The roof is a critical part of a house. It is primarily for your protection against the sun, rain, snow, and other elements but it also plays a huge role in your home’s curb appeal. That’s why when it comes to your roof, choosing the right roofing type is a vital aspect in making sure your roof project is done right.
To help you with this tough decision of choosing the right roofing material for your home, Howard Roofing & Home Improvements, the premier roofing company in St Louis, MO discusses the best roofing types for popular materials.
Gable
This is the most common roofing type for homes in the US. You can easily recognize this by its triangular shape. Due to their high pitch—or how the roof is angled—gable roofs can easily shed water and snow. These can also provide more space for attics and ventilation. The best roofing materials for gable roofs are:
- Asphalt shingles
- Cedar shakes
- Terra Cotta
- Metal
- Clay and concrete tiles
Hip
This roofing type is also a common sight all over the US. You can easily recognize hip roofs by the slopes on all four sides, which are all equal in length. Hip roofs are more stable than gables, making these the perfect roof type for windy, rainy, and snowy areas. The following roofing materials suit hip roofing:
- Shingles
- Metals
- Tiles
Mansard
Much like hip roofs, mansards are also equipped with four slopes on all four sides. The only difference is these feature a double slope, with the lower slope being steeper. Mansard roofs are ideal for classic homes and offers a great deal of space for a full attic or living space called a garret. These materials are ideal for mansard:
- Metal (copper or zinc) for the steep portion
- Wood or slate shingles for the “flat” part
Gambrel
A bit similar to mansards, gambrels have only two sides. This roof type is typically seen in a barn, farmhouses, log cabins, and in Dutch Colonial and Georgian homes.
Flat
These roofs are typically used in industrial and commercial buildings, although modern houses also utilize this type of roofing. Flat roofs feature a slight pitch to allow water to run off the drains. Suggested materials used for flat roofs include:
- Tar and gravel
- Roll roofing
- Metal sheets
- PVC
- TPO
- Rubber Membrane
To help you with your roofing in St Louis, MO and the surrounding areas, Howard Roofing & Home Improvements offers the best roofing products and services. For all your roofing needs—from different roofing types to varying roofing materials—we could handle them. We provide asphalt shingles, fiberglass, and architectural residential roofing systems, along with a variety of commercial roofing options.
Just give us a call and we can provide you with a FREE estimate on your next roofing project.