02/11/2026
a comprehensive visual guide titled "Types of Roofs," which illustrates 16 different architectural roofing styles. Each style is presented with a 3D model of a house and its corresponding standard roof pitch (slope) measured in inches of rise per 12 inches of run.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the information provided in the chart:
TRADITIONAL & COMMON STYLES
These are the foundational designs seen in most residential neighborhoods.
• Gable Roof (): The classic "A-frame" shape with two sloping sides meeting at a ridge.
• Hip Roof (): All four sides slope downward to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope.
• Dutch Gable Roof (): A hybrid design featuring a small gable at the top of a hip roof.
• Hip & Valley Roof (): A more complex version of a hip roof used on buildings with multiple wings or "L" shapes, creating "valleys" where roof planes meet.
COMPLEX & HERITAGE STYLES
These styles often offer more interior space or a specific historical aesthetic.
• Cross Gable Roof (): Features two or more gable rooflines that intersect, typically at right angles.
• Gambrel Roof ( & ): Often associated with barns; it has two different slopes on each side—one shallow and one very steep.
• Saltbox Roof ( & ): Characterized by an asymmetrical design where one side is much longer and lower than the other.
• Jerkinhead Roof (): A gable roof where the peaks are "clipped" or turned down, resembling a short hip.
MODERN & UNIQUE GEOMETRIES
These designs are often used for modern aesthetics or specific functional purposes like drainage or light.
• Pyramid Roof (): A type of hip roof where all four sides meet at a single point at the top.
• Clerestory Roof (): Features a vertical wall with windows between two sloping roof planes, allowing natural light into the center of a home.
• Butterfly Roof (): An inverted V-shape where the two roof planes slope inward toward the middle, resembling butterfly wings.
• Bonnet Roof ( & ): A hip roof with a change in slope; the lower edge flares out, often to cover a porch.
INDUSTRIAL & MINIMALIST STYLES
Simple geometries often found in modern extensions, commercial buildings, or barns.
• M Roof (): Essentially two gable roofs joined together, creating a shape that looks like the letter "M."
• Shed Roof (): A single, sloping roof plane. It is simple, modern, and effective for shedding water in one direction.
• Flat Roof (): Almost level, though it usually has a very slight pitch () to ensure water drainage.
• Arched Roof: A curved design without a specific pitch ratio, often used for large spans like warehouses or unique modern homes.