Are you in the process of designing your dream home? If so, getting to know the types of roof designs can help determine which roof best suits your style, location, and needs.
In this article, we’ll put a name to the roof designs you’ve likely seen many times in towns and cities around the country.
The Top 10 Types of Roof Designs You See Everywhere
Whether you’re going for a traditional ranch house or a modern, minimalist design, you’ll most likely use one or more of the roof types below:
1. Gable Roof
Gable roofs are among the most prevalent types of roof designs, and they come in several variations, such as cross gable and front gable. The standard gable design is one you see the most in children’s drawings: a simple triangular shape with two sides that meet at the highest point in the middle.
The sloping gable roof design works best in areas that get a lot of rain and snow, though they aren’t as suitable for regions that see a lot of high winds.
2. Hip Roof
Hip roofs are another basic roof design that you can find in many styles, from crossed hip roofs to pyramid hip roofs. The simplest hip roof design involves four sides that have the same pitch and rise to meet in the center.
Hip roofs are more structurally stable than gable roofs, and their high wind resistance makes them a safe choice for places that deal with hurricanes and strong winds.
3. Butterfly Roof
A butterfly roof is, essentially, an upside-down gable roof. The topmost point becomes the lowest point, with the two sides rising to make a “V” shape. This modern design is more popular in arid, windy climates, but butterfly roofs aren’t a good choice for areas with heavy rain or snow.
4. Gambrel Roof
If you’ve ever seen a farm, you’ve probably spotted a gambrel roof on a barn. This classic, symmetrical roof type has two sides, each with two sloped sections. The top section usually has a gentle pitch, while the bottom section has a steep slope.
Gambrel roofs maximize your attic space but aren’t sufficiently stable enough for heavy winds and snow.
5. Skillion Roof
Skillion roofs, also known as shed roofs, have a simple, lean-to roof design that aids with rain and snow drainage. These types of roofs are convenient for skylights and solar panels, making them perfect for contemporary homes. A skillion roof is easy to install and inexpensive, but you sacrifice interior space because of the steep slope.
6. Mansard Roof
A mansard roof is similar to a gambrel roof but has four sides instead of two. One of the more functional styles, mansard roofs add usable loft space to your home, and you can add windows for more natural light.
Since the top of the roof has such a shallow slope, the mansard roof style isn’t the best if you live in an area with heavy snow and rain.
7. Dutch Gable Roof
Dutch gable roofs (also known as Dutch hip roofs) are a combination of gable and hip roof designs. The roof style features a four-sided hip roof with a two-sided gable roof on the top. The gabled roof section allows for more space inside the home.
Dutch gable roofs are ideal for all types of weather, including rain, snow, wind, and ice.
8. Dormer
While not technically a roof style on its own, a dormer is a common addition to various roof styles, particularly gable, to expand the usable space inside a home. Dormers stick out of one side of a sloped roof and have a small gable roof on top of the extra interior space.
9. Bonnet Roof
A bonnet roof is a four-sided hip roof with an extra slope on each side that provides some cover to the home’s exterior, making it perfect for wrap-around porches and patios. The design is resistant to strong winds and allows for an effective drainage system that protects homes from water damage.
10. Flat Roof
Flat roofs are primarily for commercial properties but are also a favorite design for homes with modern architectural styles. Despite the name, flat roofs have a very slight slope to enable runoff when it rains. A downside to flat roofs is that you can’t use traditional roof materials like shingles or tiles.
Get Custom Tiles for Your Favorite Modern Roof Design Types
Now that you know the most popular types of roof designs, it’s time to pick out the best roofing material. Brava composite roof tiles work for a variety of roof pitches, including curved and mansard roofs, and they’re totally sustainable, extra durable, and require no maintenance.
Contact us to request a sample of our composite cedar shake, slate tile, or Spanish barrel tile products.
