5 Sloping Roofs Styles That are a Cut Above the Rest
These modern houses approach the everyday roof from a different angle
A roof is one of the most functional aspects of any house, providing the very essence of shelter. But just because it serves this important purpose doesn’t mean it can’t be an exciting architectural feature. By considering the roof’s pitch – the steepness – and the combination or intersection of planes, you can turn your home not only into something visually unique, but into a more functional space for living. Here we consider five types of sloping roofs and their pitch-perfect benefits.
A monopitched roof allows for higher ceilings, provides space for clerestory windows (windows above eye level) under the eaves of the roof and enables architects to lengthen gallery windows on the seams of the house. This allows for an influx of natural light, enhanced views and a greater sense of spaciousness inside.
Browse through images of roof designs
Browse through images of roof designs
2. Butterfly, or inverted, gable roof
Resembling the wings of a butterfly, this roof consists of two planes that slant down toward each other. The butterfly roof gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s and is still used by architects today.
Resembling the wings of a butterfly, this roof consists of two planes that slant down toward each other. The butterfly roof gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s and is still used by architects today.
The butterfly roof eliminates the need for traditional gutter and downspout systems, as rainwater drains into the central trough, where it can be harvested. It can also boost the energy efficiency of the house, as solar panels can be strategically mounted at an angle to maximise the rays of the sun.
Here’s all you need to know about solar panels
Here’s all you need to know about solar panels
3. Oblique roof
Steeply pitched, an oblique roof appears like a giant wing soaring above a building’s outer edge.
Steeply pitched, an oblique roof appears like a giant wing soaring above a building’s outer edge.
As an oblique roof extends beyond the walls of the house, it provides privacy and shelter for outside entertaining areas while allowing natural light to filter inside.
Learn how to incorporate skylights to allow natural light inside
Learn how to incorporate skylights to allow natural light inside
4. Hyperbolic paraboloid, or saddle, roof
A hyperbolic roof curves both ways – following a convex curve about one axis and a concave curve about the other. The tension makes the roof appear as if it is stretched from corner to corner, creating a seemingly organic form. While progressive architects first used the hyperbolic paraboloid roof in the 1950s and 1960s, it still evokes a modern aesthetic today.
A hyperbolic roof curves both ways – following a convex curve about one axis and a concave curve about the other. The tension makes the roof appear as if it is stretched from corner to corner, creating a seemingly organic form. While progressive architects first used the hyperbolic paraboloid roof in the 1950s and 1960s, it still evokes a modern aesthetic today.
Because of its tensioned and curved structure, the roof requires minimal contact with exterior walls and no internal supports, as can be seen in this awning that shades a rooftop terrace. The hyperbolic roof is ideal for homeowners who want an open, light and economic building.
5. Sawtooth roof
A sawtooth roof is a series of ridges composed of a vertical glass window that meets a pitched roof. The name, obviously, refers to the fact that these roofs look like the teeth on a saw; they may have a single “tooth” or many “tooths.”
A sawtooth roof is a series of ridges composed of a vertical glass window that meets a pitched roof. The name, obviously, refers to the fact that these roofs look like the teeth on a saw; they may have a single “tooth” or many “tooths.”
Architects used sawtooth roofs in 19th-century factories before the days of electric lighting, when daylight needed to reach the deep, dark recesses of the buildings. A sawtooth roof more effectively exploits daylight, allowing natural light and warmth to spread further into the house.
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Do you know of any other particular styles of roofs? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
More:
Find an architect from the Houzz directory to design your home
Tell us:
Do you know of any other particular styles of roofs? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
A monopitched roof is a single sloping surface or roof plane angled in only one direction. A split monopitched roof, as on the house seen here, has two separate, unattached, nonintersecting planes.