The Advantages of a Hip Roof Top

Strength

• A hipped roof has greater strength and durability than a gabled roof because of its method of construction, according the book "Framing Roofs" by the editors of "Fine Homebuilding." The resilient framing gives hipped roofs the ability to withstand natural disasters, such as earthquakes, better than other types of roofs. Hipped roofs also perform well in high winds due to their aerodynamic design, which can prevent the loss of shingles during windstorms.

Eaves

• Another positive aspect of hipped results from the symmetry of their design. Because, unlike gabled roofs, they have no vertical edges, hipped roofs possess eaves all the way around the house. Eaves play an important role in protecting a home from the elements, blocking rain from striking the siding and shielding the home from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. Having eaves surrounding the house also allows the homeowner to place gutters all around the home's perimeter.

Appearance

• Some homeowners choose the hipped design for aesthetic reasons, preferring the hipped roof's sleek and compact look over other roofing styles. The hipped roof works especially well in homes built low to the ground such as ranch houses. A variation, called the pyramidal hipped roof, does not have a roof ridge; instead, the triangular slopes meet at a single point at the top. A visual pleasing design, the pyramidal variation works best in smaller houses, such as bungalows or cottages.

Types

• Two types of hipped hoof have had periods of popularity in the past. The mansard roof, frequently built during the late 19th century, consists of two separate hipped sections on the same roof. The extra section gave the homeowner room to add another story. Another type of dual-pitched hipped roof, which, unlike the mansard, had the more flatly pitched section of the roof on the bottom, was built in some 19th century homes in the Mississippi Valley. The roof design helped the homeowners create wrap-around porches.