What Is Roof? | Types Of Roofs | Terminology Of Roofs | Requirements of Good Roof

What Is Roof?

A Roof is a shield that gives protection to the buildings against rain, heat, snow, wind, etc.

The Roofs are the uppermost part of a building constructed using trusses, slabs, domes, etc. Roofs give a better appearance to the house.

Types Of Roofs

If you are going to construct a house then you have to know the different types of roofs so that you pick good roofs for your dream house that give a good appearance and more space.

Actually, the roofs have different types. Here are the 8 main types of roofs:

1. Shed Roof
2. Gabled Roof
3. Pitched Or Sloping Roofs
4. Curved Roofs
5. Hip Roof
6. Flat Or Terraced Roofs
7. Gambrel Roof
8. Pyramid Roof

Shed Roof

The shed roofs are simple, single-sloping roofs. It reflects a better appearance of a building.

The main benefits of the shed roof are, we can easily set the solar panel on this roof. The shed roof provides extra space.

The shed roof has a good slope that helps it to speed up water runoff.

If you are going to construct a simple and good-looking house then you must go with the shed roofs.

Gabled Roof

The gabled roof is basically a triangular-shaped roof having two sides on the supporting wall and making a triangular shape.

Think in your past if anyone told you to draw a house, you draw a gabled roof house. The gabled roof is a very famous roof.

Pitched Or Sloping Roof

A Pitched roofs have a higher sloping roof, due to higher sloping roofs the water easily runoff on the pitched roof.

The Pitched roofs are better for the area having more rains and snowfalls.

More Read: Types Of Pitched Roofs

Curved Roof

The curved roof is used for large areas and big structures like factories, monuments, libraries, etc.

The curved roof is an updated version of a pitched roof and it gives a good architectural effect.

The curve roof is good for any environment. It is constructed by using timber or metals.

Hip Roof

The roof that has four sides slope and the four sides slopes come together and form a simple ridge, then this type of roof called Hip roofs.

The design of the hip roof makes it good for the area where the snowfall is more.

Flat Or Terraced Roof

A roof that is nearly flat is known as the flat or terraced roof and it has some slope.

The construction of the flat roof is same as the construction of the top surface except in a flat roof there is some slope is given.

The advantages of using a flat roof are, it is more stable against high wind, economical than a pitched roof, easily constructed, easy to make fireproof, etc.

The main disadvantages of using flat roofs are, cracks are developed due to variation in temperature, are not good for heavy rainfall areas, the initial cost is higher than a pitched roof, etc.

Gambrel Roof

The roof has two slopes on each symmetrical side is known as the gambrel roof.

A gambrel roof is a modified version of the gable roof.

Gambrel roof provided a good space to create an attic room or loft at the uppermost part of the building.

Pyramid Roof

A pyramid roof is a type of hip roof, having four sides in a triangular shape.

The pyramid roof is used in small structures like cabins, garages, bungalows, etc.

It provides extra space for ventilation and an attic room or loft.

Terminology Of Roofs

To understand the roofs first, we have to be familiar with the basic roof structure terminology. Here are the lists and definitions of roofs structure terminology:

1. Battens
2. Dragon Beam
3. Eaves
4. Gable
5. Hip
6. Pitch
7. Purlins
8. Rafters
9. Common Rafters
10. Hip Rafters
11. Jack Rafters
12. Principal Rafters
13. Ridge
14. Ridge Line
15. Span
16. Effective Span
17. Wall-Plates
18. Valley
19. Verge

Battens In Roof

A battens support the roof and it is made up of a thin strip of wood.

The battens are fixed on the rafters or ceilings.

Eaves In Roof

The Eaves are the lower part of the roof which are resting on supports walls.

Eaves Board In Roof

When a thin board of wood is provided on the eaves to cover the end of common rafters, then this type of wood board is called Eaves Board.

Gable In Roof

Gable is a triangular part of a pitched roof that is formed at the end of the roof.

Hip In Roof

When the two roof slopes intersect each other then an angle is formed and this angle is known as hip.

Pitch In Roof

Pitch is an angle between the side of the roof and the horizontal plane.

Purlins In Roof

Purlines are wooden pieces and they carry the common rafters.

In the roof, purlins are placed horizontally on the principal rafters.

Rafters In Roof

Rafters are pieces of timber and in the roof, it is extended from the ridge to the eaves.

Common Rafters In Roof

Common rafters are made up of pieces of timber and it gives support to the roof covering.

Hip Rafters In Roof

Hip rafters are provided at the junction of two roof slopes. It is also made up of wood.

Jack Rafters In Roof

In the roof, a shorter rafter than a common rafter is known as the jack rafters.

Principal Rafters In Roof

On the roof principal rafter is an inclined member of the truss.

Ridge In Roof

A ridge is made up of a wooden piece that is provided at the ridge line of a sloping roof.

Ridge Line In Roof

The ridge line in the roof is a line that indicates the apex line of a sloping roof.

Span In Roof

Span in the roof is a horizontal distance between the internal faces of walls.

Effective Span In Roof

Effective span in the roof is a horizontal distance between the center of the wall.

Wall-Plates In Roof

The main work of wall plates is it connect the walls to the roof.

Wall-plates are made up of the long wooden members and embedded on top of walls to receive the common rafters.

Valley In Roof

In the roof, a valley is formed when the two surfaces meet together and make an internal angle.

Verge In Roof

The verge in the roof is the edge of the gable and it is running between the ridge and eaves.

Requirements of Good Roof

Before selecting a roof for our house, we have to know the weather condition and the material availability for the maintenance of the roof.

Here are the lists of requirements for a well-planned roof:

• The first thing we have to consider is the durability of the roof.
• Roof should has power to sustain the various effects of enviroments like wind, rain, sun, snow, etc.
• Roof should be well-drained.
• Water-proofing arrangement must included while selecting the roof.
• It should be fire resistant.
• The roof structure have power to sustain the load that are likely to come on it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)