Sloping roof. The roof is one of the most important components for building the house. It stands strong environmental factors, like rain, heat, and cold. Roofs are the shelter a house signifies.
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Depending on their general shapes, roofs can be categorized into two predominant categories. One is the flat roof, and the other is the sloping roof. Flat roofs are common in commercial buildings and are easy to construct, compared to the sloped ones.
Sloping roofs are a common feature for residential properties. They also do not let water or other dirt accumulate by allowing them to simply slide off.
The houses with sloping roofs can take different shapes. The sloping roof house images from across the world show a variety of styles of sloping roofs.
The variety of shapes can be used, depending on the needs of the house-owners and their aesthetic preferences.
PITCH OF A ROOF
The most important part of any roof construction is the pitch of the roof. The pitch of the roof can be understood as the degree of the slant of the roof.
It is, essentially, the slope of the roof. Even flat roofs have the concept of a pitch. Technically, the pitch of a roof is expressed as 6/12, 6:12, 6 in 12 or even 6 over 12.
To understand the notation, get a grasp of the concept of the pitch. The pitch of a roof is mathematically defined as the rise over run.
Basically, if the roof moved 12 inches horizontally inwards, and if the resulting increase in the height of the roof was 6 inches, then the pitch of the roof would be 6/12.
The normal roof pitch for a house varies between 4/12 and 9/12. Anything below 4/12 is low slope, and anything above 9/12 is a steep slope. If roofs have a pitch lower than 2/12, then they are considered flat.
PITCH AND THE GOLDEN RATIO
An architect will always design a roof, remembering several things, including the materials to be used. The pitch of the roof will have a major effect on how a house will finally look.
Architects work in accordance to the wishes of the house owner when they design a house, but they also remember how palatable a roof would look when finally built. This is worked out by using experience and referring to the Golden Ratio.
In simple words, a Golden Ratio provides a sense of equilibrium and balance to the construction. It is present everywhere and has been historically used by planners across history, including the construction of the Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Parthenon, and so on.
Therefore, whenever architects have a difficult time deciding the pitch of a roof, they refer to the ratio as a reference. The modern pitched roof houses also use the same concept.
Architects do not prefer pitches with an angle of 45o. The reason for this is that it does not conform to the Golden Ratio.
SIGNIFICANCE OF PITCH
The pitch of the roof should be decided, remembering the climate of the region one lives in.
In areas that experience high snowfall, flatter roofs may not be a good choice, because the snow does not slide off, putting weight on the roof and creating a real problem, if the roof collapsed.
Very steep roofs can also lead to an issue of the snow sliding over the sides and falling on the people below.
This is where an experienced architect can come in to suggest the ideal pitch for the house that is not only pleasing to the eye, but high on functionality too.
The slope of the roof can make or break a house. More information on the subject would be very helpful in keeping the costs in control and making the house safe and beautiful.
The pitch of the roof affects how the house looks, but it also affects the amount and type of material that can be used.
So, if the roof is steep, it would require more material during construction. It should also be borne in mind that a lower pitch makes the slope flatter, which deposits more water on the roof.
This gives rise to another problem – leakage. As more water gets deposited, you will need a sturdier material to keep the roof intact.
This will definitely play a role, while choosing the material to cover the roof. Both tiles and shingles can be used for this purpose, but the material will vary.
Clay and slate can be the roofing material for pitches of the order of a minimum of 35o. If the roof must go below that angle, then it is better to go for concrete tiles, so the roof does not give away under the pressure of water.
If you have a high-pitched roof house plans, then consider shingles made of asphalt. Rubber membranes work well with flatter designs. These do not make a good option for sloped roofs because of two reasons.
One, such roofing material may pose a problem during installation on steeper slopes, and second, they do not make for an attractive look, when placed on a visibly sloping roof.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SLOPING ROOFS
Home owners should remember all these points while deciding on the roof they want to go for. There are many options to choose from, and each has its own pros and cons. Your decision should be as dependent on the aesthetic appeal of the roof as the weather conditions it will be exposed to.
The gable roof is the most popular style of sloped roof. It is the roof you see on the houses in the game of monopoly. The two rectangular, equal sized panels come together at a ridge to form the gable roof. It is a typical house roof you can find in many materials.
While designing such roofs, care should be taken to increase the angle of pitch to be in more alignment with the Golden Ratio. As is well-documented for Sir Edwin Lutyens, one of the greatest architects of all time, he avoided 45o pitches. He even called it the ‘ugly angle’. This is true for the planners of today.
They try to hit a pitch angle higher than 45o. This decision not only adheres to the Golden ratio, but also makes the outer walls shorter, putting more emphasis on the roof. The final result is a pleasing and balanced look overall.
Salt Box Roof
The salt box roof adds a little extra to the otherwise humble roof. The style is almost the same as the gable roof, with the only difference being the length of one of the roof panels. One side of the roof is longer than the other, giving the house a distinct look.
These are used in independent houses, and the concept is a product of the twentieth century. This roof style also tries to achieve a steeper pitch for better results.
Gambrel Roof
Gambrel roof is another popular option available for home owners. This has two identical roof panels on both sides; however, they are not straight like in other roof types.
The Gambrel roofs have two slopes — different roof pitches on the same house. The upper slope angle is wide, while the angle of the lower slope is steeper. This gives the Gambrel roofs their characteristic shape.
The roof has a Dutch origin and increases the room in the upper levels of the house, while retaining all the characteristics of a sloped roof.
Mansard Roof
A Mansard is a roof with 4 sloping sides. It can be thought of as a four-sided Gambrel roof, which means there is a slope on all sides. It has a steeper angle on the lower slope and a wider angle for the upper.
The steeper lower level has windows that give more space for extra rooms. Given the shape of the Mansard roofs, the upper levels are only visible from a distance, not in close proximity. These roofs have a French origin, and the name means the attic space. It is also interchangeably used for a Gambrel roof in the European countries.
Pyramid Roof
The four-sided slopes are not the characteristic feature of only Mansard roofs; the Pyramid roofs also come with this feature. As the name suggests, these roofs are shaped like pyramids, a roof with four sloping sides.
These roofs are best-suited for smaller structures, like a farmhouse hut. These roofs are popular in the contemporary architecture, with many structures getting these roofs. The walls of these houses are symmetrical and easy to build. A lower degree pitch works best for such four-sided roofs.
They would work even better if the walls were smaller and the roof made for a significant part of the house. It is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also more energy efficient.
Pictures of sloping roof houses make a site to behold.
They are beautiful and look royal. Choosing between flat or high-pitched roof houses depends on many factors, including the weather, cost, personal taste, and, to a lesser extent, the neighborhood.
The twentieth century may have seen an onslaught of flatter roofs with the cost saving objective, but sloping roofs with huge functional benefits, have their share of takers – a pool expanding by the day.
Hi, I’m Jim. I was a roofing constructor for 20 years, before deciding to start myrooff.com and gather the best content about roofing. I love woodworking and construction and it was only natural for me to start this passion project of mine. Thank you for visitng.
