It’s no doubt we all want a house that looks good. Knowing what makes your humble abode safe and stable to live in counts even more.
Whether you’re building your new home or re-framing your current roof, a key factor is knowing which roofing structure works best. Additionally, what makes it critical is the cost of replacing your roof whenever you want to.
On top of aesthetics, it’s nice to consider how a roof enhances your home’s living conditions. Does your roof protect you from getting soaked? Does it create enough space for comfort?
If you’re unsure of which type to go for, read on below to know why the gable roof is a great roof choice for your home:
What Is A Gable On A Roof?
The gable roof is the most popular design for houses. When you visit subdivisions, I’m sure you notice a lot of homes with triangular-shaped roofs. This is what makes the gable the easiest to distinguish among other roof types.
A gable is as simple as drawing a triangle. If you fold a piece of paper in the middle, the triangular shape you see on both ends make up the gables of the roof.
It’s also easy to imagine a gable roof since it’s only made of three parts. The roof frame consists of a ceiling joist for its base, and two rafters for each side.
Many opt for a gabled roof because of its simple and sturdy structure. It’s built with fewer materials and it isn’t complex in design compared to other roofs. Additionally, it’s the least expensive type of roof to construct.
Others might find the gable design too plain or dull. If you want to get creative, you could combine it with dormers, hips, and valleys to make it look more aesthetic.
Another key feature of gable roofs is how almost any type of material is used to cover its surface. Even with design changes, you don’t have to worry about finding compatible materials to cover its surface.
Benefits of a Gable Roof
We’ve discussed what a gable roof is, and I’m sure we’re now all familiar with one. Still, you might wonder why people opt for a gable roof for their homes.
Choosing a roof design makes all the differences in your new home. It’s challenging to find one that meets all your needs.
You should consider how well your roof functions for your home, and how you enjoy it. To give you a better idea, we’ve listed below the benefits of having a gable roof for your home:
Spaciousness
For those who wish to maximize living space, a gable roof would be most ideal for this purpose. Its vaulted ceiling design creates a higher floor-to-ceiling height.
Gabled roofs are perfect for creating more living space in your home, such as an attic space. If you wish to build an extra room, you can add a dormer to its roof and windows on the gable wall.
Ventilation
In regions with cooler climates, having a gable roof allows more airflow within your home. This makes the gabled roof an excellent ventilator.
Gable roofs create proper air circulation during extreme weather conditions. When wind passes the slope of the gable, it creates a low-pressure zone to exert a lift on the roof. This lift sucks the air out of the top roof vents.
In the summer, it could get very humid up in your attic space. You don’t have to worry about high temperatures damaging your roofing.
Gable roofs remove excess moisture from heat. Additionally, this roof design makes your home breathable given any weather condition.
Leakage Prevention
The gable roof prevents any roof leaks or snow build-ups on its surface. Because of its slope, rain or snow that falls on its surface is quick to slide off.
This makes the gable roof perfect for withstanding day-to-day weather conditions. Regardless of any weather or season, a roof gable guarantees you stay dry all year round within your home.
Types of Gable Roofs
The standard triangular gable roofing is easy to distinguish. Because of its simple design, you might want to get creative with your roofing structure.
There are many ways for you to transform your gable roof to make your house look more aesthetic. To give you an idea, here are the different types of gable roofs you might want to explore:
Front Gable Roof
A front gable is the most common placement you’ll see for homes in subdivisions. Its design refers to the peak or gable facing the facade of your home.
Despite its simple design, the front gable is one of the most popular roof types for Colonial style homes. A front gable is a classic design that’s clean and elegant, which is why you can never go wrong with it.
Side Gable Roof
A standard gabled design features its front door on the same side of the gabled area. Unlike the front gable, the location of the front door faces the non-gabled area of your house.
This gives you the impression of a house that’s lengthy, horizontal-wise. It also creates a wider view from across or parallel to the front of your home.
Cross Gable Roof
A cross gable roof is two gable roof sections that meet together at the right angle. These two roof sections create wings that cross perpendicular to the section where they meet.
It isn’t rare to see a house with two gable roofs. If you don’t want a flat-looking layout for your home, a cross gable roof is perfect for creating different sections.
For those whose homes come with separate wings, a cross gable roof enhances the look of this type of layout.
Dutch Gable Roof
A Dutch gable roof is a combination of the gable and the hip roof. This is because when you see one, you’ll notice the gable roof is on top of the hip roof structure.
Putting these two roofs together gives you more ceiling space and looks aesthetic for your home.
Are Gable Roofs Structurally Strong?
If you’re concerned about the safety of roofs and their structures, you might wonder how safe a gable roof is for your home.
Because gable roofs are common, it doesn’t mean they aren’t good for homeowners to have. Still, it’s best to be on the safe side. Not all gabled roofs are weak in structure. In fact, they are durable to last you for a long time.
The wrong materials and improper construction may compromise the quality of your gable roof.
Here are factors you should know that might damage your gable roof:
Material Quality
Gable roofs can be problematic for areas prone to turbulent weather, such as hurricanes and wind storms. High winds ; however, aren’t the only reason your gable roof is wearing down fast.
It may also mean that your gable roof is of low-quality materials. Some of the best roofing materials used for gable roofs include asphalt shingles, cedar shakes, terracotta, and metal tiles. We do not recommend a TPO roofing system.
Lack of support
If your gable roof’s trusses and framing are not assembled with adequate support, this could cause it to collapse. The two slopes of your gable roof must be well-supported to stand firm during high winds.
You must see to it that your contractor assembles the roof well. If your gable roof has dormers, its structure could be a bit more complicated.
To prevent water from leaking, using asphalt shingles can help prevent potential leaking.
Wide Overhangs
A gable roof has two slopes only, unlike the hip roof. Additionally, gable roofs only have two overhangs for each of the two sides.
If you widen the overhang of your gable roof, strong winds can uplift it from underneath. This makes your roof more susceptible to peeling or detaching.
Overhangs are to protect the walls and windows from sunlight and rain. In this case, gable roofs shouldn’t have too much overhang.
What Is The Difference Between A Hip Roof and A Gable Roof?
Another popular type of roof structure used is the hip roof. Hip roofs are like gable roofs, but with an inward slope on all four sides.
Because of its structure, hip roofs are most suitable for high wind and snowy areas. They’re also sturdy enough to withstand strong storms.
Between the two roofs, a hip roof is less steep in design. This reduces the height of your attic space. If you want to increase the living space for this area, you’ll have to construct a dormer.
Unlike gable roofs, you’ll notice how hip roofs have overhangs on all four sides. This makes it better at protecting your walls and windows from sunlight or rainfall.
A hip roof is more expensive and complicated to build. You’ll have to be careful when modifying the hip roof structure. Adding dormers, hips, and valleys may increase the possibility of roof leaks.
For those exposed to turbulent weather conditions, hip roofs are a stable and durable alternative.
Final Note
There are many types of roofs to choose from, depending on the layout and structure of your house. For many years, roofs have become simpler over time.
It’s not about the most complex and intricate design to build. Roofs with simple but sturdy structures can guarantee you the safety and comfort you need.
With this, opting for a gable roof for your home saves you more on costs and construction time.
If you’re choosing a new roof, a gable roof is a classic structure that looks good and works best to guarantee your safety.