As a property owner, you may not be that keen on your roof until it’s due for repair or replacement services. Notwithstanding, your roofing style or type can significantly affect not only the visual appeal of your home but also its overall value. Moreover, the roofing type you choose for your residence can help with energy efficiency, additional storage space(attics), and weatherproofing.
Therefore, you should find out about the most common roofing style in your location, research them, and understand their merits and demerits to determine what is ideal for you. What’s more, you can engage a reliable roof insulation contractor to help you throughout the process. But first, here’s some roofing 101 to get you started.
- Gable Roofing
Do you remember the first house you sketched using color? It probably had gable roofing; they are usually triangular, with a base above the building and opposing planes sloping to join the ridgeline. Gable roof slopes range from mildly inclining designs to steep chalet styles.
Gables are a popular roofing style that looks well across different house designs. Homeowners can accessorize gables by adding them above the entrances or choosing a crossing gable layout with two ridges positioned at right angles.
- Clipped Gable Roofing
Clipped gable roofing or bullnose gables have the basic design of gables. The opposite sides not only rise to join at a ridge point, but they also incorporate a feature from hip roofing style, that is, their upper summits stay inwardly curved to generate little hips at their roofing ridge edges. The hip element adds an intriguing structural aspect to houses while highlighting top-tier, stylish shingles.
- Hip Roofing
Conventional hip roof setups have four slopes of equal length that connect to create a plain ridge. Note that the designs vary. For instance, the half-hip has shorter overhanging sides. Most parts of a hip roof are usually apparent, even from a distance. Since hip roofs are so prominent, consider going with the right colors and appropriate roof shingles, as they will significantly contribute to the general appearance of your residence.
- Dutch Gable Roofing
Dutch gable rooftops are another type of hybrid roofing that incorporates the architectural characteristics of gable roofs and hip rooftops. A little gable rooftop(gablet) also sits o top of the conventional hip roof. The gable section gives property owners an additional room for an attic. You can also outfit it with skylights or other appropriate window treatments to enjoy the sunlight.
- The Gambrel Roof
Try picturing a traditional red farmhouse having white stripes at the edges, and you have yourself the imagination of a house with a gambrel roof. It has two slopes on either side, one is moderately slanted, and the other is steep. Additionally, you can use its topmost level as a loft or attic space. It all depends on its style. Installing window frames on the slopes of your gambrel roofing allows in ambient daylight, further expanding the utility of the top floor. The steep slopes of a gambrel roofing system are usually conspicuous. Thus, householders should ensure their shingles are in good shape.
- The Mansard Roofing
The famous Louvre Museum in Paris perfectly illustrates a mansard rooftop. These are classic designs in French architecture. The lowest portions of these four-sided rooftop designs with a pair of slopes are pretty steep. You can also have them in curved or flat designs.
While the Mansard roofing style had its origins in France, it soon became popular across the United States. Homeowners can install dormers on Mansard roofing, thanks to the extensive internal attic room and several window treatment options.
- Low Slope Roof/ Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are not limited to shopping complexes or industrial establishments; architects began testing their designs on residential property between 1945 and 1970. They constructed dream homes for actors and wealthy business people during that period. Back then, flat roofing was ideal within that historical timeline and blended with the surroundings, allowing for open living spaces.
Some houses have small flat top areas while the remaining roofs are hip or gable. Besides, particular home additions implement flat roofs to offer supplementary second-floor living areas. Remember that flat doesn’t immediately imply flat. Slight inclinations are necessary for water drainage.
- Shed Roofing
Most contemporary home roofing styles implement shed roofs. Their lean-to architecture is similar to a conventional roof that is in half. Shed roofing is suitable for patios, porches, or other extensions. However, modern homes today grace their entire setup. A majority of shed rooftops feature lower slopes, at least four out of every twelve or less being the most popular, while steeper slopes can accelerate water when it’s raining.
Shed roofing in homes can represent the property owners’ style. Better yet, they can provide unique window treatment alternatives, for instance, tiny glass panes row directly under the roofing and extensive picture window treatments on your home’s front.
