If you’re looking to get a new roof, add an addition to your home, or build a new home entirely, it’s worth considering the different types of roofs and identifying which best suits your needs. It’s easy to overlook, but different types of roofs significantly alter the aesthetic of your home as well as lend themselves to different materials for construction.
Common Roof Types
Below are 7 roof types and how they fit different needs.
Gable Roof
A Gable roof is most likely what you picture when you think of the classic American home. It is made of two sides meeting at a point at the top of your home, creating a triangle. The Gable roof style accommodates many different roof angles. Depending on what you prefer, a Gable roof can be constructed with steep angles, making it tall, or shallow angles, creating a more subdued profile. A Gable roof is simple and cheap to construct and serves as a good option for people looking for a classic home design.
Clipped Gable Roof
The clipped gable roof, as the name suggests, is very similar to the gable roof. Like the gable roof, in the clipped gable both sides meet at a ridge, with the difference being that each end of the roof is ‘bent in’ to create a front and back facing plane. This style of roof is great at showcasing how quality shingles and can add to the overall look of the home.
Hip Roof
After the gable roof, the hip roof is the next most common roof type. Similar to the gable style, the hip roof meets at a ridge at the top of the home. With the hip roof, however, there are four sides meeting at the ridge. Picture a clipped gable roof, but if the bent in front facing planes were extended all the way down to the start of the roof. Hip roofs are more expensive to the construct than gable roofs, but they offer more stability due to their 4 sides. Furthermore, the four sides also facilitate better water and snow dispersion as opposed to the gable roof.
Dutch Gable Roof
The Dutch gable roof combines elements of both the gable roof and the hip roof. It is constructed with 4 sides appearing to meet at a ridge, like the hip roof, but instead these sides stop and a gable roof is placed on top. This roof style adds aesthetic appeal while also providing utility in added attic space.
Gambrel Roof
Picture a classic red barn with white trim - you likely pictured a gambrel roof. Constructed with 2 different slopes on each side, with the shallower sloped meeting at the top, the gambrel roof offers additional loft space while also providing opportunities for windows that add natural light to the home. Beyond that, the gambrel roof prominently displays the steeper slope of the roof, so shingle choice is important. If you decide on a gambrel roof, you will probably want to use nice shingles.
Butterfly Roof
A butterfly roof consists of two angles sloping inward meeting at a ridge, mimicking the look of a butterfly mid-flight. This roof is predominantly constructed with shallow slopes and allows for large windows to bring in plenty of sunlight. This style of roof best complements contemporary style architecture and easily accommodates solar panel installations. That said, this style of roof is more expensive to construct than simpler, more traditional styles, and also requires more consistent maintenance.
Shed Roof
Like the butterfly roof, the shed roof style best complements a more contemporary style. While traditionally associated with additions, some modern homes have utilized the shed roof as the predominant style. The shed roof utilizes a shallower slope and can be constructed more cheaply than other styles. The downside is that shed roofs often have less effective drainage.
----
Choosing the right style of roof is integral for any home. Haynes Construction & Restoration Inc. can help you choose and construct the right roof for your home. With the CertainTeed ShingleMaster certification, you can rest assured that your home will receive top quality roofing.
If you are looking for a roofing contractor, contact us online or by phone at (815) 932-5259. We look forward to hearing from you!
