workshop-style builds, because they go up fast and shed water well with the right fall. Slate tiles look the part on more traditional garden buildings, but they take longer to install and need a competent fixer, so I only use them when the budget and the design call for it.
For your main house, the equivalent trade-off applies. Asphalt shingles for the main house and clay tiles for outbuildings can give you a good balance of performance against upkeep. Whatever material you land on, make sure it’s fitted by a contractor who has genuine experience with that specific material. Someone excellent with slate might have never fitted an EPDM roof, and the reverse is just as true. Ask to see photos of similar completed jobs before you commit.
Also, ensure each roofing material is installed by the right contractor who has experience installing similar materials. You can look for local contractors like the roofers in Bucks County PA, or ask for referrals from your friends and family to choose trusted ones.
Examine the Building Style
Your house or building’s architectural design will determine the roofing materials you choose for its roof. A roofing material that doesn’t align with the building’s style will ruin its overall aesthetics and performance, causing an expedited deterioration and decline in value. If you’re building a traditional type of building, you may not be able to get the exact historical material to match the style. In such cases, get a suitable alternative if possible.
This comes up constantly with garden rooms. A client wants a period-looking outbuilding to sit next to a period house, but a full slate roof isn’t always practical on a small flat or low-pitched structure. In those cases, I’ll often suggest a slate effect tile or keep the roof simple with EPDM and let the cladding and joinery do the work of matching the style instead. For a historical house build, the same principle holds: if vintage tile roofs aren’t available, asphalt shingles can work as a compatible alternative across most home styles. Talk it through with your construction and roofing contractors before you commit to a material.
Consider Energy Efficiency
Different roofing materials offer different levels of insulation against extreme heat and cold temperatures. If you want to achieve high energy efficiency in your home, then you need to start with it all early by choosing the right roofing materials. You should consider a roofing material that doesn’t easily absorb heat on a hot day or transfer cold temperatures into your space in the cold season. While insulation can help with the temperature transfer problem, choosing the right material ensures a more effective protection approach.
On garden rooms, this is a big part of the build, since most of mine are used as offices, studios, or gyms year-round. Metal roofing sheets on their own do very little for temperature control, so I always build in proper insulation underneath rather than relying on the roof covering to do the job. EPDM behaves similarly; it’s a good waterproofing layer, but insulation is what actually keeps the space usable in winter and summer. For a house, installing energy-efficient roofing materials like clay tiles, green roofs, or asphalt shingles with cool coating might cost you more than conventional roofing materials. However, with time, it will save you significant amounts on utility bills.
Check for Available Roofing Material Options
Sometimes, even the most desired roofing material options may not be locally available and affordable. In this case, you may have to settle for the closest option to what you want rather than spend excess time looking for what you may not easily find. Sometimes, you may have to compromise on smaller things like the colour of the material and styles, just to complete your roofing project on time.
I’ve had this exact issue with EPDM rolls and trims during busy periods, where the width or colour I wanted was on back order, and the job was waiting. Rather than delay a client’s build for weeks, I’ve adjusted the design slightly to work with what was available. The same logic applies to house roofs; if asphalt shingles aren’t available in the colour and style you want, it’s usually worth adjusting those preferences rather than stalling the whole project. Just don’t compromise on the quality or grade of the material itself to save time.
Evaluate Cost and Budget
While many homeowners focus only on the initial cost when choosing a roofing material, it’s also important to consider the long-term investment value before deciding. At the moment of deciding, you may be constrained financially to choose less expensive materials like asphalt.
I see this trade-off on almost every garden room quote. Metal roofing sheets are usually the cheaper option upfront, EPDM sits in the middle, and slate is the most expensive, both in material and labour. Clients on a tighter budget often go with metal or EPDM, and that’s a perfectly sound decision, as long as it’s installed properly. For a house, if you can stretch your budget a little further, you can go for higher-end materials such as metal or clay for long-term savings and durability. Some materials might be cheap to acquire but costly to install, so ensure you consult with your contractor to choose the best fit for your project.
Choosing the right materials for your different roofing projects is a crucial step in ensuring high levels of safety and performance. Whether it’s a garden room roof or your main house, the fundamentals are the same: match the material to the structure, the climate, and the budget, and get someone experienced with that material to fit it. If you’re just getting started with your house or structure construction, these factors should guide you in choosing the right roofing material. Remember to consult with your local contractor to ensure everything falls into place for a successful roofing project.
