What is the difference between gable and hip roof

Thus, homeowners have more room to direct the downspouts away from the driveway. It may be a challenge to choose the right roof for your garage, home, or even your gazebo. Should you put climate conditions, beauty, or cost first? Your next step is to learn about the types of shingles and decide which fits your new roof best. All rights reserved. The information on this website is subject to change without notice. IKO assumes no responsibility for errors that may appear on this website. IKO strives to accurately reproduce the screen images of the shingle swatches and house photos shown.

However, due to manufacturing variances, the limitations of your monitor resolution and the variation in natural exterior lighting, actual colors may vary from the images you see. To ensure complete satisfaction you should make final color selections from several full size shingles and view a sample of the product installed on a home. Please refer to our Legal Notices for U. Location set to view all. Show All Products. Hip Roof vs. Gable Roof. What is a gable roof? What is a hip roof?

A hip roof has four sloping sides, without a flat face. Pyramid hip: The simplest hip roof is a pyramid hip or square hip roof. This roof looks like a pyramid, making a single peak at the top.

Basic hip roofs will instead have a ridge as shown on the hip roof above. When a pyramid roof sits on top of a gazebo or other garden structure it is called a pavilion roof. Mansard roof: For this roof style, each side of the roof has two slopes. The bottom slope is steeper than the top slope. Combination: A combination roof is the opposite of the mansard. It flares out at the bottom all of the way around the roof.

The lower level of the roof is at a much lower pitch. Hip and valley: This variant of a hip roof includes valleys. Valleys are spots where two roof planes meet and project downwards. Hip and valley roofs have been popular in recent years. Gambrel: A gambrel is the gable version of a mansard roof. The sides of the roof have two different slopes.

Instead of a triangle, the gable will be a more complex shape. This roof type is common on barns. Saltbox: This is a quintessential colonial-style roof.

It features an open gable roof, where one end of the roof extends further than the other. The result is an asymmetrical roof and a home with much more space than one with a similarly sized open gable roof. Just like the hip roof, gable roofs can have variations such as open, boxed, cross-gabled, gambrel, jerkinhead, and dutch gable. Both jerkinhead and dutch gable roofs are a hybrid of a gable and hip roof.

The jerkinhead roof slopes the ends of the top ridge down partially into the gable. A dutch gable roof looks like a gable roof built on top of a hip roof where the bottom portions are sloped on all sides.

There is a reason why both designs are still being used today, though their designs do have their pros and cons. There are several factors to consider when choosing one of these for a new roof build or when buying a home. What is the weather like in the region? How much space do you need? What about energy efficiency? How much money do you want to spend on construction?

Both hip and gable roofs do well in snow and rainy regions. The construction strength of the hip roof can support the weight of snow on top and the pitch of a gable roof can shed rain and snow easily. However, if you are building or buying a home in a high wind region or where storms such as hurricanes are present, a hip roof is a better option. Hip roofs are made with self-bracing, structurally durable construction, lower pitches, and usually have less large surface areas that can catch the damaging winds.

Compared to gable roofs where the higher pitch areas have more of a tendency to lose shingles in high winds and the gable side can behave like a kite, possibly resulting in roof failure or detachment. It is important that gable roofing is installed properly and with adequate bracing. If you are looking for more storage or living space, go with a gable roof. They are best utilized as a small attic for storage.

A gable roof can have plenty of room for storage and living. By adding windows to the gables, you can add light to the space as well. Two common roof types we see on homes in both New England and the D. The main difference between a hip and gable roof are the slopes on its sides. This means that it is sloped on all sides and the slopes all meet at the peak of the roof of a square structure, and if the structure is a rectangle, the ends slope inward to form a ridge with the adjacent sides.

While gable roofs are more common in the United States, hip roofs are actually more stable, which is one of their biggest wins in the hip versus gable roof comparison. Their inward slope on all four sides and self-bracing design make them sturdy, durable roofing options, making them to be an excellent choice for homeowners who live in areas with a lot of snow and high winds. The consistent look all around the house with even eaves and roof sizes can help make your home more aesthetically pleasing.

Gable roofs look different on each side since, obviously, they include gables , and while some homeowners might not mind the inconsistency in appearance, many prefer consistent eaves all around the house. Low roof slopes can be difficult to roof in some cases since some roof types require a steep slope to work properly. Hip roofs, however, can be used on low-sloping roofs and be very stable. When comparing gable and hip roofs, you must consider the cost.

While they are sturdier and more durable, hip roofs tend to be more expensive than gable roofs, another of the most noteworthy differences in a gable roof versus hip roof comparison. Hip roofs tend to be complex in design, requiring more materials and skill to install. Fortunately, Long Roofing offers a variety of payment options to make roofing upgrades more affordable.

This is why you never want to work with an inexperienced roofer when installing your hip roof, since the money they might be able to save you on installation will be nothing compared to the expense of repairing the bad installation, or even getting a whole new installation. Only ever work with roofing professionals who have the right experience.

When looking at the difference between hip and gable roofs to find the best option for your home, you must consider the slope of your roof.

If your priority in a roof is to have as much attic space as possible, then a hip roof will not be your best option. A half-hip roof is typically an add-on to a gable roof.

Sometimes called a clipped-gable or a jerkin-head roof, this type of roof depicts a small modification of a gable roof. It occurs when the end of the gable includes a small hip roof section sloping off the ridge.