How to Apply Roll Roofing to a Flat Roof Storage Shed

Use a concealed-fastener system with standard asphalt-based roll roofing for your shed roof. Measure and cut lengths of roll roofing to cover the roof in courses parallel with the lowest roof edge. Add an extra 1/2 inch to create a 1/4-inch overlap at the side edges of the roof.

Measure and cut a 9-inch-wide roll roofing strip to install around the perimeter edge of the shed. Overhang the perimeter edge by 1/4 inch and fasten with roofing nails in two rows, one inch in from the sides of the strip at 4-inch intervals. Lay the first course of roll roofing flush with the underlying overhang and nail the top edge at 4-inch intervals.

Spread lap cement over the 9-inch-wide perimeter strip and bed the top roofing layer into the cement, using a hand roller. Overlap each course by at least 2 inches and use lap cement to fasten the upper roofing layer to the previous roofing course.

Install asphalt-based peel-and-stick roll roofing on your shed if the slope is as low as 1/2 inch per foot. Clean the shed's roof deck with a degreaser to prepare a spotless surface for effective adhesion. Allow the deck to dry.

Measure and cut lengths of the peel-and-stick type of roll roofing to match the width of your shed roof. Lay the length parallel and flush with the lowest edge of the roof.

Peel away a few inches of backing at a time and press the roofing onto the roof deck. Use a hand roller to apply uniform pressure over each completed course. Overlap each course by three inches to gain optimal performance, as recommended by most manufacturers.