The length of time your roof will last has a lot to do with the type of material used on the roof and the climate in your region. Not all roof types have the same aesthetic and life expectancy; some are tailor-made for particular conditions. Our discussion of the various roof types and how long …
Yes, you can paint roof shingles. No, you can’t paint roof shingles. What? You Can’t Paint Terra Cotta Tiles As noted by home improvement expert Bob Vila, the type of roof your home or business has decided whether or not you can paint it. If your structure uses terra cotta roof tiles, then you can’t paint …
The phrase, “you get what you pay for,” applies to most building materials. This can be especially true when looking at the variety of shingles available for roofing, and the price range is equally diverse. As the cost increases, the longevity of a roof increases also. While every part of your building is essential, not …
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home or are looking for a way to do your part for the environment, you’ve probably heard of solar roofing shingles. But what exactly are they and are they really worth the investment? Fear not – this guide will tell you everything you nee to know about solar roofing …
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: Types of Roof Vents | Types of Roof Trusses | Types of Roof Overhangs | How Long Do Roofs Last 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. The hip roof is …
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 …
Quicklist: Roofing Shingles Three-Tab Asphalt Arhcitectural Hip and Ridge Metal Standing Seam Metal Shake Sheet Metal Wood Ceramic Tile Metal Tile Concrete Tile Bituminous Tile Polymer-Sand Tile Copper Tile Composite Tile Slate Rubber Laminate Copper Sheet Living (Green Roof) Solar Shingles Impact-Resistant Shingles Cool Roofing Shingles PVC Shingles This might boggle your mind. 30 years …
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 …
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 roofing designs such as a gable roof sitting atop a gambrel or variations of …
The roof truss structure and design are integral to the roof’s structural integrity and shape. There are many types of roof trusses (as well as many types of roofs)… more types than there are parts. This article and series of illustrated diagrams show you all the parts of a basic roof truss, king truss, and …
Just as there are many types of roofs with many roof parts, there are many different types of roof trusses. This extensive article explains through a series of custom truss diagrams the different truss configurations you can use for various roofs. While this article focuses on configurations, we also have a very cool set of illustrations …
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 …
Welcome to our gallery featuring delicate cedar roof designs. Take a look around your neighborhood. What kind of roofing do you see? Nowadays, asphalt shingles are a very popular choice. Most of the time, asphalt is the most cost effective. Just because your neighborhood is flourishing with asphalt shingles doesn’t mean you should follow the group. …
Welcome to our gallery featuring a selection of incredible rooftop patio designs. As the urban landscape expands, we often find ourselves with small or non-existent backyards, which means a patio is out of the question. Or is it? Designing our homes with a rooftop patio is the perfect way to create an outdoor relaxation area …
Welcome to our gallery featuring an astonishing array of rooftop swimming pools. Patios and gardens are not the only novel use for rooftops. In some rare and beautiful cases, a swimming pool is a great use of that space too! Having a pool is a great use of this extra space to create a fun and relaxing …
Welcome to our gallery featuring a spectacular array of green roofs, one of the most innovative yet natural roofing solutions ever. We wanted to bring you a collection of roofs that covered the wildly varied and intriguing constructs also known as living roofs. A living roof is a roof of a building that is at least partially or …