When it comes to roofing, there’s more than one way to protect your home. Depending on what are your functional needs and aesthetics want. It all comes down to your own preferences.
Here we discuss five different roof types and the benefits of each.
1 – The Gable Roof
Although not as common in modern roof designs, gable roofs were once remarkably popular. This roof type has two slopes coming down from the peak of the roof with triangular ends on top. There is an advantage to using this design that looks aesthetically pleasing. It creates an impression of space and volume especially if you use interesting materials such as stone or brickwork for detailing. However, single pitches can be quite harsh and don’t help with rainwater runoff at all so most homes today prefer double-sloped roofs instead which also give better insulation and durability.
2 – The Hip Roof
A hip roof is another classic roof style that has flat roof panels laid at right angles to the roof peak. However, the roof only covers part of the home meaning it’s not ideal in places where snowfall tends to be heavy. Using skillion roof panels helps with rainwater runoff and gives better protection against snow and ice in general because you can lay de-icing eave drip edges along the bottom of each roof panel. Sloping walls for each skillion roof section also help with insulation because warm air rises. But this design doesn’t give much room for additional windows or lighting which might make your house feel closed off from the outside world instead of an open plan space like with a gable roof.
3 – The Tavern Roof
A third roof design you’ll often see is the French roof or Tavern roof (also called Mansard roof) which looks like two roofs with one on top of another at an angle. This makes use of every inch of space and offers more headroom for rooms that are up against the roof which can include places such as lofts, attics, garages, or storage areas. There’s also extra insulation between angled roof sections which can increase your home’s energy performance. A downside is that this look might not be the most aesthetically pleasing if poorly done so it should always be carefully considered.
4 – The Flat Roof
This roof type is only appropriate in certain situations because it offers little protection against weather elements other than rainwater. But it can be a good roof choice for lofts, garages, storage areas, and even rooms where you want to maximize available space. The roof can also give your home an urban look which is very popular with city homes today.
5 – The Hip-Gable Roof
A hybrid between the hip roof and gable roof styles offers more privacy, better insulation, and easier roof maintenance overall. This roof design looks like two hips that are joined at the middle making them look like they’re hugging each other. It’s useful if you have angled eaves or gutters because this design allows for better drainage of rainwater runoff without encouraging leaks inside the home itself because of its high durability compared to other roof types.
The roof you choose can make or break your house in terms of its look, functionality, and insulation capabilities. You should contact a roofing specialist so that they can assist you to make the right decision about your investment in a new roof. Also, it’s important to consider all the options before deciding on one roof type or style.
