Roof Styles

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Monoslope: Also known as a ‘Monopitch Roof or a ‘Flat Roof, it is any roof with a continuous slope, which has no ridge. Skillion and lean-to roofs are monoslope roofs.








Troughed: Basically two monoslope roof that meet at the lower edge of both roofs to form a box gutter ot trough. Also called a "Valley Roof" or a "Butterfly roof".








Sawtooth: Basically a series of monoslope roofs connected by a Box Gutter. This creates a saw tooth shape. Similar to a Clerestory or Monitor roof the vertical faces are usually windows that let in light. Commonly used for commercial and industrial work.

Clerestory: This roof is two monoslope roofs at two different levels separated by a row of windows. The which provide light and/or ventilation to the rooms below. It gets its name from the upper part of a church nave, which is the main source of light.

Gable: This is a pitched roof and vertical ends. It is used as stand alone roof or as an add-on to a main roof to form gables over entries or simply decorating the main roof surface in the form of a dummy gable.

A-frame: This is a steeply pitched roof, shaped similar an ‘A’. Commonly used in snow areas to allow the snow to slide off easily, rather than have it add excessive load to the roof frame.

Hip or Hipped: This is a roof with four sloping sides on a rectangular base. The member at the corners are called hips hence the name.

Half-pitch : This refers to a roof, which has a pitch angle of 45° angle. Or the rise of the roof is equal to the half span.

Pyramid: This is a roof with square or other regular polygon shaped base, with all hips being equal  and meeting at an apex which has no ridge.

Hip & valley: This is basically a ‘T’ or ‘L’ shaped  hip roof. The member at the internal corner is called the valley hence the name.  To have a true Hip and Valley roof the width of both arms of the ‘T’ or ‘L’ must be the same.

Broken Hip & valley: Similar to the hip & valley type except the ridges are not at the same height as the main roof. This occurs when the arms of the ‘T’ or ‘L’ ar not the same width. The Hip that goes from the Ridge of the Main Roof to the Ridges of the Minor Roof is called the Broken Hip.

Dutch gable: This is a  combination of a gable and a hip type roof. It has small gables or gablets at either end of the ridge. It may also called a ‘half-hipped roof’ or a ‘Gambrel’.

Gambrel roof: This roof is similar to the Dutch gable however the gabets are generally bigger.

Jerkin head: This is combination of a Hipped and Gable roof, it is hipped from the end of the ridge half way down to the fascia, and gabled the rest of the way. Sometimes called a ‘Hipped gable’ or a ‘Clipped gable’.

Bellcast: This is a roof, where the pitch changes to a lower pitch or angle near the eaves. It is commonly used where the main roof pitch meets the lower pitch of a covered balcony or verandah.

Station: Similar to the Bellcast however the roof typically cantilevers past supports on both sides to provide shelter. Commonly used for train and bus stations.

Deck: This basically a roof with a flat top like the top has been cut off the top of the roof to form a deck. With the addition of a handrail the deck can be used for entertainments or as an observation platform.

Mansard: Similar to a hipped roof except all sides have a two pitches. The sides are steeper while the top section flattens. It was named after the French architect Francois Mansart, who died in 1666. Also known as a ‘Curb roof’ or a ‘French roof’.

Monitor: A Monitor roof has a portion of a roof, which is raised up above the main roof usually with continuous vertical glazing around the perimeter for natural lighting and ventilation. Mainly used for industrial buildings to let in light and save on lighting costs.

Tudor: A steeply pitched roof, greater than 45o, usually with gable ends.

Dormer Windows: Dormer windows are used to let in light and increase the ‘headspace’ in the room.

Helm : This is a pyramid style roof, it has a square base, with four gables connected at the line of the fascia. The remaining roof surfaces are diamond-shaped. This type of roof is commonly used for spires on square towers.

Hyperbolic paraboloid: A form of shell roof construction, created by raising the diagonally opposite corners on a square base. This style of roof is becoming more popular with the introduction of fabric based roofing materials commonly used on stadiums and for shade.