Thinking about rebuilding or redesigning your roof for your roof replacement? Consider an unconventional roof style, which may be a better fit for your roofing needs. Check out some of these better-known unconventional roof styles.
Butterfly Roof
Take a gable roof and reverse the roofing planes so they form a “V”, and you get a shape that resembles a butterfly’s wings. This roofing type became popular in the 1950s and has since become associated with modern architectural styles. While its shape doesn’t allow a traditional attic space to be built, the taller exterior walls allow larger windows that can improve natural lighting.
Butterfly roofs are ideal for rainwater collection, as the gutter downspouts are installed at the bottom of the “V” shape. It should be noted that, as butterfly roofs have fewer downspouts, they require diligent roofing and gutter maintenance.
Shed Roof
A shed roof is also known as a skillion, or a lean-to, and consists of a single sloping roof. This makes one side of the structure taller than the other. While initially used on sheds and porches, shed roofs have since become a popular roofing style for contemporary architecture homes. A shed roof is simple to build and maintain and works with all types of roofing materials such as metal, asphalt shingle, and membrane roofing.
Gambrel Roof
Gambrel roofs are typically part of Dutch Colonial and Georgian style homes. Think of the gambrel roof as a gable roof, but with two slopes on each side: a steep top slope and a gentle bottom slope. The steep side often has dormers installed on it. Like its four-sided cousin, the mansard roof, a gambrel roof is ideal if you are looking into future expansion. The attic is more suitable for conversion as a living area, thanks to its boxier shape. The roof is also more visible from the curb, which can dramatically increase your home’s curb appeal.