Roofs do not only protect occupants of buildings from harsh weather conditions but they also compliment the house designs and increase the aesthetic appeal of the house or type of building.
When choosing a roof for your home or building, the essential consideration should be more than just the design and materials used. Factors such as the roof strength, energy efficiency, and sustainability should be considered before choosing the roof type of your choice.
There are various designs and roof types that exist to choose from.
- Gable Roof:
The Gable Roof is known for its unique triangular shape. It is one of the most popular roofs used for many building designs and it is being adapted in a multitude of homes. The gable roof is easy to build and it facilitates home ventilation.
This roof type is known for its ability to shed snow and water quickly. The unique and simple design also makes it more affordable to install. Regardless of the flexibility of this roof type, the gable roof requires proper frame construction to avoid collapsing. This roof type can be made from various materials, including tiles, metallic shingles, asphalt, or shakes.
- Mansard Roof
Mansard roofs usually have four sides with two slopes on each side. The sides may be curvy or flat, which compliments the whole design to create more living space.
The upper slope of the mansard roof may not be visible from street level when viewed from close proximity to the building.
The mansard roof style makes maximum use of the interior space and allows for homeowners to add additional buildings to an existing space when need be. This roof type can be made from wood or metal shingles.
- Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are not actually flat. They actually have a slight slope of at least ¼ inch per foot that makes them appear flat. This roof type are more convenient for commercial buildings, but they can also be installed in residential properties. Flat roofs require fewer roofing materials that make the roof cheaper to construct and maintain.
- Hip Roofs
The Hip Roof has four sides with a slope on every side but has no gables or other vertical sides to the roof.
The hip roof comes in various designs, which includes the simple hip type, cross hipped, the note type, and half-hipped.
This type of roof does not leave much room for ventilation but their design makes them suitable for snowy areas as snow can slide down easily.
This roof type can be made from clay tiles, metal, and shingles.