The Main Types of Roofs to Consider

Roofs are essential elements when building or adding onto a home or adding on. From aesthetic considerations to protecting from rain, snow, sunlight and wind. Understand all of the types available so you can find one best suited to your new space.

Gable Roof

Gable roofs are one of the most prevalent styles of roofing systems in our region. Not to be confused with gambrel roofs. Easy to design and install, gable roofs create generous attic space that homeowners can utilize as additional living rooms or bedrooms. However, they may not be suitable in areas that experience high winds as their construction may put your gable roof at risk of collapse in high storm conditions.

Gable roofs typically consist of two planes which meet at a ridge in the center, creating two roof planes which meet at an eave ridge at either an angle. Gables can either be steep or shallow slopes and are highly effective at shedding precipitation while remaining attractive and affordable to build. Many homeowners choose to combine gable, hip, and valley roofs into their designs for added visual interest on their homes’ exteriors.

Hip Roof

Hip roofs are more robust than gable designs due to their inward-sloping all sides. Their design gives greater stability and resilience against extreme weather conditions, making them popular choices in regions that often experience violent storms.

These roofs also provide great drainage, as all four sides slope downward for gutter installation. Furthermore, they work perfectly with dormers, crow’s nests, or any other add-ons that offer additional living space.

Variations of this roof style include a simple hip, which consists of triangle and polygon shapes on two sides that come together at the top to form a simple ridge; cross-hipped roofs, which can be found on homes with separate wings where both roofs meet in an area known as a valley; and pyramid hips, which resemble pyramids on top and feature only one peak.

Cross-Hipped Roof

Cross-hipped roofs feature shorter eaves than typical hip or gable roofs, creating an unique aesthetic in the home and making guttering and drainage more efficient. They provide additional aesthetic choices while being more conducive for gutter maintenance and drainage systems.

The basic hip roof has slopes on all four sides that meet to form a ridge, making this design one of the more common options available today. Due to its ease of construction and unique aesthetic, hip roofs often add significant value to homes they adorn.

Other variations of hips include the regular hip, which consists of two polygon sides and one triangle side joined together; pyramid hip, which features one peak; cross-gable hip (two lines of gable roof intersect at an angle); and cross-gable hip, which can be found in homes that need their own section of gable roof).

Slate Roof

A slate roof brings beauty and durability to any home, as well as being fireproof and offering an array of textures and unfading colors that make for an attractive finish.

Slate is a metamorphic rock formed from mudstone by natural processes and pressure over time. It can be split or cut to different thicknesses for use in roofing or other construction purposes.

Hiring a roofer that specializes in installing slate shingles is crucial, and they should come equipped with special tools that guarantee an ideal installation process.

At least annually, it’s crucial that you perform an inspection on your slate roof in order to detect small cracks or missing tiles that could lead to water or ice damage in the future. This inspection can help identify small leaks that might otherwise go undetected and cost money later on.

Clay Tiles

Clay tiles are an increasingly popular choice among homeowners due to their distinctive look and charm. Plus, there’s no denying their versatility; clay tiles come in an assortment of designs to complement the architectural style of any home.

Long lasting (100 to 150 years), these environmentally friendly materials boast long lifespans spanning 100 to 150 years and don’t produce harmful emissions during production or installation. By acting as natural thermal mass to lower energy bills and relying less on heating/cooling systems for heating/cooling needs.

Clay tile roofs require regular inspection by an experienced roofing contractor in order to remain safe. Clay tiles can be vulnerable to high winds and damage when walked on or hit by large objects; regular examination by professionals should ensure their integrity and security.