Understanding the Types of Pitched Roofs & their Advantages

There are a few basic things you need to keep in mind while building your home :

1. Having strong walls support the structure
   
2. Enough windows for ventilation and natural light, and most importantly, a protective roof above.
   
3. Without a durable shelter, your home would be exposed to external winds, water, and sunlight, decreasing the lifespan of your home in general.
   

Since the beginning of civilization, roofs have been vital structural components. Outside of protecting the inhabitants of the building, a roof design also enables efficient drainage. It is crucial to pick a design that takes into consideration the efficiency of drainage for that particular structure and moves forward accordingly.
 

What is a Pitched Roof ?

Some roofs slope downwards at an inclined angle from a central point, generally into two parts. In some cases, it can also slope on just one side. These types of roofs are called pitched roofs.

You can calculate the "pitch" of a roof by measuring its steepness and dividing its vertical rise by its horizontal span.

These shelters are comparatively cheaper than any other roof type. Traditionally, they were constructed out of timber. However, in modern times, materials like structural concrete, reinforced cement concrete, and prestressed concrete are also being used to construct them.

Some of these roofs use timber as a formwork surface. Pitched roofs are mostly chosen for structures like warehouses, factory buildings, and workshops. They are also used in areas with extreme snowfall and rain, due to their provision of effective drainage.

Types of Pitched Roof

Factors like environmental conditions, the number of sloping surfaces, the slope itself, and the aesthetic view help differentiate between the types of pitched roofs :

• 1. Mono-Pitch Roof
  

Starting with the simplest roof in the list, a mono-pitch roof is one with a singular sloping surface. This roof usually gives off the look of an equilateral triangle, with one end meeting the central ridge and the other hanging over.

The roof is also called a shed roof, lean-to roof, pent roof & skillion roof. Constructing a mono-pitch roof requires basic materials, takes less time and cost, and doesn’t require much designing.

It is usually used for garages and storage rooms.

• 2. Double Pitch Roof

Here, there are two surfaces sloping in the opposite direction. It gives off the look of a quadrilateral triangle. The double-pitch roof structure is commonly used for residential buildings, owing to its visual appeal, effective drainage, and effortless construction process.

• 3. Couple Roof

A simple form of a pitched roof, a couple roof is quite similar to a double-pitch roof. Here, the roof of the house is easy to construct and isn’t costly either. Timber is the main material used for these roofs. 

Since they are lightweight and easy to erect, they are mostly constructed for sheds and garages. However, the effective drainage they provide is useful for residential structures as well.

• 4. Couple Close Roof

This roof is similar to a couple roofs. The only difference is that a horizontal tie connects the legs of the common rafters. This beam carries all the weight which is otherwise transferred to the sidewalls in a couple roof.

This type of roof provides additional storage space, by creating a triangular-shaped loft on top. Moreover, the design is effortless and can be easily drawn.

• 5. Slant Roof

In this roof, the roof has sloped ends in place of vertical ones. It has two slopes on each side, the lower being steeper than the upper. A slant roof, too, provides extra space to create an attic on top. Additionally, it slows down the snow buildup and is better at redirecting the water to your gutter system.

• 6. Purlin Roof

Purlins are horizontal, structural members in a roof. There are 3 types of purlins in a timber-framed roof: purlin plate, principal purlin, and common purlin. The ones present in steel-framed roofs are usually painted or greased to protect them from environmental effects.

A purlin roof ensures your roof can be given a different shape or design. On top of that, they make the design choice more flexible for you.

• 7. King Post Roof

A king post is a central, vertical support pillar that is employed while designing bridges, buildings, and aircrafts. From a crossbeam, a king post rises vertically to the top of a triangular truss.

The tie beam at the truss's base is supported by the king post, which joins the truss's apex to its base. The central post is cut off during the construction of the king post structure before it reaches the top of the roof truss.

Instead, a collar beam, running parallel to the tie beam, hold the king post in place.

A king post roof is used for simple roof trusses. They are cheaper in comparison to other retaining structures and are also constructed much faster. The structure is also versatile and accommodates any changes quite easily.

• 8. Collar Beam Roof

A collar tie is a horizontal structural support placed in the space between the rafters and raised from the bottom of the structure almost to the centre.

The rafters exhibit a propensity to bend with the application of heavy loads or growth of the roof’s clear span. The provided collar ties prohibit the rafter from sagging under heavy loads or in high spans.

A collar beam roof is deemed structurally safe for long-span roofs.

What are the Advantages of Building Pitched Roofs?

• 1. Style : Shapes & Sizes

  Pitched roofs provide more room in terms of design, shape, and size of the roofs. Architect is free to choose complex shapes and express themselves without holding back. There’s also more choice in materials used, allowing us to curate a more flawless shape and size of the roof according to preference.
  

• 2. Energy Savings

  Pitched roofs permit natural ventilation between the structure and the outer layer, conserving energy and cutting down the 25-30% loss of energy due to the building envelope.
  

• 3. Protection Against Environmental Hazards

  Having a triangular shape, the structure of pitched roofs is stable and secure. They are built to withstand extreme snowfall, rain, and windy conditions, making them a better match against environmental effects.
  
  
• In addition, you can also insulate the walls and roofing for added protection and durability..
  

• 4. Cost-effective Additional Space

  With the help of a slant and a couple close pitched roofs, you can enjoy extra room in your home without having to spend more money and extend the floor.
  

• 5. Rainwater Reuse

  Pitched roofs make utilising different methods of rainwater harvesting simpler and more convenient. This is because the external drainage system present in these roofs makes it easier to redirect and modify.