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Types of Roof

1. Bonnet Roof


Bonnet roofs are essentially the reverse of a mansard roof. A bonnet roof, also referred to as a kicked eave, features four sides with a steep upper slope and a gentler lower slope. This design provides a covered porch area around the edges of the house. This architectural style is frequently observed in constructions dating back to the 1700s. However, it is generally considered obsolete by contemporary builders.

2. Box Gable Roof

Box gable roofs consist of two sloping sides that converge to create a ridge. Additionally, there are triangular extensions on either side that are enclosed by walls. This roofing style is commonly preferred in regions with cold weather as it offers a sturdy design that can effectively handle rain and snow.

3. Butteryfly Roof


A butterfly roof, also referred to as an inverted pitch roof, is designed to resemble the wings of a butterfly. It consists of two pieces of roofing that are angled upwards in tandem to create a V-shape. This architectural style is visually striking and contemporary, enhancing the appearance of buildings. Additionally, it enables the construction of larger walls and windows while also offering a convenient method for collecting rainwater through the central channel in the roof.

4. Clerestory Roof

A clerestory roof is characterized by an interior wall that extends above a section of the roof. This wall is typically fitted with several windows or a single long window. The roof sections on either side of the vertical wall usually slope, which enables ample natural light to enter through the windows.

5. Combination Roof

A combination roof is a roof that combines different types of roofs. Combination roofs can feature a variety of styles, such as a clerestory and hip roof, by incorporating two or more designs for both aesthetic and practical reasons. This is an excellent choice for achieving a distinctive and captivating appearance.

6. Cross Gabled Roof

The cross gable roof design is composed of two or more gable roof ridges that intersect at an angle, typically perpendicular to each other. This style of roof is commonly found in buildings that have a more intricate design, such as houses that come with a connected garage.

7. Cross Hipped Roof

The cross hipped roof is a popular roofing style that features perpendicular hip sections forming either a 'L' or 'T' shape in the roof hip. This roofing option is ideal for buildings with complex layouts beyond a simple rectangle or square. It is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions such as rain, snow, and wind.

8. Curved Roof

Incorporating a curved roof into a building design can lend a sleek and contemporary aesthetic that is both visually striking and captivating. Metal materials offer flexibility that modern roofs take advantage of, resulting in a single, large, curved structure. Curved roofs are effective in reducing wind resistance, but they are primarily selected for their visually appealing aesthetic that can enhance the overall look of a building.

9. Dome Roof


A dome roof is a roofing structure that is designed in the shape of a dome. This type of roof boasts a sophisticated and long-lasting design that enhances the visual appeal of a building. It is a popular choice for historical buildings, including the Capitol Building in Washington DC and the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

10. Dormer

Dormers are architectural features that consist of a window that protrudes vertically from a pitched roof, thereby creating an expanded window in the roof. The most popular type of roof for loft conversions is one that allows for easy expansion of space and natural light in the converted loft room.

11. Dutch Gable Roof

The Dutch gable (hip) roof is a hybrid of a gable and hip type of roof. A full or partial gable can be found at the end of the ridge in the roof, allowing for a greater amount of internal roof space. This style also improves the look of the roof, providing a more unique and interesting design than the very common simple hip roof.

12. Flat Roof


Flat roofs are designed with a slight pitch to facilitate the drainage of water. Flat roofs are commonly used for industrial and commercial buildings such as offices and warehouses. However, they can also be a popular roof type for homes. The flat space on top of the roof can be utilized for a rooftop garden, making it an attractive option for homeowners.

13. Front Gable

Front gable roofs are characterized by having the ridge of the roof aligned with the entrance of the building. The design of this roof is frequently observed on Colonial-style houses, but it is becoming more and more popular for contemporary structures.

14. Gable Roof with Shed Roof Addition

Certain gable roof designs feature a shed roof extension on one of the sides. This alteration to the standard gable roof is quite popular as it offers additional headroom and space for an extension without necessitating a complete overhaul of the existing roof.

15. Gambrel Roof


A gambrel roof is a type of roof that is often found in barns. It has a symmetrical design with two sides, featuring a shallow upper section and a steeper lower slope on each side. This design is optimized for maximizing the space within a building's loft. However, it is typically utilized for outhouses and barns because it may not be suitable for areas with heavy wind or snowfall.

16. Half Hipped Roof

A half-hipped roof design closely resembles a simple hip roof, with the only difference being that the two sides of the roof are shortened, resulting in eaves on both sides of the house. This roofing style offers increased flexibility for expanding into the attic and incorporating windows, resulting in a higher degree of natural illumination within the space.

17. Hexagonal Gazebo Roof

The intricate roofing design adds a unique touch to any garden gazebo, making it truly stand out. This type of roof is composed of six triangular roof panels and six supporting rafters. It is commonly used to create a distinctive and attractive gazebo addition to a residential or commercial garden lawn.

18. Hip and Valley Roof

Hip and valley roofs consist of four sloping surfaces, with two surfaces connected at a central ridge and the other two surfaces located at each end of the central ridge. The design bears a striking resemblance to the trapezoidal structure commonly found in gable roofs. The only notable difference is the presence of two triangular hip ends.

19. Jerkinhead Roof

Jerkinhead roofs, which are also referred to as clipped gables or snub gables, are a type of roof that features a gable roof design with the two peaked ends clipped off. This design offers an advantage in that the clipped ends help to minimize the risk of wind damage to the house, thereby enhancing the stability of the roof. Furthermore, the trimmed edges offer increased vertical space in the attic compared to a conventional hip roof.

20. Mansard Roof


A mansard roof is a type of roof that has four sides and a gambrel shape. Each side of the roof has a double slope, with a steep lower slope and a shallower upper slope. Mansard roofs are a popular choice for buildings that aim to maximize their living space. They offer the option of using the loft as an additional living area.

21. M-Shaped Roof

A roof that has an M-shape is a type of double-pitched roof, which means it consists of two gables. The roof is supported by two bearing walls, and two sloping walls converge at the center to create a 'M' shape. The central guttering is installed between the two pitches to prevent the accumulation of snow or rain during the winter season.

22. Open Gable Roof

An open gable roof is similar to a box gable roof, except that it lacks the boxed off sides on either end. This type of roof features open ends that meet the walls directly. There are no additional advantages or disadvantages to consider between the two options, as the decision is solely based on visual appeal.

23. Parapet Roof

A parapet roof is a type of flat roof where the walls of the building extend upwards past the roof by a few feet along the edges. Adding a parapet to a flat roof significantly enhances its safety by creating a small barrier that minimizes the risk of anyone standing on the roof from falling over the edge.

24. Pyramid Hip Roof

A pyramid hip roof is similar to a simple hip roof, except that the walls are square instead of rectangular. This results in a roof slope that comes to a point in a pyramid shape at the top of the building. This particular type of roof is highly resistant to strong winds, making it an excellent choice for areas that are prone to high winds or hurricanes.

25. Saltbox Roof

The design features an asymmetrical roof with one side sloping and flat, while the other side is more of a lean-to, resulting in a gable in the center. This distinctive and durable roofing style, which was once commonly seen in older colonial-style houses, is now frequently observed in industrial buildings and garages.

26. Shed Roof or Skillion

A skillion roof is a type of roof that features a single flat surface pitched at a steep angle, which allows for efficient water runoff. Skillion roofs, also referred to as 'shed roofs', are a cost-effective and straightforward roofing option. They are constructed using a single piece of roofing material.

27. Simple Hip Roof

The simple hip roof is a popular type of roof that features symmetrical gentle slopes on all four sides, sloping towards the walls. This type of roof does not have any gables or vertical sides. Hip roofs are characterized by their symmetrical design, where the roof faces have nearly identical pitches, resulting in a uniform appearance from the center point.

28. Skillion and Lean to Roof

A lean-to roof, which is similar to a skillion roof, consists of a single angled pitch. One end of the roof is supported by a wall that is higher than the other end. This design allows the roof to have a steeper pitch, which helps to efficiently drain rainwater during heavy rainfall.