There are many styles of roofs that can be used in the traditional home, but different styles are suited to different needs. The roof itself not only affects the style of your home, but it also can affect how it is affected by the weather, the amount of storage space beneath, and what options are available for further home conveniences to be attached. If your roof has become worn or damaged to the point that you need a full roof replacement, consider this an opportunity to give your home the upgrade it’s always needed with one of these classic roofing styles.
Crossed gable
A crossed gable roof is one in which two are more gable roof ridges intersect with each other, usually perpendicular. It is seen in buildings that have a more complex layout, like a house with a garage attached to it. Houses built in the Tudor or Cape Cod style often have crossed gable roofs. This style can add a great deal of historical flair to your home with little renovation, unless you have a rather simple-structured home. In the which case, a simple gabled roof would work better.
Photo by Saniee Architects, LLC
Mansard
The gambrel roof is a variation of the gable roof. It has four slopes with the lower slope being steeper than the upper slope. As with the gable roof, the roof slopes on only two sides of the building. The mansard roof, also known as the French roof, is a hipped gambrel roof in which the roof slopes on all four sides of the building. A mansard roof provides the advantages of flexibility and lots of space. Homeowners can thus easily add a dormer or even an attic to their house.
Photo by BCV ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS
Bonnet
A bonnet roof is one in which the slope extends past the wall of the building. The resulting shaded area can often be used as a porch. The bonnet roof is most commonly seen in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. While it may take a bit more reconstruction to create this roofing style due to the bulging structure of a traditional bonnet roof, it is nevertheless a classic style that can be both functional and beautiful as an addition to your home’s design.
Photo by David Coulson Design Ltd.
Cross-hipped
The cross-hipped roof is similar to the crossed gable roof in that it has at least roof ridges intersecting with each other. The building is usually T-shaped or L-shaped. Hipped roofs of any type tend to be durable and sturdy, and they hold up well in snowy or windy areas. For those living in northern regions, therefore, a cross-hipped roof could be ideal for facing the worst of winter and fall weather.
Roof replacement requires careful consideration. In addition to the cost of a new roof, the homeowner needs to consider factors like materials and climate. They also need to consider how well a given style would work with the rest of their house, and how well their house would fit the local aesthetic. An ultra-modern look, for example, probably would not work very well if the other houses in the neighborhood all had Victorian architecture.