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17 Common Roof Types
The pinnacle of home construction is the roof. Without a doubt, the roof is one of the most important parts of your home; if the roof is damaged or poorly constructed, it wont take the big bad wolf long to blow your home down. And the first step to ensuring a strong roof is knowing what kind of roof is over your head. Here we have compiled a list of some of the most common roof types seen in neighborhoods throughout the country.
1. A-Frame Roof
An A-Frame Roof features steeply-angled sides that usually begin very near or at the foundation of the house, and meet at the top in the shape of the letter A, earning its name. Although the triangle shape of the A-frame has been around for a long time, it was most popular post World War II through the 70's
2. Bonnet Roof
Bonnet Roofs are essentially a Mansard Roof in reverse. Also known as kicked eaves, a bonnet roof has four sides with a steep upper slope, and a more gentle lower slope, providing cover around the edges of the house for a porch.
3. Curved Roof
A curved roof is a roof that slopes in a curve without coming to a peak or angle. The style is perfect for homeowners that want to really stand out from the crowd. Curved roofs look great on stables, homes, cottages and even garages
4. Dormer Roof
A dormer is a roofed structure, often containing a window, that projects vertically beyond the plane of a pitched roof. It is generally added to a roof to create more attic space or when remodeling to finish out a livable space.
5. Dutch Gable Roof
A roof by any other name will keep you just as dry, which is good, seeing as the Dutch Gable roof will have a different name depending on what country you live in. And, is some cases, the term Dutch Gable is used to describe an entirely different roof. But here and now, a Dutch Gabel is considered a Hip Roof that is topped by a small gable.
6. Flat Roof
A Flat Roof is exactly as advertised, simply a roof which has no, or practically no, slope to speak of. Usually found atop enclosed porches, they tend to be covered in felt, metal, or other material which is impermeable to water.
7. Gable Roof
Close your eyes and think of a roof. Got it? Chances are, the roof you pictured is a Gable Roof. A Gable Roof is roof with two equally sloping sides and a gable at each end, forming a triangle. And it has become the archetype of what a roof is. If you don't believe us, take a walk through your neighborhood and see how many houses you can find that don't have at least one gable.
8. Gable And Valley Roof
An exciting variation of a Gable Roof, the Gable and Valley is a roof where there exists different Gables at different angels and is therefore more common in larger houses or ones that have had recent additions or attic expansions.
9. Gambrel Roof
The classic barn style roof, a Gambrel roof has two sides, each with two different slopes, a shallower slope above a steeper one. The Gambrel Roof is perfect for that rustic charm feel, or for the spatially needy homeowner, as it allows for maximum potential in the attic spaces.
10. Hip Roof
The Hip Roof is so hip, it is one of the most common roof types today. The Hip Roof is characterized by its lack of Gable, as all of its sides gently slope together to form a ridge. While this style lacks the added attic footprint provided by other roof styles, it can increase the lifespan of the roof. It provides more structure and sturdiness thanks the slope of all four sides. Hip roofs are excellent for both high wind and snowy areas as the slant of the roof allows snow to easily slide off with no standing water.
11. Hip and Valley Roof
Much like the Gable and Valley Roof, the Hip and Valley Roof features several hip roof peaks intersecting on the home with valleys between, so water and debris are more reliable directed away from your house and all it protects.
12. Hip and Gable Roof
There are so many conflicting pros and cons to Hip vs Gable Roof styles that it makes it difficult to decide which works best for you. Luckily, you don't have to make that decision and can instead have the best of both worlds with a Hip and Gable roof. With intersecting peaks, you can have impressive Gables and sturdy Hips with storage space to spare.
13. Jerkinhead Roof
Called a "really cool roof" by our very own GeekSuite Operations Manager, the Jerkinhead Roof really is one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it styles, but once you do notice it, you may also be compelled to say "That's a really cool roof." The Jerkinhead is essentially a Gable roof whose peak becomes a Hip, offering some of the protection that a Hip Roof provides.
14. Mansard Roof
The opposite of the aforementioned Bonnet Roof, the Mansard Roof also contains two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides. However, this time, the lower plane has a much steeper pitch than the upper, in some cases nearly approaching vertical.
15. Saltbox Roof
A Saltbox roof is a Gable roof with asymmetrical planes, one long and one short side. Despite its lilted look, or more accurately because of it, the Saltbox roof is much sturdier than a traditional Gable Roof while also being easier to maintain.
16. Shed Roof
Don't be fooled, a Shed Roof isn't just for sheds any more. In fact, it's single sloping plane is perfect for coupling with other roof styles on the same house, such as the Saltbox Roof.
17. Skillion Roof
If one Shed Roof just wont do, there is always the Skillion Roof. Two Shed Roofs of different heights butt up against one another to create this modern roof style, sure to stand out beautifully.
You made it to the end, which means you can now name 17 of the most common roof types that can be seen in neighborhoods across the country, each with their own pros and cons, but all that need care and maintenance to make sure they are keeping your home standing. Contemporary roofing needs to be replaced once every ten years, even with out a major event causing damage. If it's time and your home needs an updated roof, call GeekSuite Exteriors today to get started on your home transformation.