Roof Type Report

Vocabulary

Roof Pitch-the slope of a roof is measured in degrees and ratios of distance. The ratio 4/12 means if a roof rises 4' in the length of 12', your Roof Pitch would be 4/12 or 18.43 degrees.

Dormer-a window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.

Valley-V-shaped metal channels that run down the folds of the roof.

Eave-the part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building.

Roofs

Gable-easily shed water and snow, provide better ventilation, offer space for attic or vaulted ceilings, and are cheaper to build.

These roofs can be easily damaged, or carried away by strong winds.

Side gable-two equal panels on each side pitched at an angle meet in the middle of a building.

Crossed gable- two gables perpendicular to each other.

Front gable-roof placed over entrance.

Dutch gable-gable placed over a hip roof.

Hip -slopes on all four sides.

The sides are all equal length and come together at the top to form a ridge.

More sturdy than gable roof, allow for extra living space, resistant to high wind, and easily shed water and snow.

It is more expensive to build and requires more materials due to complex design.

Simple hip-polygon on two sides and triangle on two sides.

Cross Hipped-hip roofs perpendicular of each other.

Half Hipped-two sides shortened to create eaves. (Makes a jerkinhead)

Mansard -first half of the roof is steeper than second half and the roof is on all four sides.

The first half may be curved or straight.

These roofs cost more, and should not be build in areas with heavy snow fall, but are great for people wanting flexibility to make future home additions.

Gambrel-has two different slopes, but only on two sides.

Used in farm houses, barns, log cabins, Georgian, Colonial, and Dutch style homes.

Construction is simple and needs few materials.

Not recommended in areas with high wind or snowfall.

The roof should be constructed well, as well as inspected and maintained to prevent water leaks.

Flat-are used in both high and low rainfall areas.

Have a slight slope to allow water to run off the roof.

Flat roof can offer space for a patio or garden. (Flat roofs with grass on top can provide extra insulation, and decrease the cost of air conditioning.)

Easier to construct, require less materials and are cheaper. Prone to a lot of water leaks.

Skillion (lean-to)-Skillions are easy to assemble and use much fewer building materials than other roof types.

If the slope is too big, the ceiling can be too low.

Also, homes using only a skillion roof can have problems in high wind areas.

Jerkinhead-is a Half Hipped roof.

It is wind resistant because of the short ends.

Provide more living space than a traditional hip roof, while having more reinforcement.

Complex design can add to the cost.

Butterfly roof-Two ends facing upward, and slope down to meet in the middle.

The butterfly roof is popular for modern, Eco-friendly and tropical home designs.

The upper ends of the roof allow for bigger windows that will provide more ventilation.

Water can collect in the middle and drain to a special reservoir, and solar panels can be installed. Construction and maintenance is expensive.

Water drains can be clogged and leaks may form.

Bonnet-lower slope set at less of an angle than the upper slope.

It’s like a reverse Mansard.

Provide protection for walls and porch.

Allow for extra living space.

Complex design is expensive to build.

Water may pool where the two slopes meet.

Saltbox-one side is longer than another.

Adds more living space, shed water and snow easily, and is more durable than a gable roof due to the asymmetric design.

Expensive to build due to tricky design, and makes some ceilings low.

Sawtooth-several small lean-to roofs.

Allows for windows, extra space at the top, and solar panels.

Expensive to build due to complex design and requires high maintenance.

Curved roof-can be designed to withstand high winds (low curve) or shed water and snow (high curve).

Pyramid-resistant to strong winds, provides extra space for ventilation, and reduces energy costs. Complex design makes the roof expensive.

Dome roof-used for small structures and is expensive due to tricky design.

Roofs may be build using a combination of types.

This allows for authentic design and best roof types for different sections of the house.

Complex designs will increase cost of construction.

Valleys and ridges will allow water to pull, increase formation of leaks and maintenance cost.

For best roof durability, consider the amount of precipitation and wind your area will receive and pick the roof style accordingly.

Also consider how roof function and design will satisfy specific needs.

Here is the resource for this research.