Roof Types

Often overlooked as an important architectural feature for any structure, the style of roof types and materials you add to your home can make all the difference, both visually and structurally, and roof styles can also have a dramatic impact on property value. Whether you’re looking for new build inspiration or you’re in the market to update your existing roof, we’re looking for the best roof types that will add value to your home and help you better communicate the look of your home. While the preparation and construction of the roof is always important, the roof style and material you choose can help add a game-changing style to the exterior of your property.

To make the selection process easier for you, we hired our renovation and construction experts to weigh the best roof styles that are sure to never feel out of date. From a hipped roof to a gable roof, here are all of the essential options broken down by style, including affordable roofing ideas to consider. Keep in mind that there is a wide range of roof types when it comes to finding the right roof for your home and that not every roof style is ideal for your climate or the location of your building on your property in terms of sunlight and wind is.

As you narrow down your roof style options, keep in mind that roof shapes vary from region to region for good reason. The main factors influencing the shape of a roof are your budget, the climate, and the materials available to meet your budget. 

Skillion and Lean-To

Finished with dramatic angular lines, Skillion and Lean-to-Roof types feature side-by-side slopes that often meet in the middle. And similar to a shed or a sloping roof, there is no ridge on the roof line. This leads to walls of different heights within a structure. A Skillion roof gives the house roof a timelessly modern and bold look that leads to fascinating intersection angles and creates a defined space for angular windows in a room that normally does not receive any light.

Skillion roofs can be built quickly, cheaply and easily. Their steep slope also allows the water to drain easily, ultimately resulting in the need for less waterproof roof treatments, which are required for roof types with a lower slope. Their steeper slope is also reminiscent of a more minimal design, and the materials used to make a Skillion roof, including metal, tend to be smooth, unlike the bulkier shingles or tiles of a classic gable or hipped roof.

Open the pediment

Ask each child to quickly draw a house for you and they will most likely have a classic gable roof. Do you know why? That’s because most of us instinctively think about it when drawing the roof styles of a house.

And although the silhouette of a gable roof seems relatively simple, it is actually made up of a few different panels. Simplified gable roofs are a long, triangular prism with three essential components for this roof style. Two sides of a gable roof are inclined at an angle that resembles a pitched roof. These inclined angels meet along a central ridge that runs parallel to the length of a house. The gables themselves are the vertical, triangular section of the wall exposed between the sloping sides at each end, along with the portions of the wall that extend from the bottom of the eaves to the top of the ridge.

Box gable

Box gable roof types have a triangular extension at each end of the structure, with the roof section being tailor-made at the end. This design is similar to a standard gable roof, but emphasizes the triangular section of the roof style more.

Dormer

Dormer roof types usually have a roof structure with a window that extends vertically beyond the plane of a pitched roof. Dormer windows are also known as skylights and are used to increase the usable space in an attic area and to add additional windows along the roof level.

hip

Hip roof styles are shaped like an abbreviated pyramid and a type of roof with each side sloping downward, usually with fairly subtle roof angles. A hipped roof has no gables or other vertical sides that extend to the roof.

Hip and valley

Inspired by a classic  hipped roof  , hip and valley roof types work best when a building needs a combination of roof types and angles to simplify the architectural elements of the structure.

Gambrel

Gambrel roof types are symmetrical two-sided panels with slopes on each side. Their design takes advantage of sloping roof angles while increasing head space in the upper level of a building while reducing what would otherwise be a high roof.

Mansard

Popular across Europe for centuries, a mansard roof is a four-sided representation of a gambrel roof with two slopes on each side, the lower slope being interrupted by skylights housed at a steeper angle than the upper.

butterfly

Because its shape is reminiscent of the wings of a butterfly, a butterfly roof has a V-shape and is characterized by an inversion of a standard roof, with two roof angles sloping from opposite edges into a valley near the center.

Overlapping / overlapping hip

Overlapping roof types offer a combination of gable and hip silhouettes to round off more complex homes for a more dynamic visual effect that is larger, yet utterly classic.

Dutch gable

Dutch gable roof styles feature a small gable on top of a hipped roof for a more idyllic, pastoral feel.

Jerkin head

A doublet roof is a photo of a gable roof with the tips shortened to mimic a hipped roof. Here, truncated roof angles streamline the top of a standard gable roof to reduce possible wind damage

Just

Flat roofs are an ancient roof style and are often used in dry climates so that the roof space can be used without problems. Flat roof types are an easy to construct and inexpensive roof option that consists of a roof that, unlike the various pitched and pointed roof styles available, is almost flat.

Flat roofs have a slope of about 10 degrees, which is called the pitch. The only downside to this roof style is that there must be a proper irrigation system in place to avoid possible flooding.

Cross hipped

A cross roof is an enduringly popular variant of a hipped roof design. It remains a common type of roof and is often made in an L-shape. A cross roof has two intersecting hip sections that are perpendicular to each other.

M-shaped

M-shaped roofs with one of the most striking silhouettes among modern roof types give the impression of a bold zigzag horizon and make even the simplest and most economical buildings all the more expressive.

Saltbox

The Saltbox house roof is native to New England and is often used on a timber frame house. It is a traditional roof style with a long, sloping tip that slopes backwards. A Saltbox house often only has one floor at the back and two floors at the front due to its sloping style.

Dandruff

A shed roof that has been lifted from barn roof styles has only one sloping plane and is often not attached to any other roof surface, keeping the appearance simple yet effective.

combination

The combined roof types are perfect for all weather conditions and conditions, and offer the best possible functionality for any building.

And as the name suggests, combi roofs use two or more different roof styles as required, which creates a unique attractiveness and a striking juxtaposition of aesthetics. Be aware, however, that the greatest risk with composite roof styles is creating unwarranted valleys that can create areas for leaks, and sometimes mismatched styles just aren’t meant to be.

A frame

A classic A-frame house takes its shape from idyllic barn roof styles and has steeply angled sides that often start at or near the foundation line and meet at the top to form the shape of the letter A.

Engine Hood

A canopy roof has a double slope on all four sides, with the lower slope being less steep than the upper slope. Hooded roof styles not only close a house, they often give roofed terraces and verandas an extended upper hand.

Gable and valley

Combined roof types with gable and valley allow full use of the vaulted interior and are a classic option for houses of any size as they help maximize space. This is due to the inward slopes of a gable roof on two sides, with the other two sides having a triangular wall.

Opened

Pitched roof types slope down, usually in two parts that are angled from a central ridge or one part from one end to the other. The slope of a roof is its vertical rise divided by a steep horizontal span.

pyramid

In a variant of a hipped roof, pyramid roof types hold off all sides in the direction of the walls and, depending on the size of the building, can have three or more rectangular surfaces.

Sloping flat

Pitched flat roofs are one of the most dramatic and minimal roof types of all, and feature a flat, angled plane for a stunning effect.

When choosing roofing materials, consider the following questions.

Now that we’ve looked at the specifics of each roof style, here’s everything you need to know about roofing materials for private households, from the pros to cons.

Before you start charting your course, however, you should ask yourself the following important tips:

• What special installation does this material require?
• Are there a variety of colors and styles in this material that will complement your home?
• Does the material comply with local fire regulations in your region?
• Are there any special installation and maintenance techniques that need to be considered?
• What is the best performance of each material depending on the frequent weather conditions in your area?
• What is the cost, lifespan, and warranty for each house roofing material?

These essential answers to these questions will help you make the best choice for your home and budget. And since there are tons of roofing material options, the price of which ranges from high to low, this is where they differ.

Roofing materials to consider:

Asphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most widely used and most affordable roofing material in the United States. They are still a must-have because they are inexpensive and easy to install and manage. In addition, asphalt shingles can be reinforced with fiberglass or organic materials without changing their appearance.

Pros: Asphalt is available in a variety of colors, is easy to obtain and the cheapest roofing application of all.

Cons: Asphalt does not last as long as roofing materials, does not provide the same insulation as others, and the quality may vary.

House Styles: Asphalt shingles go well with popular modern architectural styles – great for traditional suburban homes.

Cost and Lifespan: Prices can range from $ 65 to $ 150 per square and can be as long as 20-25 years with proper maintenance

Clay and concrete tiles

Perfect for a  gable roof and often Spanish-inspired C- Lay and concrete tiles provide texture and a distant, romantic feeling. Clay tiles are extremely durable, but also very heavy. And while they’re also heavy, concrete tiles are just as versatile and far cheaper than clay options.

 Pros : Concrete tiles are energy efficient and both clay and concrete tiles are long-lasting and non-flammable investments.

Cons:  They can be expensive, heavy, and require additional framing.

House styles:  They perfectly round off Mediterranean, missionary, southwestern and Spanish-inspired houses.

Cost and Lifetime:  They can start at $ 300 to $ 500 per square and last about 40 to 50 years with proper maintenance.

Metal roof

Hip  roof  affordable  roofing 

Resistant to extreme weather conditions, there are two types of metal roofs, fitted with either metal panels or shingles. And since metal roofs are made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and zinc, you can choose from a variety of directions.

Pros: Metal roofs are slim, light, durable, recyclable and long-lasting, and last much longer than any other roofing material.

Cons: Metal roofs can be more expensive.

House styles: metal roofs round off modern and contemporary structures or stand opposite older, more picturesque facades.

Cost and Lifespan: Prices average $ 100 to $ 300 per square, with some more elaborate options ranging from $ 600 to $ 800 per square. However, the plus for the added cost is that metal roofs can last for around 40 to 75 years.

slate

Slate roof styles with an unmistakably modern elegance are available in strong black, green, gray and burgundy tones.

Pros: Slate is strong, fireproof, and can be recycled.

Cons:  It can be expensive and requires additional framing. And the quality of imported slate materials can vary.

House Styles: Slate roofs go well with Colonial, European and French style houses.

Cost and Lifespan: Prices start at $ 600 per square and can last 50 to 100 years or more.

Wood clapboard and shake

Wood shingles and shakes have been popular for hundreds of years and age with a beautiful, worn patina. Wood shake squares are handmade and look more organic than wood shingles, which are machine cut. L ook for wood shingles treated with a fire retardant coating.

Advantages: Wood shingles give a rustic feel and are a natural product.

 Cons : Check your local fire codes for possible use. Wood shingles can form, split, or rot in humid climates.

 House Styles : Both rustic style options go well with Bungalow, Cape Cod, Cottage, Craftsman and Tudor style houses.

Cost and Lifespan: Prices start at around $ 100 to $ 150 per square and last for about 25 to 30 years.

Synthetic roof 

When it comes to cheaper  roofing options,  synthetic roofing products are designed to be strong and easy to maintain, with some materials being fireproof manufacturing.

Advantages: Synthetic roofing materials are less fragile, heavy or as expensive as natural roofing products.

Cons:  They can often absorb water, creating mold, and the quality varies. 

House styles : Synthetic roofing products are suitable for almost all architectural styles.

Cost and Lifespan: Prices are around $ 300 per square and can last up to 50 years.

Solar panels

Solar panel roofs are probably one of the most talked about roof types of all and have come a long way. Sun shingles and panels are derived from solar radiation and are extremely environmentally friendly as they are an efficient source of clean energy.

Images via Pinterest