Roofs

• Gable – A traditional triangular roof with symmetrical sides.
• Cross Gable Same – as a gable roof but is has two parts that cross.
• Flat – A flat roof is nearly horizontal with only a slight inclination that lets the water runoff.
• Mansard – A four-sided roof with double slopes on all sides. The lower slope is much steeper than the upper.
• Hipped – A low-pitched roof that allows for large eaves on a building.
• Cross Hipped – Same as a hipped roof but it has two parts that cross.
• Pyramidal – A hipped roof that forms a pyramid shape. Shed Same as a gable roof but with only one slope.
• Saltbox – Same as a gable roof other the fact that the two sides of it are not symmetrical.
• Gambrel – When viewed from the side, this roof looks bell-like.

• Barge Board – A board that conceals roof timbers that project over gables.
• Beam – The main piece of wood (or steel) that supports the roof.
• Cornice – The part of the roof that sticks out past the walls of a house.
• Eave – The edge of the roof.
• Fascia – The edge of the cornice.
• Rafter – A beam that supports the roof of a building.
• Soffit – The underside of the eave.
• Truss – A framework of beams, usually triangular, that support the roof of a building.

Don’t forget that you can have fun when choosing a roof for your home. Several colors, styles, shapes and materials are offered today, allowing you to create your own personalized look for your home.

Pros: Available in a variety of colors, widths, thicknesses, cuts of wood, etc. – these roofs allow for flexibility in style. Wood helps to insulate your attic, which allows air to circulate easily.

Cons: Wood shakes are unrated by fire safety codes and often require wipe or spray-on fire retardants, which are usually less effective in fire resistance than other roofing materials. These roofs require much maintenance and repair due to damage from mold, rot and insects. Old shakes are not recyclable and have a more complicated installation process than other roofing types.

Pros: Provides a unique look, especially for homes with a Spanish, Italian or South-Western look. A wide variety of colors and styles are available. Tiles are long-lasting, don’t rot or burn and cannot be damaged by insects. This roofing material requires little maintenance.

Cons: Tiles are heavy, which can cause a roof to require extra support. Also, if color is only added to the surface of the tiles, it can fade over time. Tiles are fragile, which makes it more difficult to repair the roof or walk on it to repair gutters or fireplaces. Clay tiles are one of the most expensive roofing materials, and installation can be quite complicated.

Pros: This roof type is very durable and is available in a variety of colors and styles. Most concrete roofing is long-lasting and requires little maintenance. Tiles are resistant to rot and insect damage and provide good fire protection. Concrete tile can be made to mimic other types of roofing.

Cons: This roofing style is on the expensive side and because it is relatively new on the market, there are still problems with breaking and color changing that must be resolved.

Pros: Regaining its popularity, metal roofs are now most popular in standing-seam steel (Standing-seam steel describes the upturned edge of one metal panel that connects it to adjacent sections, creating distinctive vertical lines and a historical look). These roofs can also be created to mimic other roofing types such as wood shakes, clay tiles, shingles, etc. Metal roofs are durable, fire retardant and require very little maintenance. Metal roofs are energy efficient and consist of many recyclable materials. They are lightweight, which means they can be installed over existing roofs.

Cons: Installation of metal roofs can be difficult and the cost is higher than most other roofing types. The life-long cost of the roof should be considered to determine if the initial cost is worth it.

Pros: For flat roofs or those with a slope of less than 1 degree, this method is better than the conventional method of applying hot tar with a mop and topping it with gravel because it can be installed with more consistency. Torch down roofing material is single-ply rolled roofing that has a mineral base that reduces energy costs by reflecting heat from the sun’s rays.

Cons: This type of roofing is not suitable for regions which experience heavy rain or snowfall due to the overlapping material strips on a flat or low sloped roof. Many safety precautions and carefully structured working conditions must be set due to a fire hazard from heating the adhesive material with a torch.