Roof Designs: Terms, Types, and Pictures
Derek Pater recently contacted us to do a review of his unique roofing protractor system. The tool simplifies many of the calculations that go into building a roof, and is useful for all types of roof designs. Unfortunately, none of us here at OPC are planning to build a roof anytime soon, so we couldn’t help Derek out (except for providing him that link and letting you know about the tool if you’re planning to build a roof).
What was more interesting to us was some of the materials Derek forwarded along in his roofing protractor guide (which is available for download at that link if you want more information about the product). For instance, page 4 of the guide provides a great beginner’s guide to roof types that Derek has authorized us to reprint here. It is by no means a complete list of roof types (in fact, the list is restricted to those that are good candidates for his product). But, it is interesting nonetheless. Now, the next time you are driving by that house with the fantastic roof you just must have on your next house, you’ll know just what to call it 
Roofing Design Types & Terms
- Gable: The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular point at the ridge of a sloping roof.
- Hip Roof: A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides. A hip roof contains no gables.
- Gable Roof: A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each side of the ridge. A gable roof typically contains a gable at each end.
- Skillion Roof: A Skillion Roof slopes from one side of the building to the other in a single span and no ridge. As a result the external walls are of varying heights.
- Lean-to Roof: A roof with one slope only that is built against a higher wall.
Jerkinhead Roof: Consists of a Gable Roof with a truncated Hip Roof section at the top to reduce the height of the Gable. - Dutch Gable: Is a combination of a Hip roof with a small Gable at the top and a
sloping roof below. - Gambrel roof: A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each side of the ridge. The lower plane has a steeper slope than the upper. A gambrel roof usually contains a gable at each end, just like a standard gable roof.
- Mansard roof: A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides. The lower plane has a much steeper pitch than the upper, often approaching vertical. It contains no Gables.
- Gazebo Roof: Often Hexagonal or Octagonal but usually symmetrical in their design.
Roof Type Pictures
What do you think? Did you learn something? We did!
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3 Responses to Roof Designs: Terms, Types, and Pictures
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December 23rd, 2008 10:42 am
Interesting article! I hadn’t heard the term “jerkinhead roof” before. Instead, I’ve heard that roof style called “clipped gable.” It is a common roof variation for bungalows, probably because it makes the house look shorter and more horizontal.
December 23rd, 2008 4:40 pm
What about my absolute favorite, the mathematically challenging hyperbolic paraboloid or saddle roof?
December 23rd, 2008 6:52 pm
G’day,
I am the Inventor of the Roofing Protractor and have provided some weblinks that are great for different Roof Rafter design below,the first one is the best site for the mathimatic’s for Roofing.The Roofing Protractor is a 3 Dimentional Protractor that can setout almost any timber Size Rafter or Rafter angle Required.all requirements with one setting of this new product,Birdsmouth positions,plumb cut,side cuts and built in level to find angles.
http://ca.geocities.com/web_sketches/
http://www.tfguild.org/
http://www.easyrafters.com/rafter.asp
Regards Derek Pater.