The roof of a house is one of the main elements that contributes to the comfort and well-being of its occupants.
If the materials are very important in the quality of a roof, in addition to its aesthetic appearance, its shape has technical characteristics, each with their advantages and disadvantages. There are three main categories of roof shape, the main characteristics of which we present to you.
The sloping roof
The pitched roof is the most widespread form in France. Among other things, it has the advantage of being effective, particularly for the evacuation of rainwater. Its slope can be more or less accentuated depending on the surface of the house, the number of slopes of the roof or the height of the gable of the house. Local town planning rules can also define degrees of slope in order to best integrate the dwelling into the surrounding architecture. The materials that make up the roof can also define the slope of a roof. Tiles, for example, require a slope of at least 35 degrees.
The sloping roof, generally the least expensive of the roofs, can itself be of different shapes.
The two-sided roof
The pitched roof with two sides is the most common and the cost of which is the lowest. It adapts to almost any architectural style. We can also blame him for his lack of originality. It takes the form of an inverted V and its inclination is at least 15 degrees. This type of roof, which requires the installation of gutters at each end of the side, is particularly effective in evacuating rainwater. The pitched two-sided roof accepts all roofing materials, from tiles to slates .
This form of roof allows the installation of interior and exterior insulation. It also provides a comfortable surface in the attic.
The four-sided roof
The four-sided roof looks like a two-sided roof but with two trapezoidal slopes along its length and two triangular slopes at its ends. The side load-bearing walls of the house reach up to the roof ridge and form a gable. On this type of roof, the gutter goes all the way around the house.
This form of roof, of traditional style, is found more particularly on old buildings, bourgeois houses or farms. It is particularly suitable for very windy regions and its maintenance is quite easy.
On the other hand, the four-sided roof requires a complex framework, which has an impact on its cost.
The mansard roof
The mansard roof takes its name from its designer, the architect François Mansart. It is a two-sided roof whose ends are inclined downwards, in the classic style. This particular inclination leaves more space available under the roof than a two-sided roof for, for example, fitting out the attic.
Mono-pitch roof
The mono-pitch roof, also called a shed roof, is in the form of a single sloped surface of more than 15 degrees. It can also be presented with two double slopes, that is to say with two lean-to sections placed at different heights, leaving room for the installation of large windows or bay windows, for example.
This form of roofing requires the installation of a gutter on only one side of the house. It can be covered with different materials such as tiles or slates. Mono-pitch roofing is often used in mountainous regions to facilitate the accumulation of snow on the roof.
The coam roof
The coam roof helps to give a rustic look to a house. Also called upturned roof, this type of roof has a softened slope at the bottom of its slopes. It has the advantage of facilitating the flow of rainwater and preserving the walls of the house.
The flat roof or terrace
As its name suggests, a flat roof, also called a flat roof , is made up of a single, very slightly inclined horizontal section (less than 15 degrees of slope) to facilitate the evacuation of rainwater. Its particularity lies in the absence of a frame, replaced by a load-bearing structure in wood, metal or concrete. Its wind resistance is also maximum.
The flat roof is relatively easy to set up and makes it easy to install solar panels or to fit out a green roof , for example. It can also be planned to be accessible to the inhabitants, thus creating additional square meters in particular to install a place of relaxation there or to create a small garden which the house lacks.
In terms of insulation, a roof terrace allows the installation of insulating materials from the outside, for maximum space saving inside the house.
Aesthetically, this type of roof is ideal for modern and contemporary style homes.
The rounded roof
Round type roofing is not very common. For its originality and its atypical aesthetics which comes in the form of a single curvature or a double curvature among others, it is however developing with the increase in the construction of houses in the design style in particular. Also because this form of roofing allows the use of modern and innovative roofing materials such as zinc, sheet metal and even wood. A rounded roof also leaves a large surface area in the attic.
