Barn Roof Types

Gable

• The gable roof is the most common type and style of roof found on a barn. Construction of the roof is accomplished with prefabricated trusses or rafters assembled by the carpenter. Each side of the roof is equal in length and slope making it easy to determine the square footage for shingles or metal roof coverings. The gable barn roof also has one peak where the two roof sides join together.

Gambrel

• A gambrel barn roof has different slopes or angles on each side of the peak. The first slope on either side of the peak has less angle, but both sides are equal in length. Those roof slope run into a more dramatic angle finishing off the top of roof. The primary purpose of the gambrel roof is to provide more headroom and storage capacity in the top of the roof.

Hip

• A hip barn roof has four sides to the roof construction. Primarily used for single story barns, the hip roof has five different ridges. Each side of the barn has the roof sloping from the top to the bottom of the roof with each side meeting at the peak. The roof eliminates the siding that is required on the gambrel or gable roof and is considered less expensive to build.

Shed

• The shed roof is the simplest to construct. The barn roof has one slope running from front to back and is a straight pitch. Used on open shed barns or for smaller barns, the shed barn roof only requires a front wall larger than the back wall to accomplish the pitch. One disadvantage of this type of barn roof is that it does not have a lot of load bearing capacity. Climates that get a lot of snow can cause this type of barn roof to cave in.

Pyramid Hip

• A pyramid hip roof is similar to the hip roof, but the peak is the point of a pyramid. Each side of the roof is identical in shape, slope, angle and size. The roof actually looks like a pyramid when completed. The roof is good for areas of the country that receives a lot of snowfall, but the style is primarily cosmetic.

Salt Box

• A salt box barn roof has different slopes and lengths on either side of the peak. The roof still has gable ends. The front of the roof only runs about half the length of the back side of the roof. The shorter side of the roof or front of the roof makes a good shield or covering for the doors or openings of the barn.

Round Roof

• The round barn roof is generally found on a lot of barn roofs in Europe. The roof is shaped like half of a circle and is one of the hardest roofs to construct because of the bending of the wood. There is not peak on a round roof because it is rounded at the top. A type of barn roof such as this provides a lot of head room and storage area in the top of the barn.