One of the most popular types of sloped roof is the gable roof. This roof is made up of two upward sloping sides which meet at the middle of the ridge. It is important that the two sides of the slope are at the same angle and should for a symmetrical triangle. This type of roof is widely used in the houses of United States, since this is very useful for places that have snowfall.
Gable roof is believed to have originated from the Greek and Roman architects. During the ancient times, the gable roof or tympanum was used as an artistic embellishment and ornamentation. Nowadays, it is popular among ranch style homes using some of the common variations. These include the front gable, side gable, cross gable and Dutch gable. The most common because of its cost-effectiveness is the side gable, while the front gable is mostly used for Colonial and Cape Cod home styles. On the other hand, the cross gable is a two roofs that form a right angle. This is common among the Cape Cod and Tudor home styles. Lastly, the Dutch gable is a modern variation in which part of the gable is placed at the end of the ridge to create more space inside the house.
In places where there are cold climates and snowfall, the pitches of this type of roof are mostly steeper and are made of metal. This will make the snow slide off easily, especially in mountainous areas. Having a steeper roof generally means a higher cost of construction. When building a gable roof with high-pitch, it is important to give extra effort on the structural support on the end of the roof especially in areas where hurricanes and tornadoes are most likely to happen. This is because the roofs with high pitch are prone to get damaged from high winds. The resistance factor of high-pitch gable increases as the slope gets steeper. For places where climate is mild, a gentle pitch is favorable since this is also cheaper.
There are actually three types of gable roof home styles. These are the Cape Cod style, colonial style, and Victorian style homes. The Cape Cod style is the simplest and cheapest among the three. It has a roof that is steep pitched which can accommodate a second floor. On the other hand, the colonial style home has a roof that is less steeper compared with the Cape Cod. It also has full second floors which is made of straight walls and full windows on all the sides. Lastly, the Victorian style home has the triangle of the roof gable facing the front of the house. This home style may come in a lot of complicate configurations, round turrets and different roof styles. Decorative brackets and wooden scroll work in the eaves and front porch is also common in this type of home style.
If you want a more classy and unique look of your house, your architect can combine several gables in a single roof. This will not just make your house attractive; this type of roof is also cost-effective and advantageous. You will be able to save yourself from buying additional gable. There is also a lesser possibility of roof leaks because you can avoid incorrect nail placement, frequent improper flashing and bending of shingles.
***Doing your own roofing work or projects is dangerous and not advised or suggested by this site. Hire a certified professional to correctly analyze and complete any roofing work or projects.