Building A Home? What To Know About Various Roof Shapes
One aspect of building your own home will be selecting the type of roof it has. With there being so many styles and materials available to you, it can easily feel overwhelming to make this decision. Here is some information on three roof shapes, so that you can make a more informed decision.
Gable Roof
Gable roofs are a very popular choice for a new home, which is mainly due to the aesthetics of the roof. It uses a pitch with two sloped sides that meet at the top, while the other sides are vertical and flat.
This roof shape is ideal for wet climates because the slope makes it easier for the roof to shed rain and snow. When used in new construction, it can also be very affordable compared to the other roofing options available to you.
Your roofing contractor may not advise getting a gable roof if the area is prone to hurricanes. Those strong winds can catch underneath the roofing material that extends over the flat side, and possibly rip the shingles off your home. For homes in these hurricane-prone areas, it helps to have a roof that has slopes on all four sides.
Mansard Roof
A mansard roof is also known as a French roof. What makes it unique is each side of the roof has two slopes at different degrees. The bottom slope is very steep, with it being close to being vertical. This gives more room on the second floor, which would otherwise lose a lot of square footage if there was a low slope.
This shape is ideal for homes with a rectangular shape rather than square, and it has an elegant look to it. However, the low slope on the top performs poorly at shedding snow. This makes a mansard roof better for a home located in a dry part of the country.
Flat Roof
A flat roof won't be totally flat, but close enough to it where water still rolls off its surface. While it is a common roof style used for a business, it can be useful in residential houses.
If you're short on land to build your home, a flat roof can house your utilities that would normally be placed outside the home, such as the air conditioner. While these roofs are prone to leaks, they are also easier to repair because of how easy it is to walk on the surface.
To learn more, talk to local commercial roofers near you today.
