I remember the first time I saw a home with a Gambrel roof. It was a gorgeous, large home down the road from a childhood friend’s home.
My first thought was that it was a barn turned into a home. As a kid I thought that was a pretty cool concept.
Later, of course, I learned that most homes with a gambrel roof were not converted barns, but instead the home was built with the gambrel roof design.
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What is a Gambrel Roof?
A is a with 4 sides instead of 2 sides. It has the appearance of a , but the of the top sides are not as steeply sloping as the bottom sides.
A is sometimes also known as a dutch colonial , and while the origins of the are unknown, it can be seen on barns and houses from the 1600s onwards in North America.
In short – if a has a symmetrical, with two slopes on either side – and the is the steeper of the two – then this is a .
fall under the category of multi-pitched roofs because they have multiple ‘peaks’ and consequently different angles. It can be confusing to research because this style of goes by other names – and is often miscategorized as a , dual-pitched, or .
It is similar to a but is sloped in one direction (rather than both directions). The great thing about the is the fact that it can be combined with other multi-pitched roofs to create an interesting facade. For example a with a , or a jutting outward to create a walkway.
The combinations are endless, but all come back to the standard . If all of this information is a bit too difficult to conceptualize then take a look at the diagram below
Here’s a gambrel roof diagram:
Combinations
The can be implemented in many ways into a such as:
- Valley (juts out)
Check out our pictures of homes with below to get a sense of the many designs you can implement. We’ve taken a look at the most typical examples, but this is by no means the only style of you could go for.
As you will see from the pictures, you can incorporate a in combination with just about any
We’ve included buildings with an intricate for inspiration, as well as a design along with other styles such as .
Home with an intricate roof design that includes a gambrel design along with other roof styles such as gable.
Source: Architectural Designs
Here’s a home with 2 large gambrel dormers or valley roof sections.
Source: Zillow DigsTM
Classic gambrel roof running full length of the home.
Here’s a gambrel roof with a large overhang in the front creating a covered porch.
Gambrel roof with no overhang.
Source: Architectural Designs
Main home has gambrel roof and attached garage has gable roof.
Source: Architectural Designs
Three story brick home with gambrel roof.
Large home with multiple gambrel sections including running the full length of the home as well as large gambrel shaped dormers.
Source: Zillow DigsTM
Classic gambrel roof with slight overhang.
Gambrel roof with no overhang on sides and no overhang on ends.
Source: Architectural Designs
Home with front facing gambrel roof along with matching gambrel shaped dormer.
Source: Zillow DigsTM
Photograph of a quaint red gambrel roof style cottage home.
Magnificent shingle-style home with gambrel roof design.
Source: Zillow
Interesting home with a combo gambrel and gable roof over the garage. The gable sits atop the gambrel.
Source: Zillow
End of the gambrel roof serves as front of the home. Dormers are different styles including sloped and gable.
Source: Zillow
Picture of a home with a gambrel roof with sloped dormers. The bottom of the gambrel flares outward with a slight bow.
Source: Architectural Designs
Interesting gambrel roof with one side of the roof extending much further down than the other side.
Gambrel shape viewed from front of the home.
Source: Zillow
Classic vacation shingle-style home with large gambrel roof.
Related: Parts of a Roof Truss | Types of Roof Trusses
: FAQ
While you know by now that a is simply a , it helps to have a bit of background knowledge to help you in terms of planning out home remodeling or even maintenance. For example, knowing your from your designs.
It helps to have some terminology at hand, especially when working with an architect or designer, but more than anything it’d just cool to learn about a new topic!
Check out the most frequently asked and useful questions when it comes to roofs:
What is the difference between a and a ?
Explained basically, a is that a has four sides, while a only has two.
Is a a good choice for an ?
In short, the answer is usually yes. are good for attics and additional floors because of the extra space they provide. They can provide an area for additional storage or , or even a clever mezzanine, without taking up additional space.
What is a good material for a ?
This answer is complicated, but in general does well in the , because the section of the is at such an angle that heavy snowfall or rain can accumulate without running off as quickly s you might like.
provides a watertight material and allows for quick drainage. If you don’t like the sound of a , wood shakes are also a preferred material for , as they play into the rustic theme of this style of .
What is the worst material for a ?
In general, a does not do well in the . This is because are susceptible to the buildup of debris and snow, and the angle of the means that high winds blow up the can take off lighter materials, such as . Therefore it is better to avoid this .
What is similar to a
A is similar to a as it is effectively a four-sided with a top. However, there are other similarly rustic style roofs that are comparable to the – such as the , which can often be seen on conversions.
Source: Zillow