What’s your roof style?

Most roofs can be traced back to a half a dozen or so basic designs. Each style has specific characteristics based on the time period it was built. Some homes may have combined more than one style. This may be intentional or a good indication that additional structures were added.

Flat Roof: These consist of a horizontal plane with a slight slope for drainage. You find these more on contemporary and modern homes.

Shed Roof: These consist of a half-gabled roof with a single slope. As with the flat roof, these are seen more in contemporary homes. Most of your simple room additions will have a shed roof on them.

Gable Roof: These are typically on ranch and colonial style homes. They have a front to back slope and meet at a center raised peak. Both right and left ends are shaped like triangles. Pitches vary greatly depending whether it has an attic or is used as living space.

Gambrel Roof: These are subtypes of the gabled roof, with two dual-pitched gables. The broken roof slope form two sets of planes on each side, with the outer plane much steeper in pitch. This is the one most people think looks like a barn, which is called Dutch colonial style.

Hipped Roof: These consist of four slopes down from a ridge to the eave overhangs. A rectangular ranch or colonial will have a trapezoid front and back and triangles on each end. The above Four Square has equal sections and a matching front porch.

Mansard Roof: This is a subtype of the hipped roof. These are four-sided, dual-pitched roofs with a steep lower slope and an almost flat top.

Saltbox Roof: These consist of two upper steep pitched, front to back planes, with an extension of the rear roof section. This would typically be over a first floor structure and at a lower pitch.

ILLUSTRATION: Rene Eisenbart