Roofing Styles

We all know what a simple flat roof is and recognize it easily when we see it on a shed or similar structure. But when it comes to more sophisticated roofing styles, many of us struggle to differentiate a hipped roof from a gabled roof; a pyramid roof from a mansard roof, much less to recognize a cross-hipped or cross-gabled roof! What about a saltbox roof of the simple Cape Cod style house or the gambrel style roof, typically found on a barn?

From the grass roofed hut to the most elaborate castle or enclosed city, the architecture of roof styles evolved over the centuries on every continent of the world. For example, the slanted, irregular saltbox roof, which protected its inhabitants from cold winds, came from the northern states of Colonial America in the 1700s, while the mansard roof is attributed to a French architect named Mansart, who designed it in the 1800s. In fact, the mansard roof is considerably less expensive than other roof styles to install because they don’t require any framing.

While architecture determined the appearance and construction of the roof, its shape and the material employed to build it determined its functionality. For example, a hipped roof often has dormers, which are windows that have their own roofs. This allows the top floor, or the attic of a house, to be outfitted with bedrooms that provide a cozy feel while expanding useable floor space. Once the homeowner is armed with knowledge about roof styles, it is much easier to communicate with a roofing contractor.

Roofing Styles

Hip Roof Installation Plus Build and Design Information

The Classic Pyramid Hip Roof

What is a Cross Hipped Roof?

What is a Mansard Roof?

Gable Roofs, the Practical Choice for Your Home

Cross Gabled Roof Information from CalFinder Roofing Contractors

Typical Colonial Architecture, Saltbox Roofs

Flat Roofs Have Evolved and Are Now Used for Growing Grass and Greening the Home

Barn Style Gambrel Roofing