There are a surprising few types of roofs for the home. While 36 sounds like a lot, when you check out our list below, several are variations of one type. Intricate roofs have many parts that incorporate several of the basic roof designs such as a gable roof sitting atop a gambrel or variations of …
You’ve most likely seen all the standard roof designs and you’ve probably looked right past them. You probably don’t think a whole lot about roofs until you see one that really stands out as a design that’s actually interesting and unique. And if a roof is ever going to seriously turn your head, it’s probably …
Related: Hip and Valley Roof | Types of Roof Shingles | Types of Roof Vents | Types of Roofs | Types of Roof Trusses What is a hip roof? A hip roof or a hipped roof is a style of roofing that slopes downwards from all sides to the walls and hence has no vertical sides. …
If you were one of the many people who read the “Game of Thrones” books, or maybe “Lord of the Rings,” then you’re already familiar with the word “parapet.” Pretty much every single book set in any sort of medieval-like era mentions this word. The thing is, parapets aren’t just for thousand-year-old castles in Europe…or …
Jerkinhead actually sounds a bit like a sick burn. In fact, you may want to try it out on that annoying guy who’s always on your nerves. Unless he’s a roofing contractor, an architect, or a truly avid DIYer, he probably won’t know that this is actually a roof style and not a great insult. …
So, it sounds like “shed roof” is really just any roof you slap on top of a shed. And by one definition, that’s exactly what it is. But if you’ve got a shed with a roof, that roof has a specific name that refers to the design. As imprecise as “shed roof” may sound, this …
If you’re familiar with architecture in New England, then you’ve heard of a saltbox house before. This style was all over New England in the 1800s and you can still find saltbox homes all over the area to this day. But it’s not so much about the house itself. It’s really the roof that makes …
Hey, it’s always great when you’ve got a frosty mug of beer. But what if you add a bowl of pretzels to that thirst-quenching drink? How about putting the game on the big screen TV, too? Now, you’ve taken that beer to a whole new level of awesomeness. The mansard roof is pretty much the …
It’s the 1940s. TV still isn’t even really a thing. Soldiers are returning from overseas. And all over the U.S., life is booming. Factories are turning out goods at fast speeds, car companies are putting new designs on the roads, people are having lots and lots of children. And in the neighborhoods among the shade …
When you’re out driving, walking, or riding, you’ll always notice the silhouette of a gambrel roof right away. You probably have no idea what it’s called, where it came from, or how old the design is, but you are definitely familiar with this roof. The gambrel roof is one of those designs that crop up …
You may not know what it’s called, but you know the gable roof. This is the roof you probably picture as soon as you think of a roof. It’s the roof that children always draw when they’re creating a picture of a house. It’s the most common and recognizable roof style in the U.S. But …
So, you may not be able to figure out what a drill press does just from the name or reason your way to discovering the function behind a bradawl. But some things are named for exactly what they are, like a screwdriver. This is the case with the hip and valley roof. Put simply, this …
Like most people, you probably think of a bonnet as one of those old-fashioned hats women used to wear. You might not even know that your house can have a bonnet, too. The bonnet roof is one of the most unique roof designs, but most people have no idea what it’s called. Find out what …
It goes without saying, but a new roof is sometimes needed (no matter if you have a commercial or residential property) for various reasons. Perhaps you purchased an older home with a roof that hasn’t been replaced in a few decades; or maybe the building you own went through a severe thunderstorm, causing irreparable roof …
Do you need to replace your roof? Every house incurs this cost at some point. A leaky roof will only cost you more in the long run. It’s best to deal with it when needed. Yes, a new roof is expensive regardless of which type of roof shingle you get. The good news is that …
What is a Soffit? Soffit is an architectural term that can be used in three contexts. The soffit can refer to: the horizontal underside (interior or exterior) of a construction element. any structure used to fill the space between a ceiling and the top of wall-mounted cabinets. material that connects an outside wall to a …
This just might boggle your mind. 30 years ago you just had to choose between asphalt, wood or clay (ceramic) tile roofing shingles. Most people opted for asphalt. From there it was choose a color scheme. These days, it isn’t so easy. There are so many different types of roofing shingles that it’s mind-boggling. With …
Once first raindrops and on your head inside the house you live in, it is too late to think about prevention, as you need to focus on repairing your roof. If there is a hole up there, then even a 5-minute shower will cause you problems but that might be for the greater good. This …
The idea of roof vents existed for hundreds of years with natural vents employed in Chinese buildings during the Tang Dynasty, natural ventilation ducts in the Buddhist monks’ caves, and wind catchers incorporated in Arabian architecture. Vent roofs with steeples, towers, or cupolas can be found in different buildings from barns to cathedrals. The building …
Boring? Yes. Important, YES. Gutters are an important consideration for your home to help prevent water damage inside and outside of your home. While there are alternatives to gutters, most homes use some form of gutter system. At some point, you must replace and/or repair your gutters. In order to do this, it helps to …
Like many aspects of a home, a roof is fairly complex. There are quite a few parts of a roof on a home including different layers and features. Below we created a very helpful custom diagram that illustrates the various features and layers of a typical roof. For more information about roofs, check out our …