Different Styles of Roof

Roofs are a vital part of any building’s structure which help protect your home from the elements and are crucial in keeping your home warm. There are several different roof styles to choose from and this blog will cover some of your options.

Gable Roof

A popular choice for UK homes, this style of roof is one of the most straightforward roof styles and probably the most recognisable. A gable roof provides plenty of roof space and is generally strong and stable.

Gable roofs work well for rectangular-shaped homes, helping to prevent a build-up of rainwater and debris, allowing falling rain to flow away from the home. The most common type of gable roof is an open gable roof, which is made up of two sloping roof faces that meet at a ridge at the top.

Gable roofs can cope well with heavy rain and snow but aren’t recommended for homes that regularly experience very high winds as it’s possible for the wind to get beneath the overhang, which can cause the roof to tear away. Not only could this be dangerous, but it can also result in extensive damage and costly repairs.

Hip Roof

A hip roof is another common roof type here in the UK. This is a trapeze-style roof which has longer sides and triangle-shaped planes on the shorter ends of the roof. Due to the design of this roof, it is well-supported and ideal for dealing with adverse weather conditions, from strong winds to heavy rain and even snow.

This is due to the self-bracing nature of the roof design and the sloping sides, which mean that there’s no flat surface to catch the wind, preventing the extensive damage that gable roofs can suffer in extreme weather. The sloping sides also prevent standing water, which can cause leaks or pressure from heavy snowfall which can cause damage.

Hip roofs can be more expensive than gable roofs, but this can be balanced long-term by reduced maintenance or repair costs. Getting a dry ridge roof system in place can remove the need for regular maintenance and be quicker to install than traditional roof installation systems that use mortar.

Dormer Roofs

Dormer roofs feature a mini gable roof that projects out at a 90-degree angle from the sloping face of the main roof. Dormer roofs are easily identifiable and are typically the result of carrying out a loft conversion.

This kind of roof adds additional headspace to attic rooms and loft conversions, whilst also allowing more light into the home as they typically feature a small window on the gable end of the roof, removing the need for skylights.

As well as being a popular choice for lofts, dormer roofs can also be seen on dormer bungalows, which became a popular home-build style in the 60s and 70s and remain in demand today. Dormer roofs can also be used to convert a standard bungalow into a dormer bungalow.

When it comes to dormer roofs, one of the most important things to be aware of is that they can be prone to leaks if the flashing is improperly installed or poorly maintained.