Roofing Styles to Choose From For Your Home

A lot of people don’t consider themselves roof specialists and take their roofs for granted, not realizing that almost 3% of the total construction cost of a house is the roof.

The process of building a roof that suits your taste will require considering the design — how it should function, the style, needed accessories, and most importantly, the cost. That said, it is vital to consider roof styles that would work for your home. In case you need to have a roof repair, here are some of the roof styles and their advantages and disadvantages for your reference:

Flat Roof

Almost all flat roofs are not entirely flat, but they have very minimal slope to allow rainwater to flow. Flat roofs are mostly found in modern architectural design for homes or commercial buildings.

The problem that most flat roofs encounter is the pooling of rainwater that creates a puddle of water, which becomes a habitat for mosquitoes, mold, and bacteria. Installers must apply proper adhesives and waterproofing materials and follow the slope of the design correctly.

Gable Roof

A gable roof is a triangular roof with two pitched sides that meet in the middle. It is a straightforward roof that is found in many homes throughout the world. This is one of the most common roof designs, and it doesn’t look like it will be going out of style any time soon.

One of the common problems with this style of roofing is the incorporation of eaves, which, when not properly installed, may peel off from the side of the house due to strong winds. This roof style exposes two ends of the house to direct sunlight, making this a disadvantage for the home.

Hipped Roof

A hipped roof encloses all sides of a house with downward slopes towards the walls. It has four sides with two trapezoids and two triangular shapes. The disadvantage of hipped roofs is the difficulty in matching different materials between its ends and sides. The degree of any roof repair would be not too difficult because of its simplicity.

Dormer

A dormer is not the main roof structure but an addition to an existing roofing design. It is a type of window and a roof (hipped, flat, or gabled) that sticks out from the existing roof. For some dormers are added for aesthetics, but others consider it as a function for a structure. It provides another usable space in the roof of a structure giving more natural light and ventilation.

Some people may consider dormers as an added cost that brings more problems with dealing leaks.

Shed Roof

A shed roof is a roofing style that features no adjoining slopes, and it has a pitch in only one direction. This style eliminates unwanted wasted space and has a functional and aesthetic interior space. It also gives natural light and ventilation into the structure. Roof repairs for this type of style are easy.

Lean-To

Lean-to is very much like a shed roof, but its single slope slants into the side of the structure. Most carport roof designs are lean-tos, and they are also commonly found in sunrooms or home offices. It also uses inexpensive materials, which gives homeowners an advantage with this style.

Mansard Roof

The French mansard roof style has two slopes on each side. The bottom part of this style is a lot steeper, then the slope of the roof starts from its pitch, which makes more space inside the structure and creates more drama.

The top part of the slope of the roof has an angle that adjoins a flat or low slope roof. Unfortunately, the mansard requires very sturdy roof framing, which adds up to a very costly construction and a severe difficulty of roof repair.

Choosing Your Roof Style

Your home’s roof is your first protection against the snow, rain, sun, and wind. It also provides the proper insulation and ventilation of the house. There are many things to consider when constructing your roof. It would be better to consult professionals on which style to build with regards to the location of your structure. Be sure also to consider future roof repair needs and how to avoid any difficulties.