When building a house, you have to think about the different types of roofs that can fit your home. There are several types of roofs for houses, with each serving a particular purpose. Some roof types are best suited for specific homes and weather conditions.
This guide explores the different types of roofs on houses, including bonnet roofs, A-frame roofs, butterfly roofs, and gable roofs, among many others. You’ll learn about all their features and how each can affect your home’s aesthetic, value, and functionality.
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Different Types of Roofs for Houses: Features to Watch Out For
Before you design your home’s roof, consider evaluating the various types of roofs for houses available to find an option that fits your home best. Here are the roof options to consider.
- A-Frame Roof
This roof is steep and has a pointed top, extending close to or all the way to the ground. It makes up much of the walls of a house, making it easy to identify. Building a home with this roof design is less costly as the roof serves as a roof and walls.
- Bonnet Roof
A bonnet roof has an extending ledge at the base, while the other parts can be of many designs like gable, hipped, or gambrel. The steep upper slopes and more gentle lower slopes on the four sides of a bonnet roof provide cover and protection around your house.
- Butterfly Roof
To visualize how a butterfly roof looks like, think of an inverted gable roof. The butterfly roof design resembles butterfly wings with two tandem pieces angled upwards, forming a V-shape. This roofing style looks very attractive and is popular in modern homes.
A butterfly roof provides tall ceilings on both sides of a house. You can also install larger windows on the two tall walls. If you plan to harvest rainwater, this roof would be your best pick. The roof’s middle channel can collect enough water for domestic use.
- Clerestory Roof
The interior wall of a clerestory roof extends above one section of the roof, with this area of the wall lined with many windows or even one long window. Notably, either side of the vertical wall slopes to allow more natural light to pass through the windows.
- Combination Roof
As the name suggests, a combination roof consists of different types of roofs. It often incorporates two or more designs to make a house more unique and attractive. For instance, you can combine a hip roof with the clerestory style for aesthetic purposes.
- Cross-Gabled Roof
This roof style comprises two or more gable roof ridges intersecting at a certain angle, often perpendicular to each other. Cross-gable roofs are common in houses with more complex layouts, such as a home with a garage attached on either side of the house.
- Cross-Hipped Roof
If you are building a house with a bit more complex layout than a simple square or rectangle, consider installing a cross-hipped roof. This roof style has vertical sections that form a ‘T’ or ‘L’ shape at the roof hip. It’s ideal for snow or rainy conditions.
- Curved Roof
Are you looking for something different from the edged roofs? You can bring a modern feel into your house by installing a curved roof. This roof design reduces wind resistance, but property owners love it because of its aesthetic value.
- Dome Roof
A dome-shaped roof adds a stunning feature to a home. It is common in several historical sites including the Capitol Building in Washington DC, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Dome roofs are expensive to construct but can last for many years. Many homeowners use them for smaller additions, in different areas of the main roof. Think about features such as gazebos, crow’s nests, and cupolas.
- Dormer Roof
If you’re considering a window on your rooftop, you shouldn’t search further than a dormer roof. Dormers have a window projecting vertically from a pitched roof to create an extended window on the top. You’ll see this kind of roof in loft conversions.
Dormer roofs provide an easy way to expand the space in a home and add natural light in converted loft rooms. This type of roof style is ideal if you plan to use the attic or garret as a living space. Notably, dormer windows can fit into various roof styles.
- Dutch Gable Roof
The Dutch gable roof is a hybrid of hip and gable roofs. A partial or full-gable is present at the end of the ridge on the roof, providing more internal roof space. The roof style offers a unique design to improve the roof’s aesthetic.
- Flat Roof
Flat roofs are common in commercial properties but can also be installed in residential properties. This type of roof has a slight pitch that allows water run-offs and drainage. If you plan to add a garden to your rooftop, a flat roof would be the perfect place to start.
- Front Gable
Most colonial-style homes have these roofs, but the design is also becoming more popular in modern buildings. A house with this roof style has the entrance in line with the roof ridge. The front gable adds coverage to the entryway or porch.
- Gambrel Roof
A gambrel roof is a two-sided roof with a steep lower slope and a shallower upper section on either side. Both sides are symmetrical and designed to maximize the space in the building’s loft. Generally, gambrel roofs are common in barns and outhouses.
- Open Gable Roof
An open gable roof’s ends are open to meet the walls. It helps improve the home’s aesthetic. This type of roof resembles a box gable roof, but the difference is that the latter has triangular extensions at either end of the house. The roof section is boxed at the end.
Final Words
Now that you know the different types of roofs for houses, you can make the right choice when building a home. Ensure that you select the best types of roofs that can withstand the weather conditions in your region. At Roof Master, we can help you find a roof style that fits your home best. We offer a vast range of roofing services in Texas.
Contact us today for residential roof installation services for different types of roofs.
