Imagine building a house without a roof. Would it still be useful? Would you even consider calling it a house even though it did not protect you from the elements?
When maintaining a house, homeowners tend to forget and overlook the roof. Most of the time, the roof is not given that much attention since its only purpose is to shield away external forces. However, there are many roof types and different roof shapes that cater to specific purposes, pros, and cons. Knowing these helps you in deciding what kind of roof is appropriate for you depending on the location of your home, external factors, and durability.
(Click here to read about 7 Simple Ways to Maintain a Healthy Roof)
What is a roof?
A roof serves as the covering of the top of a building whether that building is residential or commercial. It protects the people inside from rain, snow, wind, sunlight, and extremes of temperature. Roofs have been constructed in a variety of forms, either pitched, a classic flat, vaulted, domed, and sometimes combinations of two types. Roof types are sometime dictated by technical, economical, and aesthetic considerations or reasons.
Throughout the course of history, various roof types and roof shapes have existed. The different roof shapes, designs, and styles existing right now have been created to accommodate the needs of the structure they are covering. Here are some examples of roof types and a brief example of each.
- Gable Roof
This kind of roof style is one of the simpler types when it comes to roofs. The gable roof style resembles an inverted or upside down V. Gable roofs are not suitable for areas with high wind because they can easily catch the wind like a sail.
- Hip Roof
Hip roofs are a common residential choice for roofs. A hip roof has slopes on all four sides coming all together at the top to form a ridge. They are more durable than a gable roof but more expensive to build.
- Flat Roof
These are common in commercial buildings. Flat roofs are easy to build because they little to no pitch. They are not advisable for areas with high rainfall since there is not enough pitch on the roof for water drainage.
- Gambrel Roof
Also called as a barn roof, a gambrel styled roof is mostly used in barns. This type of roof provides a great amount of space in the attic which can be turned into bedrooms and other living areas.
Other types of roofs include the following;
- Curved Roof
- Pyramid Roof
- Dome Roof
- Combination
- Dutch Hip Roof
- Shed Roof
- Butterfly Roof
- Winged Gable Roof
- Mansard Roof
- A-Frame Roof
- Folded Plate Roof