If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about roof styles too often.
After all, a roof is a roof—it keeps the elements out, and the people in, and that’s the most important part. But there’s much more to a home roof than that. Roof types come in many different shapes and styles, and depending on where you live and what type of home you have, the kind of roof can make a big difference.
So whether you’re looking for a new home, or seeking a roof replacement, you should first check out some of the most attractive and popular roofing styles. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the most common roof styles to help you out.
1. Hip Roof
The hip roof is a highly stable design, which makes it perfect for residential areas in parts of the country prone to experience high, damaging winds. Plus, it’s one of the best roof styles for regions that receive excessive amounts of snow.
The hip roof design features slanted sides at a relatively high pitch, which is why it’s resistant to winds and allows snowfall to slide right off the roof without accumulating. Hip roofs are popular, but they’re also more expensive than other roof types, like gable roofs, which is why maintaining these roofs is critical.
2. Gable Roof
The gable roof is undoubtedly one of the most common and popular roof styles in the country.
It’s also one of the most recognizable, with its famous triangular shape. Aside from the classic aesthetics of the gable roof, it’s popular for its practicality, since it deflects rain and snow, and provides for well-ventilated interior and attic spaces.
Whether you need a new roof or a roof replacement, the classic gable roof is always an excellent choice.
3. Gambrel Roof
The gambrel roof should be familiar to anyone who lives in or has ever visited New England, where this classic design always signals the historic charm of old Colonial America.
The gambrel features a double-slope design on both sides, with the top slope at a gentler pitch than the lower. The advantage to this design is that it allows for a roomy interior, whether that be for an attic or even extra space for a loft or another room.
4. Mansard Roof
The mansard roof is also known as a French roof, and it is without doubt one of the flashier roof styles. For an example, you need look no further than the roof of the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, a classic of French architecture.
The mansard is much like the gambrel roof, with a double-slope design—but, in the case of the mansard, this is on all four sides of the roof. Again, much like the gambrel, the mansard allows for a capacious interior space for an attic or garret. And the mansard looks even more handsome with the simple addition of a few dormers.
5. Shed Roof
Finally, we’ll take a look at a less classic design for a home roof.
The shed roof is perfect for those whose aesthetic tastes incline more to the modern. It’s clean-looking and simple, with a “lean-to” design that looks like one half of the typical gable roof style.
The slope of these roofs is usually at a gentler pitch, though that can be changed to suit the region for greater shedding of water or snowfall. Either way, if you enjoy the clean lines of modern architecture, the shed roof might be an excellent choice for a new roof.
Get to Know the Different Roof Styles
There’s a great variety of roof styles out there, and we’ve only chosen to look at some of the most common roof types and designs.
Your choice of a roof style will depend on your unique tastes and the kind of home you have. Fortunately, there’s no dearth of different types and kinds of roof to choose from.
We hope you found this article helpful. While you’re here, please check out our site for more tips and advice on home improvement and more.