Building a home is a big deal. You want to get everything right all the way down to the little details. One part of this is your home’s roof. Even if you don’t notice a home’s roof too much when driving past, the shape, size, material, and color of a roof has a big effect on the overall look and feel of a home. However, there are a lot of options, and many homeowners may feel overwhelmed when trying to decide on the roofing for their house.
One of those roofing shapes is the gable roof. Gable roofs are one of the most popular types of roofs seen on homes in the US. Learn more about this roof style so you can make an educated decision when designing your new home.
What is a Gable Roof?
Gable roofs are also known as peaked or pitched roofs, and they’re one of the more traditional roof styles that most people envision when they think of a roof. Gable roofs have two sloping sides that meet at the top to form a triangle shape known as a “gable.”
Far from being just one triangle shape, however, most homes that use a gable roofing style have multiple gables of varying heights and sizes that fit together cohesively. They may often include vents or dormer windows below the point where the two sides meet.
Gable roofs can be made of a variety of materials, including asphalt shingles, tile, cedar (wood) shakes, and metal. Because gable roofs are so popular, they are found around the country and on almost every style of home, from Victorian to modern and everything in between.
Gable Roof Pros and Cons
There are many benefits to using a gable roof on your home, and several drawbacks as well, depending on the situation.
Advantages to Gable Roofs
The reasons why many people opt for gable roofs include:
- Durability. Gabled roofs are popular in northern climates since the steep slope allows snow to slide off easily. This means that snow, rain, leaves, and other debris is less likely to pile (or pool) up on top of your roof and cause water or structural damage.
- Affordability. Although some gable roof designs are very complex, this style of roof in general is simpler to install, which saves homeowners money on labor.
- Temperature control. Because of the space below the gable, it’s easier to regulate the temperature of your home, saving on utility bills.
- Storage space. The triangle style of a gabled roof creates space below for an attic with plenty of storage space for holiday decorations, childhood mementos, and other items. If you opt against a traditional attic, you could also use the space to give your home vaulted ceilings.
- Versatility. Gable roofs can be designed to match almost any aesthetic and can be installed in a wide variety of colors and materials.
Disadvantages to Gable Roofs
Some cons generally associated with gable roofs are:
- Risk of wind damage. Gable roofs are typically less common in areas with a high likelihood of tornadoes or hurricanes because of how easily they can be damaged by severe winds. You can add extra support to help protect the roof from high winds, but that supplemental work can be expensive.
- Potential for more repairs. If wind does damage the roof, you’ll need to call in a professional roofing company to do repairs more frequently than you would with some other styles of roofing. This can be costly in areas that commonly experience tornados and high winds.
- Vulnerable to collapse. Because of how a gabled roof is structured, it can fail if not installed correctly. For this reason, it’s imperative to work with a trustworthy, high-quality roofing company to build your gable roof.
Install a Gabled Roof in Southern Utah
If you need a reliable roofing contractor to help you design, install, or repair your home’s gable roof, United Roofing can help. United Roofing is family-owned and operated and has been providing Utah residents with high-quality roofing and custom metalwork services since 1998. Our team of roofing professionals works hard to deliver exceptional results on budget and on time. We even offer a seven-year labor-and-material warranty on all new roofs we construct. For dependable gable roof construction in Cedar City, Enoch, Hurricane, Washington, and the surrounding areas, contact us today for more information or to request a free quote.
