Shed roofs can be made using a standing seam instead of tiles or shingles. Due to their steep incline, you do not need rubber skins and roofing membranes. Traditionally, shed roofs were used for home additions, sheds and porches, but they are becoming increasingly popular on homes due to their interesting modern look.įraming and installing shed roofs is pretty simple and similar to flat roofs because they use fewer building materials than other roof types. Shed roofs, sometimes referred to as skillion roofs, are different from most roofs because they are only pitched in one direction, therefore they only have one slope. Flat roofs are great for adding more living space by incorporating a patio, deck, rooftop garden, or green roof on top of your home.Ĭons: Even though flat roofs have a slight slope for water drainage, they are more susceptible to water leakage, therefore flat roofs are not ideal for high rain or snow areas. They are also common on commercial buildings or home additions such as a sunroom. Pros: Flat roofs look great on modern or mid-century style homes due to their clean lines. The most common roofing materials used on flat roofs are gravel, roll roofing, metal sheets, PVC, TPO, and rubber. It is very important to use roofing materials that are continuous and without seams when installing flat roofs to ensure they are completely waterproof. Flat roofs do not take up much space due to their slight pitch and can be used to provide additional sun protection for your outdoor living space. Despite the sound of their name, flat roofs actually have a slight slope to allow water to run-off and drain. If a hip roof has a dormer window, additional seams are needed which makes it more likely to have water leaks form in the valleys if a roofing system is not properly installed.įlat roofs are simple in form and function and add a modern look to a home due to their clean lines that resemble the horizontal line often seen in nature. They also allow for extra space for a beautiful dormer window or a small room to lookout from.Ĭons: Due to their complex design, hip roofs require more roofing materials, therefore they are typically more expensive to build. Pros: Hip roofs are incredibly stable, sturdy, and durable which makes them excellent for high rain, snow, and wind areas. Proper waterproofing is incredibly important with all roofs, but especially hip roofs because of the valleys where the roof angles meet. Similar to gable roofs, hip roofs can be made with just about any roofing material such as shingles, metal, or various tiles. There are various types of hip roofs such as simple hip, pyramid hip, cross hipped, and half hipped. Hip proofs provide shade and cover on all sides of a home, unlike gable roofs.

Sometimes the four sides meet at a point, but they don’t always. Hip roofs have slopes on all four sides that are equal length and slope downwards towards the walls. If gable roofs have a big overhang, high winds can even cause the roof to detach completely from the walls. Gable roofs easily shed water, which makes them great for high rain or snow areas.Ĭons: Gable roofs are not ideal for areas with hurricanes or high winds because the roof can potentially collapse or materials can peel away. Pros: Due to their triangular pitch, gable roofs allow for additional floor space for a loft or attic, or you can have beautiful vaulted ceilings to add space and a modern feel to the inside of your home. They can be covered using almost any type of roofing material including asphalt shingles, cedar shakes, metal, clay, or concrete tiles. Roofing contractors typically love gable roofs because they only involve covering two flat surfaces without hips or valleys that need extra seams and materials. Gable roofs have a simple design, which makes them easy to build and cheaper than other, more complex roof design types. Gable roofs can be designed with almost any type of roof pitch from a low slope ranch style to a steep a-frame. There are various types of gable roofs such as a side gable, crossed gable, front gable, or a dutch gable roof. Gable roofs have a triangular shape and are what many people envision when they think of a traditional roof design.

Gable roofs, also known as pitched or peaked roofs, are one of the most popular roof types in the United States.

Types of roofs with pictures