Roof styles

Origins- Bischoff 2012

Parts of a roof (gable roof shown)

Rafter layout (gable roof shown) Common

rafters are used in most roof applications

Each roof style is going to have different rafter layouts

Rafter layout Cutting individual rafters requires you know a

few different dimensions Rise and run (pitch)

Gable Roof Most popular style Two roof surfaces that are the same size and

pitch Forms a triangle at the end of the building

Front Gable Side gable Cross gable

Gable Roof

Hip Roof Another very common style No vertical sides on roof sections Good for homes in high winds or hurricane

areas Less internal attic space

Hip roof Pyramid hip roof Cross hipped roof

Hip Roof

Mansard Roof Popularized by French architect Francois

Mansart in 1600’s Roof has two different slopes on each side Lots of extra attic space Popular in the USA in the 1800’s Victorian

style houses

Gambrel Roof (Barn Roof) Similar to Mansard with two angles on each

side Symmetrical on front and back sides

Saltbox Roof Similar to a Gable roof, but not symmetrical Originated as a way to add space but save on

materials

Flat Roof Not actually flat, but a very low slope

(sometimes only ¼” on 12” pitch) to drain water away

More economical to build- uses less material Not recommended for areas that receive lots

of rain or snow

Shed Roof Usually a single roof section that slopes the

entire length of the building Sometimes called a “lean-to” Often used as a home addition or for porches

Dutch Gable Roof A mixture between a hip roof and a gable roof Adds architectural interest Can also add attic space

Half Hip Roof Starts out as a gable roof, but the top of the

gable is clipped and made into a hip Sometimes called “Clipped Gable”, “Jerkin

Head” or “Dutch Hip” roof

Turret Roof Necessitated from a round or octagonal

building structure

Geodesic Dome A sphere or half sphere formed out of

triangles Popularized after R. Buckminster Fuller

developed the mathematics to understand the structure in 1954