Types of Roofing Styles in Architecture

Gabled Roof

• On a gabled roof, the two sides slope upward to form a peak that can be at the front, side or cross section of a house. The shape of a gabled roof depends on its type. The sides of a gambrel gabled roof don't slope down as sharply as a standard gabled roof. Gambrel roofs are typically seen on barns and provide more room in the upper part of the building's interior.

  The sides of a saltbox gabled roof don't slope equally. One side slopes at a much steeper angle, making that sloped side of the interior a story shorter than the other side. A shed gabled roof only has one side that peaks at the rear and slopes forward. This roof is common on porches and sheds.

Flat Roof

• Despite the name, flat roofs are not completely flat. According to Red Star Inspections, flat roofs must not exceed a 20-degree slope. These roofs don't always have eaves, so the slope helps promote roof drainage.

Hipped Roof

• A hipped roof uses peaks and slopes to divide a roof into more than two sides. On the standard hipped roof, four sides meet at the peak with the front and back sides wider than those on the sides of the house. A pyramidal hipped roof has four nearly equal sides meeting at the peak. A hipped roof on a house with a cross section causes a roof valley where the two sections meet.

  A mansard hipped roof forms an unusual shape. The top of the roof is flat, and four sides descend nearly straight down for a short distance before easing into a gentle slope at the roof bottom.