Corrugated Roof Sheets Compared and What They Cost to Fit

The main choices for replacing a tired roof on a garage, shed or lean-to are bitumen, fibre cement, steel and plastic corrugated roof sheets. Steel is the material with the clearest fitting figures, with a metal garage roof typically costing between £750 and £3,000 to fit, and often settling around £2,000 for a standard single or double garage. If you are dealing with an old grey corrugated sheet on a building built or refurbished before the year 2000, you must treat it as possible asbestos until it is tested.

Which corrugated roof sheet is right for a garage or outbuilding?

When you are about to spend money on a replacement roof for an outbuilding, you need to know which material suits the building and your budget. Corrugated sheets are formed into repeating ridges and grooves, a design that gives them the structural strength to span the timber supports beneath them. The sheets are fixed to the timber roof frame, and rainwater runs down the grooves and into the guttering.

The four main materials used for outbuildings in the UK are bitumen, fibre cement, steel and plastic. Each material has different strengths, and your choice will depend on whether you are roofing a simple garden shed or a large, secure double garage. The table below shows how the main options compare on key features and their expected lifespan.

These are typical figures for 2026, and local quotes will differ depending on your location. The steel figure applies to normal environments, and the bitumen figure assumes regular maintenance. Whatever material you choose, the panels need a minimum pitch of 10 degrees for water to run off efficiently. A pitched roof has a visible slope, unlike a flat roof, and that slope is what stops rainwater from pooling in the corrugated grooves.

Bitumen sheets and what to expect from them

Bitumen roof sheets are well-known for being affordable and easy to install. They suit buildings where keeping the upfront cost down is the main priority.

Thicker ply sheets of bitumen are available if you want a more robust covering, though these will cost more to buy. While bitumen is a highly practical and budget-friendly option, it absorbs sunlight and heat. This can increase the temperature inside the garage or shed. If you plan to use the outbuilding as a home workshop or a gym, this heat buildup is something you must keep in mind before choosing bitumen.

With regular maintenance, a bitumen sheet roof can last 20 or more years. The roof maintenance checklist covers what routine checks involve, and any work on the roof itself is a job for a roofer.

Fibre cement sheets and why age matters

Fibre cement sheets are a long-lasting option. They are highly weather-resistant and UV-resistant. They also offer strong fire-resistant properties.

Fibre cement is naturally insect and rot resistant and has a long service life of up to 60 years. It can be more expensive per square foot than other roofing materials, so ask your roofer to price it alongside the other options.

Age is a critical factor if you are replacing an existing grey cement roof. Asbestos cement roofs are made of large profiled asbestos cement sheeting, and the material appears sometimes as corrugated roof panels on sheds and garages. Treat an old grey corrugated roof on a building from before 2000 as possible asbestos until it has been tested. Never cut, drill, break or remove it yourself, as disturbing the material can release dangerous fibres.

Corrugated steel sheets and the noise question

Metal roofing for garages is usually made from galvanised steel, which offers excellent built-in rust and corrosion protection. You can choose between the traditional wavy corrugated sheets or a more modern box profile, which features flat ridges and valleys. These metal sheets are fixed to timber purlins, the horizontal timbers across the roof, by the roofer.

A steel roof provides several structural benefits:

• Built-in rust and corrosion protection to withstand UK weather.
• A choice of traditional corrugated curves or a modern box profile.
• A typical lifespan of more than 30 years in normal environments.
• Coated steel variants that can last around 40 years before needing replacement.

The main drawback of corrugated steel is the noise it generates. A metal roof will be noisy during heavy rain or hail without additional sound-dampening material installed beneath it. If you spend a lot of time in your garage, ask your roofer about sound-dampening material and what it adds to the price.

Clear and plastic corrugated sheets

Polycarbonate is named as a type of plastic sheet, and PVC is another. PVC variants offer fire-resistant properties.

The primary disadvantage of some plastics is that they can become brittle in cold climates. There are no reliable figures for the exact lifespan or fitting costs of PVC and polycarbonate sheets, so you will need to rely on local quotes to gauge the price for your specific building.

If you decide to use plastic panels, they require a minimum pitch of 10 degrees for water to run off efficiently. If your outbuilding has a very shallow slope, ask a roofer what covering suits it, such as a rubber, felt or fibreglass flat roof system.

What a roofer typically charges to fit corrugated sheets

Pricing a new corrugated roof depends on the material you choose, the size of your outbuilding, and how easy it is for the roofers to access the site. Steel is the material with the clearest fitting figures, giving you a solid baseline for your budget. The material cost alone for corrugated metal sheets is typically £40 to £90 per square metre.

When you hire a professional to supply and fit corrugated or box-profile steel, typical 2026 prices range from £80 to £110 per square metre installed. This rate covers the sheets and the labour to fit them, but it is calculated before insulation and scaffolding are added to the bill. You must ask your roofer to confirm whether access equipment is included in their quote, as scaffolding is often a separate and significant line on the final invoice.

Estimates vary. Some 2026 price lists put a pitched garage roof in metal sheets at £1,100 to £1,500 for a single garage and £1,800 to £2,500 for a double garage, others at £750 to £3,000 for fitting a metal garage roof in the UK, often around £2,000 for a single or double garage. Local quotes will vary, and bitumen and fibre cement have no reliable fitting figures, so three written quotes are the best way to compare costs.

Could an older corrugated roof contain asbestos?

Asbestos was widely used in homes until 1999, when it was banned. If your garage, shed or home was built or refurbished before the year 2000, it may contain asbestos materials. Asbestos cement roofs are made of large profiled asbestos cement sheeting, which appears sometimes as corrugated roof cement panels or sheeting on sheds and garages.

If you are sure or strongly suspect your home contains asbestos materials, it is often best to leave them where they are and check their condition periodically. The material is usually safe to leave alone provided it remains completely intact and undamaged. However, do not break, grind or saw the material.

Never cut, drill, break or remove asbestos sheets yourself, and use a trained or licensed contractor for any work on them. The use of power tools to drill or cut most asbestos containing materials can release harmful fibres into the air. If you think you have found asbestos, you must stop work immediately. Where material is so badly damaged that exposure is a significant risk, a risk assessment decides whether a licensed contractor is needed to remove it safely.

What a quote for sheet roofing should include

A proper written quote is your best defence against hidden charges and misunderstandings. A quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is not. When a roofer prices your job, they must break down exactly what materials they are supplying and what work they will do.

A professional roofing quote for corrugated sheets should include:

• The exact sheet material, profile and thickness being installed.
• The type of fixings.
• Any ventilation or new guttering needed to manage rainwater.
• The cost of scaffolding or access towers if they are required.
• The removal and disposal of your old roof sheets, with asbestos testing first if they could contain it.
• Whether VAT is included in the final total.

Nobody can see the true condition of your timber purlins until the old covering is taken off. A good quote clearly states how extras will be priced if rotten timber is uncovered during the job. This might be listed as a day rate for labour plus the cost of the replacement wood, ensuring you are not hit with an unexpected bill if the roof structure needs repairing.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all work must be done with reasonable care and skill. If your roofer fails to meet this standard, you have the right to ask for the work to be put right or for some money back. If you agree to a contract at home, over the phone or online, you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period. If you ask for the work to start inside that period, you must pay for what has been done if you later cancel.

Common questions

What is a corrugated roof?

A corrugated roof is made from large panels that have been formed into a repeating pattern of ridges and grooves. This wavy shape gives the sheet structural strength across its length, allowing it to span the gaps between timber roof supports without sagging. The grooves also act as channels to guide rainwater quickly down the slope and into the gutters.

Are clear corrugated roof sheets a good idea?

Clear sheets are made from plastic, such as polycarbonate or PVC, and there is no reliable lifespan or price for them. Check that your roof has a minimum pitch of 10 degrees for water to run off efficiently.

What is a corrugated plastic roof?

This is a roof covering made entirely or partly from lightweight polymer panels, such as PVC or polycarbonate. PVC variants offer fire-resistant properties. However, some plastics can become brittle in cold climates, so ask a roofer how a plastic sheet will cope with cold weather.

What is a corrugated metal roof?

A corrugated metal roof is typically made from galvanised steel sheets that provide built-in rust and corrosion protection. The sheets are fixed directly to timber purlins and can last more than 30 years in normal environments. They can be noisy during heavy rain or hail if you do not have sound-dampening insulation installed beneath them.

Next steps before you book a roofer

Finding the right person to replace your garage or shed roof takes a little time, but it is the best way to avoid being overcharged or left with poor workmanship. You should never accept a quote from a cold caller who knocks on your door claiming they have spotted a loose panel from the street. Pressure to decide today and demands for cash only are clear signs to look elsewhere.

Before you agree to any work, follow these simple steps:

• Take photos of your current roof from the ground to show roofers exactly what they will be dealing with.
• Get three written quotes that itemise the materials, labour, access and waste removal.
• Ask to see proof of the firm's public liability insurance.
• Check that the quote explains how rotten timber will be priced if it is found once the old sheets are off.
• Agree to a staged payment plan and only pay the final balance when the job is completely finished.

Paying by credit card gives you Section 75 protection on purchases over £100 and up to £30,000, offering an extra layer of financial security. If you have a dispute with a tradesperson that you cannot resolve, Citizens Advice is the best place to go for independent guidance.

If your outbuilding roof is leaking or looking tired, the most practical step is to gather local prices so you can compare your options. You can use our directory to find a roofer near you who can inspect your garage or shed and provide a detailed, fixed-price quote for a new corrugated roof.