One of the common dilemmas faced by those aspiring to build a house is whether to opt for sloped roofs or flat roofs. This is a significant factor in determining the architectural style and visual appeal of a home, and also affects its functionality and durability. This blog is a comprehensive guide on sloping roofs, detailing out the common types of sloping roofs, material options and limitations, so that you can make an informed decision while building your home. Continue reading to learn more.
What is a Sloping Roof?
A roof which has an inclination angle of more than ten degrees against its normal or horizontal is termed as a sloping roof or pitched roof. Such roofs are commonly found in areas with frequent and heavy rainfall or snowfall due to faster drainage of water or snow accumulated on rooftops. However, these roofs are also a popular choice for homeowners living in areas with moderate rainfall due to aesthetic preferences as a sloping roof house is generally considered as traditional. However, new technologies and innovative designs have enabled the incorporation of sloped roofs into modern home designs as well.
Types of Sloping Roofs
Sloping roofs can be designed and constructed in a wide range of shapes and types, enabling enhanced customisation based on aesthetic considerations and individual preferences. A few types based on their shapes are discussed below.
Mono Pitched or Shed Roof
This is a type of roof which is inclined along only one direction and represents the simplest form of a sloping roof. Since this type of a roof consists of only one plane that forms the roofing surface, it is quick and easy to construct. Mono-pitched roofs also offer the advantage of mounting solar panels in the optimal direction for receiving maximum sunlight.
Gabled Roof
A gabled roof has two sloping surfaces that meet at the top (called ridge) and form a triangular shape, with the other two sides generally being vertically straight. This is one of the most commonly found sloping roof types due to the versatility it offers with its variations, which include cross gabled, Dutch gabled, double gabled and double cross-gabled roofs.
Hip Roof
A hip roof has a horizontal ridge (peak) from which four sloping surfaces originate on four sides, forming a trapezoid in elevation. Such roofs are more commonly found in rural India. Multiple variations are available in this type too, such as double hip, cross hip and pyramidal hip roofs.
Mansard Roof
Mansard roofs are combinations of flat and sloping roofs that originated in Europe in the 15th century. One flat surface forms the top of the roof, with sloping surfaces—that can be straight, concave, convex or curve shaped—surrounding it on two or four sides. This type of sloping roof house design is not generally observed in India since it is expensive, time consuming and labour intensive.
Sawtooth Roof
This is a type of sloping roof with multiple ridges and sloping surfaces forming a jagged surface. Sawtooth roofs generally incorporate glass on slopes facing a particular direction to allow additional natural light into interior spaces and create a unique and modern slope roof elevation. However, this type of roof is expensive to build and difficult to maintain.
Options for Sloping Roof Materials
Although traditional sloping roofs featured tiles of different materials placed on some sort of framework, there are numerous other roofing material options available today to cover sloping roofs.
Concrete Sloping Roof
A concrete sloping roof is one of the simplest and most cost-effective types of pitched roofs to execute. However, ensuring quality of concreting, curing and waterproofing is crucial, without which the concrete can develop cracks and cause long-term water seepage and leakage issues.
Tiled Sloping Roof
Roofing tiles are available in various materials such as clay, concrete, fibre cement, slate and metal, providing a versatile range of finishing options. These are placed on a framework which is generally made of steel or wood and can be easily replaced in case of damage. However, most tile materials are vulnerable to even slight environmental changes.
Sheet Roof
Roofing sheets are commonly used for industrial buildings and not for homes, due to the heat that they generally trap inside buildings. They are available in numerous materials that could be metal or plastic based.
Wood Sloping Roof
This is a type of sloping roof which is comparatively more sustainable and includes multiple wooden panels or battens that are joined together. Care should be taken to ensure that properly seasoned wood with adequate termite treatment is used, in order to ensure that the wood does not rot and remains durable.
Limitations of Sloping Roofs for Home Construction
Generally a necessity in areas with heavy rainfall, a few practical difficulties with sloping roofs limit their usage in urban Indian cities for modern home designs.
- Water Management: Sloping roofs require additional provisions of gutter pipes to ensure that water does not flow down with heavy force onto the ground. Although this is not a crucial requirement, it is a practical option for water management.
- Leakage/ Seepage: Issues of leakage and seepage of water from the roof are more frequently found in sloping types than in flat ones. This is because waterproofing sloping roofs is much more difficult (except in concrete sloping roofs).
- Access for Maintenance: Unless an additional or special catwalk is provided (which is rare), sloping roofs are difficult to walk on and access for maintenance purposes.
- Usability: While flat rooftops allow their usage as terraces, the space above a modern sloped roof design is rendered unusable. This is a major drawback as terraces provide the only open space accessible in most homes and are an essential part of Indian homes.
Sloping Roof vs Flat Roof: Which is Right for Your Home?
While constructing a home, one of the most important decisions to take is whether to opt for a sloping roof or a flat roof. Here are some of the important things that must be considered while making this decision:
- Climatic Conditions: While flat roofs work well in regions with moderate climates and in regions with low rainfall (having hot and dry climates), sloping roof house designs are a necessity in regions with heavy rains or snowfall to aid in effective drainage and avoid issues like water seepage.
- Family Needs: It is crucial to assess the family’s current needs as well as expected future growth. If house extensions may need to be undertaken in the future, flat roofs are ideal to allow such growth. The process may be much more difficult or even impossible in homes with a sloped roof elevation.
- Aesthetics: The roof design must match the overall architectural language of the house. Sloped roofs typically look more traditional and are reminiscent of vernacular architecture, while flat roofs usually give a more contemporary feel.
Getting the Best Sloping Roof Design
Designing and selecting the right type of sloping roof with the right materials is a crucial aspect of home construction based on various factors such as climatic conditions, usage requirements and aesthetic considerations. Although a sloping roof is a visually pleasing option, its design involves numerous technicalities such as ensuring the right waterproofing techniques, access planning and accurate calculation of inclination angles. It is therefore advisable to consult with experts such as architects, structural engineers and contractors to ensure the ideal type and design of roof for your house. Contact Brick & Bolt to provide you with end-to-end construction solutions and ensure that all your needs for a dream home are fulfilled!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is considered a sloped roof?
A roof which has an inclination angle of more than ten degrees against its normal or horizontal is considered to be a sloping roof or pitched roof.
- What are the advantages of a sloped roof?
A sloped roof allows efficient drainage of rain, water and/or snow, often has enhanced aesthetics and may help create additional attic/ loft spaces.
- Are sloped roofs more expensive?
Sloped roofs with metal frames are generally cheaper than conventional flat roofs, while concrete sloped roofs may be more expensive.
- What is a roof with four sloping sides called?
A roof with four sloping sides along four different directions is called a hip roof.
- What are sloping roofs used for?
The main purpose of using sloping roofs is to effectively drain out rain/ snow, preventing their seepage into enclosed spaces and thus enhancing building durability.
Apoorva H P Achar