Roof Types – Gable Roofs

One of the most common types of roofs is the gable type. The simple form of gable roof has two surfaces of the same size and pitch. Looking at a gable roof edge-on resembles the outer perimeter of a capital letter “A”:

This simple design makes gable roofs cheap and easy to build, so the initial roofing cost is relatively low. They shed water efficiently, provides good attic space, and provide for plentiful ventilation.

The simple gable design is seldom seen on most homes; homes with gable roof types typically have multiple gables – each gable perpendicular to adjoining gables. Have you ever heard of the “House of Seven Gables”? Right – a house with seven gables:

The old house where I grew up had three gables, and was no where near as complex as this great example of a house of seven gables.

Unfortunately for gable-roofed homes, gable roofs do not hold up well to high winds. If you have a gabled-roof house in a high wind area, be sure to have it properly braced to your end wall by a professional contractor.

Tags: gabled roofs, Roofing Cost