8 Common Roof Types and Styles
Whether you’re getting a new roof or planning a home addition that needs more roof space, you should be aware of some of the most prevalent roof designs and how they affect your choice of roofing materials.
Roof Designs, Shapes & Styles
Depending on the construction of a house, the roof may make up to 40% of the exterior, frequently playing a significant part in its overall appearance and curb appeal. If and when you decide to replace your roof, choose roofing materials and shingle colors that suit the form and slope of your roof and the external architecture of your house.
Knowing the possible performance and design effects of various roof shapes and slopes may assist you in determining which shingles and roofing materials are ideal for your house in terms of performance and aesthetics.
Pro Tip: Wayne, NJ Roofing shingles are compatible with practically all roof designs as long as the roof slope fulfills the minimal standards indicated. Wayne, NJ Roofing provides a variety of roofing shingles in a broad spectrum of colors that suit any roof design and house exterior and are durable to help protect your property from the elements. With our Design EyeQ® Visualizer, you can “try on” various roofing shingles and colors to determine which products and colors work best for your house and roof type.
Roof Slope
The slope of your roof serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. Water from rain or snow, for example, sheds or runs off more quickly over a steeply sloped roof. The roof’s slope is a ratio depending on the top proportions.
Roofers may use the expression 6 in 12 or a reduced variant such as 6:12 or 6/12. This indicates that the ceiling rises 6 inches vertically for every 12 inches horizontally (or 1 foot). This is readily adaptable to any number. A 4 in 12 sloped roofs will rise four inches vertically and 12 inches horizontally.
Your home’s roof slope may assist in creating a unique appearance, from flat pitches to severe inclines.
While selecting roofing materials, bear in mind that the steeper the slope, the more transparent the surface of your roof is from the ground, possibly having an even bigger influence on the outside architectural aesthetics of your house.
Most homeowners will be able to delegate these calculations to their roofing contractor. It’s crucial to note that the International Residential Code specifies minimum slope standards for all roof coverings, including asphalt roofing shingles. Your roofing contractor can advise you on the best option for your slope.
While certain roof designs are usually constructed with a specific slope, this is not an absolute rule.
8 Common Roof Types
Gable Roof
Consider your first crayon sketch of a house. You probably sketched a gable roof. It’s a triangle, with the base on top of the house and the two sides rising to meet the ridge. Slopes on gable roofs may range from steep chalet-style structures to rooftops with a mild inclination.
The gable is a common roof form that looks well in various house styles. You may dress it up with front gables over your entryways or choose a crossing gable style with two ridges at right angles.
Clipped Gable Roof
The clipped gable roof is also known as the bullnose roof. Clipped gable roofs have the primary form of a gable, with two sides rising to meet a ridge, but they also borrow an element from hip roofs: the top peaks are “bent in,” generating little hips at the roof ridge ends.
These hips provide an intriguing architectural aspect to houses while highlighting high-performance, designer shingles.
Dutch Gable Roof
The Dutch gable roof is another hybrid roof that incorporates architectural characteristics from the gable and hip roofs. A little gable roof, or “gablet,” sits above a typical hip roof.
The gable part increases attic space and may even be outfitted with windows for additional sunshine.
Gambrel Roof
Imagine a traditional red barn with white trim, and you’ve just imagined a gambrel roof. Each of its two sides has two steep and mild slopes. Depending on the design, the top level may be used as an attic room or a loft. Installing windows to the gambrel roof’s sides may bring in natural light and expand the utilization of the top story.
Since the steep parts of gabled roofs are quite apparent, homeowners should carefully examine their roofing shingles’ look.
Hip Roof
A typical hip roof comprises four equal-length slopes that combine to produce a simple ridge. There are also variants, such as the half-hip, which has two shorter sides with eaves.
If you have a hip roof, you may have noticed that most of the roof is visible while gazing at your home. Since a hip roof is so prominent, the kind and color of roofing shingles you place on it will contribute significantly to the overall appearance of your house.
Mansard Roof
The Louvre Museum in Paris is an exceptional example of a mansard roof derived from French architecture. The lowest slopes of this four-sided design with double slopes are pretty steep and may be flat or curved.
The mansard roof originated in France but rapidly gained popularity in the United States. With an abundance of internal attic space and various windows, the form allows homeowners to use the top story entirely, and it looks adorable when dormers are added.
Pro Tip: Using architectural shingles in a slate-like form, such as Wayne, NJ, Roofing shingles, may enhance the old-world feel of this roof design even more.
Shed Roof
If you prefer contemporary house designs, you’ll like a shed roof. This “lean-to” design looks like half of a typical roof. The shed roof has long been utilized for porches and expansions, but it now adorns the whole building in ultra-modern homes. Most shed roofs have lower slopes, with 4 in 12 or less being the most frequent. However, higher slopes can accelerate water flow.
Houses with shed roofs are often unique buildings representing the owners’ tastes and personalities. Shed roofs provide some unique window arrangement options, ranging from tiny rows of glass panes right under the roof to enormous picture windows across the front of the house.
Flat Roof (Low Slope Roof)
When most people think of flat roofs, they think of strip malls and industrial buildings. Yet, many mid-century modern architects experimented with flat rooflines between 1945 and 1970, building dream houses for movie stars and affluent businesspeople. Flat roofs suited the aesthetic of the time, blending well with the surroundings and allowing for great open floor designs. Some houses have a little flat surface area, with the remainder of the roof being gable or hip. A flat roof may also be used in specific house extensions to create additional second-story living space.
Keep in mind that level does not always imply flat; there should be some inclination to allow for water drainage.
Pro Tip: Flat (low-slope) roofs are susceptible to leaks. Thus they must be wholly waterproofed and coated with an appropriate material, such as a self-adhered, multi-ply, SBS-modified bitumen system, a PVC, TPO, or rubber membrane.
How to Choose Roofing Shingles for Your Type of Roof Style?
We’ve broken down typical roof forms with a range of sub-types that may be combined in combination designs. It is up to you to choose the best shingle choice.
- Drive around areas, look at homes online, and read publications to pick a roof design and color that matches your ideal home.
- Assess your surroundings. Depending on your personality and external design objectives, you’ll have the option of blending in or standing out.
- Also, construction rules or HOA limitations may limit your alternatives, so do your homework before embarking on any project.
After you’ve decided on a style, contact a competent, independent roofing contractor in the Wayne, NJ, Roofing Contractor Network near you. They can assist you in selecting the perfect shingles for your roof design and give you an estimate and roof financing options.
