A Look at the Different Types of Residential Roofs

One of the most important aspects of building a home is the roof. A roof protects us from harsh weather, and it provides extra comfort in the house. Due to improved technology, the market is full of different types of roofs that cater tastes and preferences of every customer. Some of the materials used to build roofs are shingles, asphalt, copper, steel, and wood. For different climate conditions, the roofs are designed in a way that they can withstand heat or cold. This has led to different types of residential roofs being produced for different climates.

Mansard Roof

A mansard roof, also called a French roof or curb roof, can either be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The symmetrical type has four sides that are equal in length, while the other is uneven and has different lengths of sides. A mansard roof is commonly seen on hip roofs where the two slopes are connected to form an almost flat surface with a slight pitch. These roofs are best fit for hilly regions where snow would accumulate, or rainwater would drain off easily.

Hipped Roof

A hipped roof is a popular choice for roofs because it ensures that water does not accumulate in one place and provides excellent ventilation. If you look at the roofs of most modern homes, chances are that they would be hipped roofs. Houses with hipped roofs don’t require specialized places like eaves for draining rainwater because they naturally do so through its four slopes.

Gambrel Roof

A gambrel roof is similar to a hipped roof, but it has two slopes on each side instead of four. This type of roof is identical to a hipped roof but differs in style. It’s mostly used on barns and garages because it provides more headroom for large equipment. It can also be used on homes if you’re looking for a unique design.

Gable Roof

The simplest form of roofs seen on different types of buildings is gable roofs. They have two sloping sides that meet to form a ridge and look like an ‘A’ from the front view. The simple design is meant for houses in flat areas because it helps in easy drainage of water when it rains or snows. Materials like wood, steel, and asphalt are used to build this type of roof.

Flat Roof

A flat roof is one of the most used roofs in residential buildings. Partly because building owners are interested in being economical, this type of roof has become very popular. They have a simple design and use materials like asphalt or built-up roofing to provide waterproof cover. Flat roofs are not good for regions with consistent rainfall or snowfall because they cannot naturally drain water. Instead, these roofs have to be drained manually through drains and gutters.

Butterfly Roof

A butterfly roof is another type of modern roof design that’s becoming popular in modern homes because of its simple design. It’s mostly used in houses built on flat terrain, but its design makes it flexible to be used on all types of terrain. The structure is designed to ensure good ventilation while still providing waterproof cover.

Dome Roof

Lastly, dome roofs are another modern roofing choice for homeowners because of its unique design. The design is meant to ensure that there are no problems with drainage when it rains or snows. It’s commonly used in tropical regions where the temperature hardly falls below zero degrees. Materials like concrete and metal are used to build this type of roof because it’s designed to have a long functional life.