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Roofing for a home: types of designs and the best materials. Types of roofs of private houses depending on the shape: photos and tips for choosing Types of roofs of one-story houses

Many people want to have their own country house, where they can go on weekends and relax from the hustle and bustle of the city. Construction must begin with drawing up a project. However, special attention must be paid to creating a plan for the roof of the building.

Roof design

Roof designs today are created using special computer programs. If you have no experience in this matter, it is recommended to use the services of qualified architects, most of whom are able to offer ready-made roof options for private buildings. The appropriate option should be chosen based on personal preferences.

In the case of independently developing a roof construction plan, it is important to know its structure, as well as what materials should be used in a particular case. It is important to understand why each part of the roof is needed. If you don’t have knowledge of roof construction, you won’t be able to create a high-quality project. The main elements of the roof include the following:

  1. Lathing. Insulating material and roofing are attached to this part. The sheathing is attached to the rafter supports.

    The sheathing serves as the basis for fixing the insulation and roofing material

  2. Internal supports. They are installed so that the load from the roof can be distributed equally over the entire building structure.
  3. Ridge run. The rafters will be attached to this part. It is a long, often composite, beam of large cross-section.


    The ridge purlin sets the upper boundary of the roof and forms the junction of two slopes

  4. Rafters. They form the roof frame and are the basis for the sheathing. Can be layered or hanging type. If you plan to make a project with hanging rafters, then the two outer supports should be used as the basis for them. Elements can work in bending and compression. Hanging rafters are used mainly for attic buildings. Rafter legs of the layered type should rest on both extreme points of the supporting parts and on several internal ones. Elements can only work in bending.


    Layered rafters are installed if the house has a permanent partition

  5. Diagonal ligaments. With their help, the rafters and mauerlat are fastened together. Also called braces.
  6. Mauerlat. These are special slats that are laid along the lower perimeter of the structure. The rafter system will rest on them. Mounted flush with the wall. The elements should be carefully waterproofed from the wall side.


    The Mauerlat is laid along the upper end of the walls and serves as a connecting link between the building frame and the roofing system

  7. Roofing material. The outer part of the roof, which performs a decorative function and protects the building from atmospheric influences.


    Roofing material is the finishing coating for which the entire roof frame is assembled

The parts are fastened to each other by small pins called ruffs. In addition, in some cases, support niches are cut out under the rafter legs, which are fastened with steel wire approximately 4–6 mm thick.

To build a rafter system, you should use high-quality wood. Sometimes you can find metal structures, but wood is a more affordable material. For rafter supports, timber from 40x150 mm to 100x250 mm is used. The choice of material sizes will depend on the distance between the supports, the design load and the design features of the roof. The cross-section of the rafters is determined based on their length.

Table: roof material parameters

Roof shapes

In individual construction, there are several roof forms:

  1. Flat roof. Such a design becomes advantageous if an attic space is planned underneath it, rather than a full-fledged attic. It can be warm: since the slope is minimal, it is possible to lay a large amount of insulating material. The roof can be used for buildings of any configuration, even those in which the pitched roof seems broken and large. Flat roofs are often made to be used. Additional space for relaxation can be organized on it. However, the design of such a roof must include a snow melting system that will prevent the accumulation of snow and ice in large quantities. The design is not popular in Russia, so few companies are able to competently draw up a project for such a roof.


    Flat roofs are often used for exploitation: they are used for gardens, greenhouses, recreation areas and even parking lots.

  2. Roof with one slope. This design is the easiest to make. It is suitable for buildings with a span of 6–7 m. The tilt direction to the north will allow you to create large windows on the southern part of the facade. To the south, it is recommended to install solar collectors along the entire base of the roof. This type of construction allows the use of large sheet roofing materials. A roof with one slope is suitable for both large buildings and small buildings - garages or verandas. The project can provide for the presence of several structures with a single slope, which are combined into a single structure and have slopes in different directions. The slope should be small so that there is no need to build walls that are too high.


    When installing a pitched roof, there is always a compromise: the angle of inclination cannot be made too large so as not to build a very high front wall, but it must ensure free drainage of precipitation

  3. Roof with two slopes. This design is the most popular and affordable. The roof ideally covers any structure, forming a triangular-shaped superstructure. It is recommended to choose a gable roof if you want to arrange an attic space. Windows located in the gables will be able to provide the proper level of ventilation and illumination. For an attic room, a modified variation of a gable roof is quite often used - a broken structure, which is distinguished by a steeper slope of the lower part (70–80° compared to the upper 28–30°). This makes it possible to significantly increase the area of ​​the attic. A roof with two slopes also includes a vaulted structure, which is built in a circle. This type of roofing can decorate the protruding parts of the building.


    A gable roof allows you to arrange an attic space

  4. Half hip roof. This option is reliable and low-cost financially. The attic can be ventilated and illuminated using windows in the gables. Half-hip roofs are classified as types of buildings with two slopes.


    The half-hip roof structure has gables, with the help of which the attic can be illuminated and ventilated

  5. Hip roof. It has good resistance to wind loads. Quite often, such roof designs are used to cover buildings of a significant area and improve their appearance. This is a complex product that must have dormer and roof windows. They provide the necessary level of lighting and ventilation.


    The hip roof must have dormers and dormer windows.

  6. Hip roof. This is a subtype of hip roof. It is suitable only for square-shaped buildings - towers and gazebos.


    Hip roof is only suitable for square shaped buildings

  7. Broken hip roof. Combines the useful properties of two systems - broken and hip. It is advisable to build it if you plan to build a large, presentable house. The design is quite difficult to implement. Its main advantages include the ability to profitably manage the usable space of the attic and its excellent appearance.


    A sloping hip roof is suitable for large private houses

In the process of drawing up a project, it is necessary to take into account the material from which the roof is made. At the moment, you can find many types of roofing on sale:

  • iron;
  • cement-sand tiles;
  • slate;
  • reeds, straw or reeds;
  • wooden shingles;
  • metal tiles;
  • roofing felt;
  • metal profile.

How to determine roof slope

The slope of the structure is influenced by the type of roofing material. To simplify the calculation, you can use a special scheme, which makes it possible to select the roof material based on its slope.


The slope of the roof depends on many factors, including the covering material.

If the slope is from 0 to 25%, then materials in rolls can be used to cover the roof. If the angle of inclination is in the range of 12–25%, then installation of one layer is allowed, for example, material with filling. On roofs with a slope of less than 28%, it is possible to lay corrugated sheets of asbestos cement. Slate is most suitable. If the angle of inclination is more than 33%, then tiles are often used.

Once the angle of inclination of the roof and the material for covering the structure have been determined, it is necessary to calculate the height of the ridge. To do this, a mathematical method is used: you need to take the span width of the building and divide it by 2. The result is multiplied by a relative indicator, which is taken from the table.

Table: dependence of the relative indicator on the roof slope

For example, with a span width of 8 m and a slope of 25°, the height of the ridge will be 8 / 2 x 0.47 = 1.88 m.

In the process of drawing up a roof project, it is important to consider the following rules:

  1. The calculated wind load is 35 kg/m2. If the slope of the rafters is more than 30°, then an auxiliary structure should be installed in order to increase the resistance.
  2. The calculated snow load will depend on the slope of the slope. If it is less than 60°, then it will be at least 180 kg/m 3. If the slope is greater, then the load is most often not taken into account.
  3. To strengthen the structure, it is allowed to use iron elements. To protect them from moisture, rust or condensation, they should be treated with special products.

Designing the roof of a large house

If you plan to build a large private house, then it is not recommended to use a pitched roof. If you still want to make it, you should consider having several pitched roofs. They will need to be combined and placed at an angle in different directions. If you do not want to build high walls, then the roof should not have a large slope.

From an aesthetic point of view, the best solution is to use a hip sloping roof. It must be provided with dormer and dormer windows so that the roof can be ventilated.


If you plan to make a hip sloping roof, you should take care of installing dormer windows

In such a design, you can make an attic floor, which will add usable space to the building. When placing a dormer window, care must be taken to:

  • the roof angle was more than 35°;
  • the dimensions of the valves ranged from 80x60 to 120x80 cm;
  • the superstructure above the roof opening was removed from the outer walls a short distance.

To equip roof dormers, you can use the following facing materials:

  • tiles;
  • copper sheets;
  • sheets of steel.

In the process of drawing up a roof project, you will need to make a separate drawing of the dormer windows. When creating a project, you need to consider the following nuances:

  • the width of the opening for such a window should be more than half the width of the attic room;
  • the supports must be the same thickness as the roof rafters;
  • Frame elements should be secured with steel fasteners.

Video: roof dormer window project

Roof project for a chalet house

Chalet-style buildings were first made by residents of settlements in the Alps, but at the moment they can be seen in Western Europe, the USA, Canada and some regions of Russia.


A gable roof is suitable for a chalet-style house, but it must hang over the walls

A distinctive feature of the appearance of a chalet-style building is the roof, which hangs strongly over the walls. Under such a shelter, the base, blind area, basement and walls of the building will be reliably protected from precipitation and sunlight. The roof can be extended up to 300 cm to ensure that water drains away from the building after rain. Removing the roof can also help prevent dampness in the basement and first floor. This will help increase the possible period of use of the building.

The chalet roof structure has large extensions in the form of canopies, which can protect the terraces located along the front part of the building from wind and precipitation, or form a usable area, which will also be reliably protected from atmospheric influences.

In winter, such a roof will retain snow and can provide additional thermal insulation. It is worth noting that although such a roof visually seems large, it does not make the building heavier. However, for reliability, consoles should be built along the walls, which will serve as additional supporting parts for the roof overhangs.

This is done as follows:


For a flat roof, the project must include a reinforced rafter mechanism, since the rafters will need to withstand a large load from snow. With a slope of more than 45°, the snow load can be ignored.

Most chalet-style building designs include a large veranda, which is an advantage for a large family. It is important to remember that building such a house is an expensive process, but in the end the building will not only bring joy to the family, but will also highlight the status of the owner.

Chalet-style structures have the following features:

  1. A flat roof with two slopes, far protruding canopies and significant overhangs.
  2. A large terrace that extends beyond the perimeter of the building and is often supported by columns.
  3. High base made of stone.
  4. Second floor made of wooden parts.
  5. Balconies that are located under the roof overhangs.

There are no special requirements for the interior of such a house, which cannot be said about the exterior. However, projects most often comply with certain standards. The basic rule is the use of wood and stone. These natural materials will be able to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the rooms. The ceiling and floor base are most often constructed from wooden parts. The walls of the lower floor can be plastered, whitewashed and decorated with decorative details.

Carrying out competent and complete load calculations will make it possible to obtain a strong and reliable roof that will meet all requirements. There are projects of small country houses where a “hut” type construction is used. The roof in these buildings practically reaches the ground, combining the functions of walls and roof. Such buildings have an extraordinary and beautiful appearance.

Program for designing a house roof

Roof calculations and project development are complex procedures. If you have no experience in performing such work, it is recommended to contact qualified specialists or use appropriate software. Today you can find a large number of specialized software, but it’s worth figuring out which one is the most convenient.

Many specialists traditionally make calculations manually, but it is worth understanding that the result of a computer program calculation will be more accurate and visual.


If the roof project will be drawn up for yourself, it is recommended to use FloorPlan3D. For specialists who engage in this activity on a regular basis, ArCon and AutoCad programs are more suitable.

Video: developing a project for a roof rafter system in ArchiCad

Independent development of a house roof project

The work on drafting the project is divided into 3 stages:

  1. Preparing a sketch. The work consists of determining the roof structure to be manufactured, visualizing the appearance and choosing the material for the covering. It is important to agree on the basic style of the building and the roof, and then determine the color of the structure. This stage is preparatory. All thoughts and ideas must be transferred to paper.
  2. Development of main design diagrams. You will need to perform calculations taking into account the expected loads on the roof, and then select the material for the rafter legs and their dimensions. After this, you will need to make a drawing of the roof and think through the main details. Next, an estimate is drawn up: the required amount of materials is calculated, a list of tools and materials is prepared, and the cost of equipment and work is determined.
  3. Construction works. The project should be put into practice. During this period, you only need to carry out auxiliary calculations. They will be, since it is quite difficult to take everything into account. Certain adjustments will be made as the work progresses.

A private house on the plan should be divided into rectangles. Lines are drawn inside them, which indicate the junction of the planes of the slopes on the inside and outside. Next, you need to designate the placement of valleys and skates. Some of the parts will be located outside the boundaries of the external walls, since the roof must have an overhang. Projections of the front and side parts must be made taking into account the slope of the slopes. They are set when the entire house project is being drawn up, since it is important to take into account the purpose and type of structure, as well as the type of roofing material used.


On the roof drawing you need to indicate the exact location of the main parts, as well as indicate their dimensions and shape

The graphic part of the project is prepared using computer programs. The plan must have coordinate axes. With their help it will be easier to navigate in space. For this you will need:

  1. Draw a line around the plan of a private house.
  2. Transfer the boundaries of the main walls and other lines of the building design to the roof drawing.
  3. Above each building rectangle, draw an image of a roof, starting with the largest.
  4. Mark the projections of the skates with lines.
  5. Draw the valleys.

The design must necessarily indicate the placement of channels for smoke removal and ventilation. If you plan to install skylights, they must also be marked on the plan. The lines should determine the slopes of the slopes, as well as the directions of the drains. The actual dimensions must be indicated along all axes and contours of the project.

Separate items in the project need to include drawings of the connection points of various roof elements:

  • attaching struts, racks, tie rods and other elements;
  • fixing the rafter legs to the mauerlat;
  • fastening the ridge purlin, the place where the rafter legs are fixed to each other and to other parts.

The graphic section of the plan should include a sketch of the roof, which can give a general idea of ​​the roof. This is required primarily in order to evaluate aesthetics and appearance.


A sketch of the roof is needed so that you can evaluate its appearance.

If you plan to cut in any elements, they need to be displayed on a separate drawing. It is imperative to indicate the shape of the notch and its actual dimensions.

In the process of independently drawing up a project, it is important to take into account the following rules:

  1. The intersection of the planes of the slopes should form a ridge or valley. The corner of the rectangle should be divided into 2 equal parts using the projection of the slopes.
  2. Through two lines that converge or intersect in one place, there is almost always a third line.
  3. The lines of the ridge and eaves overhangs should be parallel. The projection of the ridge line should pass through the middle of the building.
  4. A flat structure design consists of several lines. A roof with several slopes has many projections of valleys and ridges. Such roofs have a complex shape and require the preparation of a reinforced rafter system and a large slope.

Video: drawing up a roof plan yourself

Calculation of roof area

At the project preparation stage, you need to know the data on the area of ​​the structure. This is required in order to be able to correctly calculate the amount of roofing material, insulation, fasteners and waterproofing.


Mistakes that are made when drawing up a project

When a plan is developed, there is a desire to begin implementing it. However, it is recommended that you consult with experts first. If miscalculations are made during the preparation of the project, the rework may require a lot of time and money.

Quite often, designers make mistakes that can be divided into 2 types:

  • design flaws;
  • architectural miscalculations.

The latter are in most cases associated with shortcomings in the ventilation of roof elements. If the structure is insulated, it is important to pay attention not only to protecting the insulating material from moisture, but also to such details as the ventilation system for the eaves overhang or ridge.

The normal functioning of such mechanisms is affected by auxiliary parts, which include attics, parapets, etc. If they are installed incorrectly, they can have a negative impact on air intake. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the height of the vents or refuse to install some elements.

Another common mistake is an incorrectly designed drainage system.

The drainage system can be open or closed, but in any case it is necessary to correctly calculate the cross-section of its passage elements

Quite often, decorative gutters are used that are of insufficient dimensions. In this case, the water may overflow. This may result in damage to the façade of the building. Another mistake is a small roof slope. This quite often leads to a critical increase in the load on the rafter mechanism during frosts.

When choosing a material for covering a structure, be sure to take into account the following recommendations:

  • for metal tiles, the permissible tilt angle is 30°;
  • for corrugated sheeting, the minimum slope is 8°;
  • for slate, the optimal range of tilt angles is 25–30°;
  • for flexible coating, the permissible slope is 5° or more.

Particular attention must be paid to drawing up a roof project, since if even minor miscalculations are made, the roof will be fragile. Accordingly, unplanned repair work may be necessary shortly after production.

Fashion today dictates the rules in all areas - clothing, shoes, interior and exterior design, garden design. She didn't even go around the roof. More recently, decorative turrets were popular, and now multi-level complex structures are popular, under which children's rooms or dressing rooms, gyms, home theaters, billiard rooms, etc. are installed. But fashion is a capricious and changeable lady. And if you rely entirely on it, you will have to renew the roof of the house every 2-3 years, which not everyone can afford. It’s better to listen to your taste, taking individual stylish fragments as a basis. And in order not to drown in the ocean of diversity, it is worth familiarizing yourself with ready-made projects of beautiful roofs of private houses.

Roofs for private houses: which one to choose

The appearance of modern roofs is a flight of designer’s imagination and one of the motivators, and not the most important, that determines the roof design for a particular building. The main thing is engineering developments for a specific shape - tasks that a particular roof configuration should perform as best as possible.

An unusual mansard roof with asymmetrical lines will emphasize the refined taste of the owner of the house and will allow you to get additional space under the roof

For example, a flat usable roof and a broken mansard roof have different purposes. The first is suitable for creating a greenhouse on the roof, the second is for having additional living space.

On the flat roof of a private house you can create a beautiful green area

But the main functions for all roofs are the same:

  • protecting the building from rain, snow and winds;
  • good resistance to mechanical stress and ultraviolet radiation;
  • effective self-cleaning;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • ease of arrangement and repair;
  • economy in construction and operation, as well as durability.

A country house for seasonal living with a simple gable roof - a classic design that never goes out of style

Therefore, you should choose the shape of the roof based on your needs: what you want to get in the end. In addition, you need to take into account the load-bearing load that the roof will exert on the walls and foundation of the house. A complex multi-gable roof, and even covered with natural tiles, will not suit a light frame building, no matter how much one would like it to be so.

Fans of original design build a multi-gable roof for the sake of beauty and the ability to equip several small side attics at once.

Conversely, a simple gable roof covered with ordinary slate will not look good on the intricate facade of a large building.

Even the location of the house plays a significant role when choosing a roof. If the building is located at the very beginning of the site, then it makes no sense to make fashionable slopes almost to the ground. This form requires space, and in cramped conditions it will not play as expected.

A gable roof is simple and reliable, but there are several complex hybrid forms, for example, a half-hip design - when the end slopes do not reach the eaves, and the side slopes are located low to the ground

Why spend money then, when you can choose something simpler and save significantly on construction. By the way, classic gable roofs have not gone out of fashion for centuries. And that means a lot.

Video: unusual roofs of private houses

Beautiful roof design: options

Roofs of houses vary in design and type of covering material.

Flat roofs

In private housing construction, flat roofs are quite rare. The main reason is the large snow load compared to a sloped one, which falls on a flat shape, and low self-cleaning ability. It is believed that with a slope of 0–1°, water will constantly stagnate on the roof and this will sooner or later lead to damage to the roofing. That is, a flat roof requires much more maintenance.

The flat roof combines favorably with the overall design and is complemented by various small geometric details

Moreover, such a project cannot be called economical. The rafter system, monolithic floors, insulating materials, arrangement of smoke and ventilation ducts, drainage and drainage - everything must be durable and of high quality.

Minimalism and clear geometric lines produce the effect of stability and solidity

Therefore, a flat roof is usually made when it is planned to be used - for a terrace, greenhouse, sauna or swimming pool, etc. This is where they are indispensable. If not, then it is better to abandon the flat roof.

In a modern individual residential building in the Moscow region, green spaces are located on a flat exploitable roof

A private house with a flat roof is unusual and interesting: an extraordinary roof creates a unique style and completes the overall image of the building.

Video: how to make a flat roof usable and how much it will cost

Pitched roofs

The construction of pitched roofs is more expensive for owners of private houses: more roofing is required, and a more powerful supporting structure is needed. However, they are more reliable, do not require frequent maintenance and are very diverse in shape:

  • single-pitched;
  • gable (straight, sloping roofs or mansard);
  • hipped (tent, hip);
  • spherical;
  • multi-pincer;
  • cone-shaped;
  • combined, etc.

Video: pitched roof designs for a private house - 10 ideas

Design of houses with a pitched roof

Such roofs are also called mono-pitched. They have one slope, supported by load-bearing walls of different heights, which results in very interesting projects.

The installation of a pitched roof is inexpensive, since the entire installation consists of supporting the sheet on the external walls of the building of different heights

If previously the lot was monoslope roofs - terraces, outbuildings, cellars, today - this is one of the trends of minimalism, which gives the building a futuristic look.

The roof beautifully flows around the building, performing several important functions at once: it creates an unusual design shape for the entire house and delicately hides the second floor

Modern mono-pitch roofs are a whole complex of components and connections that can withstand climatic disasters and protect the building. Therefore, you can increasingly see pitched roofs in private households.

The building attracts attention and captivates the eye with its beautiful design and skillfully selected colors of cladding.

In addition to the stylish airy design, pitched roofs are lightweight and inexpensive to install. Anyone with at least a little knowledge of construction can install such a roof, even if they have never done anything like this before. The main thing is to comply with the technology and specifics of their device.

Both edges of the rafter legs have reliable support and belong to the category of layered

The definition of a pitched roof reflects the essence of its design - one pitched plane is formed by a rafter system.

Video: do-it-yourself pitched roof installation

Monosloped roofs, due to their configuration, come in a variety of forms, for example, canopy roofs, which are so loved by the residents of Australia, known for their commitment to all sorts of fashionable manifestations.

Today, Australians, known for their boldness in terms of fashion legislation, are confidently setting a new trend in the use of canopy roofs in construction

Shed roofs can be attic or non-attic, hemispherical, as well as shed - sawtooth, which, however, can rarely be seen crowning a private house. And completely in vain. Thanks to their design, with skillful approach, you can achieve all the benefits of passive solar heating and good natural light.

Architect Howard Alan got a good result when he transformed the roof of an ordinary Chicago house. The new roof became shed (sawtooth). Tests at the end of construction showed that with an outside temperature of -18.3 °C on a sunny winter day, the internal temperature was about +21.1 °C.

With the transformation of the roof into a shed, the height of the attic spaces increased and their natural ventilation was simplified

Beautiful gable roofs of private houses

Gable roofs are the most popular types of roofs for a number of reasons:


In terms of functionality, gable roofs are in no way inferior to single-pitch roofs; they are just as simple and reliable. They consist of two slopes, which are supported, as in a mono-pitch roof, on load-bearing walls (or a post-and-beam support system), but of the same height. The slopes are connected by a ridge ridge. The space between them is called the pediment or gable.

Large windows and a roof with window openings create good lighting and look interesting against the background of other buildings

Until recently, the slopes themselves were traditionally the same length. But fashion makes its own adjustments and now they are often made in different sizes, which gives the house a unique appearance.

The gable roof serves as a roof for the house, smoothly transitioning into a summer canopy for a parking lot or a place where you can relax and hide from the sun.

Moreover, a drainage system is not installed under long slopes, since water and melted snow quickly drain from such roofs. On the one hand, this reduces the cost of construction and guarantees a long service life for the roofing covering. But on the other hand, such a roof requires a good drainage system around the entire perimeter of the house so that the foundation does not flood.

Video: roofs of private houses

Types of gable roofs

Gable roofs are unlimited in terms of supporting structure and covering material, so there is plenty of room for designer imagination to run wild here.

The Dormer roof adds a dormer window to the attic, which serves to illuminate and ventilate the attic space, and also improves the appearance of a private home

So-called hybrid forms have appeared - more complex in design, but certainly much more effective. For example, half-hip structures with end slopes that do not reach the eaves.

A half-hip roof is more difficult to install than a regular gable roof, but it looks much more original

The Danish form of a gable roof and the Dutch one are interesting, the difference between them is in the method of cutting the hip - the Danish one offers small gables, and the Dutch one offers regular-sized gables in the form of a trapezoid.

The difference between the Danish and Dutch design lies in the way the hip is cut - from the top or bottom

Such designs have their strengths and weaknesses. The first include:

  • greater rigidity of the frame due to the corner ribs;
  • ability to withstand considerable snow loads;
  • good protection of the gables of the house from bad weather and the ability to install a regular window in the attic (attic).

Disadvantages of half-hip roofs:

  • the complexity of the design requires accurate calculation of the rafter system;
  • greater consumption of lumber and roofing sheets.

Mansard roofs are also a type of gable roof. It would seem that in our time such roofs with broken lines would not surprise anyone. However, newfangled elements make modern mansard roofs not only respectable, solid, but also incredibly attractive and functional. For many, such a roof is a dream, despite the cost of its arrangement.

The rich decoration of the house is emphasized by the unusual roof

The courage of the architects is amazing. To ensure your home retains its individuality, choose unusual shapes and materials that will last for years.

The roof smoothly flows into the walls, creating a solid and complete image of the entire structure

Before installing the attic roof, you must check the condition of the foundation and load-bearing walls to see if they can withstand the additional load.

Beautiful roofs of wooden houses

Frame or wooden houses, unlike stone, brick, etc. buildings, are lighter and do not require a powerful foundation. This must be taken into account when choosing a roof. In principle, this applies more to the covering material, since the roof can be given any shape. Before this, strengthen the load-bearing walls, strengthen the foundation, install decorative support beams near the house, to which the load from the roof will be transferred, etc. There are a lot of options, but it is still better to choose a lightweight covering material, do not overload the load-bearing structures of the house with natural tiles, For example.

Mainly used for wooden buildings:

  • conventional gable roofs;

    Wooden walls emphasize the quality of the house

  • Saltbox roofs - asymmetrical gable roofs - allow you to expand the house by lowering a long slope onto the elements being added;

    The asymmetrical gable roof of a frame house allows you to transfer the load through a long slope to the elements of the house being completed

  • mansard roofs in rustic style are a brutal fashionable trend designed specifically for wooden houses - a combination of simplicity and rough natural materials.

    The roof made of roofing iron has an interesting shape: a regular gable roof, it unobtrusively changes the angle of the slopes, as if the building merges with the surrounding landscape

Beautiful roofs of complex structures

Recently, roofs of complex shapes have become very popular among private homeowners. This is due to the original look that such roofs give to buildings, as well as the ability to rationally use the space under the roof. This group includes:

  • hip roofs;

    An additional floor is hidden imperceptibly under the roof, while the building seems compact and coherent

  • multi-pincer;

    A strong and reliable multi-gable roof goes well with wooden beams and a chimney

  • combined from different types;

    The noble gray color of the combined roof favorably echoes the milky shade of the walls and decorative elements of the patio

  • vaulted roofs, which are often installed on additional buildings;
  • diamonds, tents and cones;
  • M-shaped roofs - they are rarely used, only in special design solutions when you need to combine 2 buildings under one roof;

    Two houses standing close together visually have separate roofs, but in fact they are connected by a common valley, the loads on which are very high

  • Butterfly roofs look very tempting, but are complex in design.

    The butterfly roof looks very beautiful and unusual, but is impractical due to the price, lack of attic space, and design complexity

Of course, this is an incomplete list of noteworthy roofs for a private home. In the world of construction fashion you can see stunning examples of engineering and design ideas.

In addition to the functional and aesthetic side, it would be good to also consider the practical aspect - the ability to use the roof surface to save energy. Is it possible to install solar panels without damaging the appearance? This is not an idle question. Energy prices are rising with enviable regularity, so the simple installation of alternative energy sources on the roof of your own home will be very helpful.

Having your own energy sources is always useful, especially with the constant rise in energy prices

Which roof shape to choose is a decision that needs to be carefully considered. View all your favorite versions. Determine what difficulties the construction involves. Understand the operating and repair conditions, as well as what advantages this or that type of roof will provide.

Video: types of roofs - overview of pitched, gable and flat roofs

Which roofing material is more attractive?

The choice of roof covering most often depends on the angle of the roof. That’s why you first need to choose the optimal roof slope option. It is believed that the greatest snow load on the roof occurs when the slopes are sloping at 30°. Therefore, in order for the roof to clean itself well, the angle of inclination must be at least 45°.

However, there is no need to arbitrarily increase the angle of inclination according to the principle “the more, the better.” Not better. Especially in regions with an abundance of gusty winds.

When the slope of the slopes increases by 20–30%, the wind load on such a roof immediately increases 5 times.

But reducing the slope is not an option - the wind can undermine the roof literally from the inside, making its way through unprotected joints of the floors. So you need to choose the shape of the roof, taking into account the climatic conditions of a particular region, having previously calculated the angle of inclination using the formula: the length of the ridge ridge is divided by ½ the width of the house and multiplied by 100. The result obtained will be the desired angle of inclination.

Wind loads depend on the slope of the slopes

The greater the angle of inclination, the higher the cost of constructing the roof. This also needs to be taken into account when choosing a roof.

Video: how to make the right choice of covering material

So, roofing covering - which is better:

  1. Slate is an inexpensive roofing material. It is used at a slope of 13–60°. With a smaller slope, water will seep in at the joints, rendering the already not very durable coating unusable.

    A private house with a slate roof looks very stylish, but the slate covering is highly dependent on the slope of the slopes

  2. Ceramic tiles are a beautiful and noble covering flooring, which is laid when slopes slope at 30–60°. If the angle of inclination is less, then additional ventilation and waterproofing of the roof are done.

    For thousands of years, ceramic tiles have remained one of the most beautiful roofing materials.

  3. Metal tiles are perhaps the most optimal covering option. It fits almost any roof shape and, moreover, does not have a maximum slope value, and the minimum is only 15°. That's why this roofing material is so popular.

    Metal tiles are a material for those who choose stylish solutions for reasonable money

  4. Bitumen shingles - look beautiful on unusually shaped roofs with arched elements and a slope angle of less than 12°. The maximum slope value is not limited.

    Bituminous shingles are suitable for roofs of unusual shapes

It is worth highlighting transparent roofs as a separate group - they are incredibly beautiful in appearance, but they will also require a lot of expenses for arrangement.

A transparent roof that allows light and air to pass through will become the hallmark of the house, giving it fragility, sophistication and uniqueness.

And, of course, premium roofs:


Advantages of copper and titanium-zinc roofs:

  • prestigious with high aesthetic standards;
  • environmentally friendly and plastic, thanks to which such coatings can cover any contours and form the most incredible designs;
  • do not require special maintenance or painting;
  • are distinguished by natural anti-corrosion protection due to the formation of patina (oxide film);
  • lightweight, easy to install - attached to the base using folds rather than nails;
  • withstand temperatures without loss of their qualities up to +150 °C;
  • tolerate frosts down to -70 °C, therefore they are widely used in northern regions;
  • mounted on roofs of any slope;
  • durable - service life up to 150 years.

Video: copper roofing - the elite can be seen from afar

It is impossible not to mention the reed covering, which, like copper and titanium, can change color over the years, merging with the landscape.

Reed roofs are becoming more popular every year

And if previously it was believed that reeds were the lot of the poor, now this environmentally friendly, warm and durable natural material is preferred mainly by wealthy people.

Video: Charming thatched roofs

Chameleon roofs - as they are popularly called - are fabulously beautiful, reliable, cozy and unique.

Video: photos of beautiful and unusual roofs

Homes are so different. Even those built according to the same design, in the same area, some look like palaces, while others look like just buildings. And it’s all about a correctly selected roof shape and suitable covering material, which do not have to be trendy, but must comply with the canons of style. Then the house will receive a modern, beautiful “headdress”, and its inhabitants will receive comfort and coziness.

Residents of large cities do not see the roofs of buildings. They are somewhere above, where the romantic Carlson lives. Unlike megacities, the residential environment of suburban villages and small towns is largely formed by the roofs of private houses. Developers are not bound by strict rules and are free to embody their idea of ​​an ideal home in a wide variety of forms. The imagination is limited mainly by the budget for construction or reconstruction. Beautiful roofs of houses give the architecture a human scale and create an environment friendly to residents. Let's try to figure out what types of roofs there are, and what determines their reliability, durability and attractiveness.

Rarely used in private construction in Russia and the CIS countries. Of the former Soviet republics, they are popular only in the Baltic states. The main reason is the lack of tradition and the fact that flat roofs are generally more expensive than pitched roofs. Taking into account snow loads, flat roof structures must have high strength.

It is not customary for us to build frame houses with a flat roof, and the construction of a durable reinforced concrete roof is more expensive than a wooden rafter system. However, you need to take into account that reinforced concrete will last longer, and it is also absolutely fireproof. A flat roof gives another serious bonus: it can be used as a terrace, balcony, sports ground, solarium or even a green garden. Such solutions are very popular in developed countries.

A flat roof will cost more. But it can be used rationally.

Pitched (sloping) roofs

Officially, roofs with a slope of more than 12° are considered pitched. Their variety is enormous and limited only by imagination. Naturally, the more complex the roof shapes of private houses, the more expensive they are. Based on the practice of constructing private housing, the main types of roofs of low-rise buildings have been formed.

Let's take a closer look at the different types of pitched roofs.

Basic forms of pitched roofs

Features of pitched roofs

A house with a pitched roof is not yet held in high esteem among us. Until recently, it was believed that they were only suitable for courtyard buildings. At the same time, zealous residents of Scandinavia and Germany (countries with much similar climate to Russia) are building quite a lot of standard budget houses of a similar design. When the higher overhang is oriented towards the sunny side, living quarters are placed there, in the lower part - bathrooms, stairs, etc. This allows you to optimize the building volume and let more light into the house. A pitched roof is structurally simple and therefore inexpensive.

The use of a pitched roof allows you to find amazingly beautiful solutions in interior design

It is advisable to have a picturesque landscape to which stained glass windows can be oriented. If you are not near a mountain valley or the ocean, you can admire your own neat garden. In this case, it is better to place the house not close to the fence.

Characteristics of a gable structure - “house roof”

"The roof of the house." The roofs of one-story houses in children's drawings are always depicted with two slopes, an indispensable chimney and a column of smoke. There will be a pot with a flower or a cat sitting in the window. The gable design is the simplest and most economical, and deservedly the most popular. Almost all types of traditional housing have gable roofs. Unless, of course, you count the mobile dwellings of peoples leading a nomadic lifestyle: yurts, tents and tents.

A small additional side gable of this house, a double glass door and a balcony add some complexity to the roof, but improve the appearance and add comfort to the interior.

When installing gable roofs, the consumption of wood for the construction of the rafter system is minimal. The design is simple to manufacture and windows or ventilation openings can be built into the side gables (also called gables).

A very simple, but no less cute house, Germany

If there is a tie that tightens the rafters at the level of the mauerlat, the load on the walls is transferred only vertically, and not by expansion, to the sides. This solution is optimal for wooden log houses that can be deformed from diagonal influences. If it is not possible to install a tie, it is necessary to ensure that the rafters are supported in the upper part and fastened to the upper rim of the frame on sliding supports.

If there is a tightening (2), the load from the rafter legs (1) is transferred through the Mauerlat (3) to the walls strictly vertically. This is the simplest, most stable and rational design for wooden houses and long buildings

It is very effective to cover it using trusses that form a gable roof. The design of a properly assembled truss is very rigid and has minimal deflection. Trusses can span spans of several tens of meters, while the cross-section of the elements from which they are assembled is small. A very economical solution, however, does not allow the attic space to be used to its fullest.

A gable roof does not have to be symmetrical

With the help of wooden trusses it is possible to span very large spans without intermediate supports. Wood consumption when constructing trusses is minimal.

The roofs of private houses with two slopes allow you to equip full-fledged living quarters in the attic. Two variants of gable roofs are used to construct an attic floor: with straight rafters and broken ones. A gable roof with broken slopes is also called a mansard roof.

Scheme of the rafter system of the attic roof. The tightening ensures that there are no bursting loads on the walls; the racks and the top beam create a closed frame. Durable and inexpensive design.

It is a little more difficult to install and consumes more material, but the gain in the height of the rooms on the upper floor is obvious. The attic roof allows you to get rooms with vertical walls and a high horizontal ceiling instead of an attic, practically forming a full second floor.

On the right is a roof with straight rafters, on the left - with broken ones

With a gable roof with straight rafters, the windows are placed in the gables, and the low parts of the room along the side overhangs can be used as storage rooms. The only drawback of windows built into the roof is that they need to be properly closed before it rains.

The interior of this attic room is filled with light, largely thanks to the attic windows.

Another type of mansard roof is a gable roof with small slopes (slopes) on the gables (gables). This type is common in Holland, the northern provinces of France, Germany and Poland, and is also loved by Russians. This type of roof is also called half-hip or Dutch.

Another type of mansard roof, Dutch. Intermediate between gable and hip.

Subtleties of the hip roof device

A hip roof has slopes on all sides and is called a hip roof. There may be more slopes (roof edges) if the shape of the building in plan is more complex than a simple rectangle. All slopes are completely lowered to the cornice. Two of them have the shape of a triangle, two (or more) are trapezoidal.

A typical Polish house design with a straight hipped roof and a small gable over the porch. Large roof overhangs are practical and beautiful

The hip structure, when properly approached, is strong and reliable, but is more difficult to construct than a gable structure. Accordingly, it costs more. Visually, the hip roof makes the house lower; due to the lack of vertical walls, the real height of the building cannot be read. The corner rafters bear a greater load, so they must have a stronger cross-section.

The design of a hip roof is more complex than a hip roof.

A four- or multi-pitched roof also allows you to equip living quarters in the attic. Like a gable roof, the rafter structure of a hip roof can be straight or broken. With straight rafters, large overhangs will be appropriate: they will protect the walls from rain and will allow you to raise the height of the attic without disturbing the proportions of the building.

A nice house with a residential attic under a sloping hip roof, which is decorated with a side gable with a balcony.

Glass doors and vertical cuckoo skylights fill the rooms with sunlight. A typical structure for northern France.

The roof is hip, but there are more than four slopes

A hip roof can also be curved, approaching the dome type. The production and installation of such structures will cost much more.

The hip roof is a type of hip roof (hipped roof). It is erected over buildings that are close in plan to a square. The slopes have a similar angle of inclination and converge at one point in the center of the roof. Thus, the hipped roof does not have a horizontal ridge, only inclined ribs at the junction of the slopes. A hip roof can also have a straight or broken shape.

Hip roof covered with reeds. The upper decorative element protects the end of the top row of reeds and covers the ventilation duct openings from precipitation.

Vaulted roof and its characteristics

A cylindrical roof is called a vaulted roof. Traditionally, the vault was made of brick or stone. Rafter systems made from conventional lumber are unsuitable for the manufacture of curved vaults. The supporting structures of vaulted roofs are made of curved metal or laminated veneer lumber beams made to the shape of the roof.

The load from the vaulted roof is carried by powerful beams made of laminated wood, made to order. Effective solution, but expensive

Lattice trusses of complex shapes are also used. As a result, the cost of vaulted roofs is too high for widespread use. The choice of roofing materials is limited to seam metal roofing, bitumen-polymer roll materials and, subject to certain conditions, flexible tiles.

Features of the dome structure

Building a dome is even more difficult than building a vault. This solution is used in private construction only if there is a sufficient budget and the need to achieve an unusual external effect.

The flower-shaped roof of this country house can be described as a complex hybrid of a hip and domed roof.

Combined with palm trees, this house looks very beautiful. Among the fir trees and birches, the house probably would not have looked so impressive.

A type of domed roof, consisting of geometrically correct and mathematically calculated triangular elements. There are convenient computer programs for designing such systems. Assembling the dome is relatively labor-intensive, but this disadvantage is compensated by the surprisingly low consumption of material for the supporting structures.

In developed countries, geodesic domes as residential buildings are by no means uncommon, and they are not cheap. For now, only enthusiasts are doing this. The peculiarity of such buildings is that the interior spaces have unusual outlines. A properly assembled geodesic dome can withstand heavy snowfalls, storm winds and even earthquakes.

The supporting frame of a geodesic dome is very strong, while the cross-section of its elements is minimal.

There are many types of roofs: one is more beautiful than the other, there is plenty to choose from. If you are on a limited budget, you should first of all pay attention to double and single slope options. The more complex the roof, the more expensive it is. And not only by type, but also by shape in plan, for example, hip with more than four slopes. You need to understand that every additional fracture of the roof, ridge or valley will entail additional costs.

The roof is considered as important in the structure of the house as the foundation and walls. It is classified as a load-bearing structure and therefore must meet a number of requirements: to be strong, reliable, durable, well insulated, and have good heat and sound insulation. Which house roofs to choose is the prerogative of the poor homeowner. The main thing here is not to make a mistake in choosing. The roof must also match the type of shape and be fireproof.

To make it easier to meet these requirements, before creating a house project, you need to select the shape in advance, calculate the height, and select the appropriate materials for its construction.

What forms are there?

There are several types of roof shapes. The choice should be based on design features:

  • Single-pitch. One roof plane resting on two outer walls of unequal height. Used for utility rooms (shed) and garages.
  • Gable. It has 2 planes, which, as in the first case, rest on 2 external wall structures, but of the same height. The planes are designed at a certain angle relative to each other.
  • hip. It has slopes on the end side in the shape of a triangle. The side walls also resemble a triangle, only truncated, or a trapezoid.
  • Half-hip. Consists of 2 slopes. The surfaces on the end side have the shape of a triangle.
  • Broken. A very complex roof model. At the bottom the slopes are triangular, at the top they are connected, and always at an obtuse angle.
  • Tent. It is also not without difficulties. This is a quadrangular structure with 4 slopes of the same size.
  • Cross-shaped. Used when the house has a complex shape. The calculations and design of this type must be carried out by a design engineer. This is explained by the fact that the cruciform shape of the roof requires the calculation and installation of valleys. It is important to place them correctly in the structure. Otherwise, leaks cannot be avoided.

There are many roof shapes. Here you need to learn not only to choose a shape, but also to correctly calculate the roof structure. Only then will the roof perform the functions assigned to it.

Why do you need to calculate the height and how to do it correctly?

The roof is the part of the house that is most often exposed to atmospheric phenomena. If the angle of inclination, and accordingly the height, is incorrectly selected, there is a risk that due to exposure to strong winds and precipitation, its integrity will be compromised. You will have to carry out roof repairs to eliminate the problems - this is the best case scenario. At worst, you will have to build it from scratch.

The role of height indicators

You cannot neglect the standards when creating a project. The reliability of the structure and the health of those who will live there depend on this. Below are a number of arguments that can absolutely confirm the correctness of the above and the importance of correctly calculating the roof height for the structure of the house:

  • Reliability and durability. A correctly calculated and selected height will allow the roof to be resistant to external influences, weather influences, and resistant to increased loads, for example, roofing, insulation.
  • Aesthetics. Appearance plays an important role. If its height does not correspond to the structure of the house, then such a roof will not look aesthetically pleasing.
  • Convenience. If the height is correct, you can build an attic.

The highest point is called the ridge. This is the point where all the inclined planes of the roof connect. If its height is chosen incorrectly, then there is a risk that the roof will not last the period for which the owner of the house calculated. The ridge height parameters must strictly comply with the technological process.

How to calculate the height of the roof?

Video tutorial on finding

What determines the height of the ridge?

An important parameter in the calculation is the slope angle. There is a list of factors on which it is based mainly on atmospheric influences :

  • winds, if they are frequent in the region, then the slope angle should be 10-20 degrees;
  • precipitation in areas where it falls abundantly above 45 degrees;
  • snow - in very snowy winters, the angle of inclination can be similar to the previous point.

Advice

More detailed regulatory data can be taken from the requirements of SNiP 2301-99.

Selecting height by roof type

Here, height calculations are made taking into account the type of coverage:

  • If roof materials contain many piece elements, the angle of inclination should be chosen as large as possible.
  • If the roof structure is low, joints should be kept to a minimum.
  • For very heavy roofing masses, the largest angle of inclination is selected so that the weight can be evenly distributed over the entire surface.

Calculation parameters taking into account the width of the building

Here the cross section of the structure is represented in the form of an equilateral triangle. Where the height parameter is the leg. Next, the calculation is made as follows:

When purchasing roofing, you need to pay attention to the weight. For example, let’s compare two popular types – metal and ceramic tiles. The latter is 10 times heavier than the first. And this plays a significant role in the design of rafters.

Many buyers make the mistake of buying cheaper coverage - it is most often of low quality, which means it will not last long.

What materials can be used?

The list of coatings for roofing is quite wide. Each has its own advantageous characteristics and disadvantages.

Roofing materials

Metal tiles have been the most popular for years

Ceramic tiles

It has been produced for a long time - more than 100 years. Significantly improves the appearance of the facade in comparison with its clay counterpart. Counts:

  • Reliable coating.
  • Has a long service life.
  • Characterized by high strength.
  • Not affected by humidity.
  • Provides absolute UV protection.

With all the advantageous characteristics, it also has several disadvantages:

  • high cost;
  • large mass.

Ceramic tiles - produced for more than 100 years

Ondulin

Enjoys a reputation. Occupies positions in terms of quality and consumer demand:

  • reliable;
  • moisture resistant;
  • lasting;
  • protects against UV;
  • tolerates high loads well;
  • resistant to mechanical stress;
  • endowed with waterproofing properties;
  • fireproof;
  • not subject to corrosion;
  • has good flexibility.

Installed on a deck made of slatted strips.

Ondulin - has a reputation

Slate

The cheapest roofing material:

  • service life – 40 years or more;
  • moisture resistant;
  • withstands mechanical stress;
  • withstands high loads well, for example, a layer of snow.

Flaws:

  • During long-term use, its edges begin to crumble;
  • In places where it is constantly shaded, lichen begins to appear.

Slate is the cheapest roofing material

Corrugated sheet

Roofers often work with this material citing the fact that it is reliable and very durable. Compared to metal tiles, the sheets are wider, and also:

  • low specific gravity;
  • high strength indicators;
  • considered an environmentally friendly coating;
  • has a wide selection of colors;
  • It can be installed in any weather conditions.

How to choose corrugated sheets?

What should you pay attention to?

Flaws:

  • makes a lot of noise if it rains;
  • complex roof shapes require a lot of material;
  • susceptible to corrosion during operation;
  • drilling or cutting areas require additional processing;
  • requires laying a hydraulic layer to prevent condensation;
  • requires additional insulation.

Corrugated sheeting is reliable and very durable

Flexible tiles

Seamless coating based on glass fibers impregnated with bitumen. The outer part is treated with basalt, painted in different colors:

  • has high strength;
  • endowed with good sound and heat insulation properties;
  • Provides excellent sealing.

From this entire list, you can choose any roofing material. Which one will be best is up to you to decide.

Flexible tiles - seamless coating based on fiberglass

Choosing insulation – which one is better?

When choosing a good insulation material, refer not only to the cost, but also to the technical and operational characteristics. And also on the difficulty of installation. You can install the insulation yourself, although in some cases you will need to use special equipment. Criteria for choosing a good insulation:

  • thermal conductivity coefficient - the lower it is, the better;
  • moisture resistance;
  • lifetime;
  • stability of shape and appearance;
  • heat insulator weight;
  • resistance to low temperatures;
  • soundproofing properties;
  • environmental friendliness.

Insulation - mineral wool

Advantages:

  • high thermal insulation coefficient;
  • price;
  • mineral wool does not burn;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • ease of installation;
  • biostability - not subject to putrefactive phenomena, it will not be damaged by rodents or insects;
  • has good vapor permeability;
  • the sound insulation coefficient is high;
  • does not lose shape.

Roof insulation

What is needed for this?

When installing mineral wool insulation, it is necessary to provide vapor barrier and waterproofing layers. And also take care of organizing ventilation gaps. This will prevent condensation from forming. If this is not done, the rafters will begin to rot over time.

Glass wool

Its thermal insulation properties are close to mineral wool; it has been used as a heat insulator for a long time. Made from fused glass. It goes on sale in roll form and is characterized as a good, environmentally friendly and non-flammable material.

When using this insulation, you should protect your hands, body and eyes with special equipment. When installing, follow the installation technology.

If you buy glass wool without a foil outer covering (this is an improved type that many manufacturers have been using lately), then you should take care of laying a vapor barrier layer from the same foil.

Expanded polystyrene

Foam plastic is also used very often in insulating walls and as a heat insulator for roofing:

  • It is characterized as a material with high thermal insulation properties.
  • Resistant to moisture.
  • It does not absorb steam, which means it can be laid directly on the waterproofing; there is no need to create an air gap.

When laying polystyrene foam in pitched roofing forms, you must ensure that the edges of the material fit snugly against it. After installation, the seams must be treated with polyurethane foam.

The material is flammable and vapor-tight, which means it cannot be used for insulating flat roofs.

Polyurethane foam

Also good for roof insulation. The list of its advantages includes:

  • low thermal conductivity;
  • small weight;
  • good sound insulation;
  • biostability;
  • good waterproofing properties.

The material is endowed with sufficient rigidity. It cuts and drills well. Does not lose shape during service.

Polyurethane foam insulation can be laid (tile form) or sprayed onto (liquid form).

Polyurethane foam - the material is endowed with sufficient rigidity

Ecowool

Made from paper. Refers to environmentally friendly roofing insulation. Endowed with good sound and heat insulation qualities. To ensure that the material is not flammable and is not damaged by rodents and insects, ecowool manufacturers treat it with defenseless substances and antipyrine.

Refers to the lightest and cheapest types of insulation. Sold in liquid form. when using it as insulation for the roof (between the rafters), it is necessary to create some kind of closed boxes. Ecowool is blown into them so that it not only fills the space, but also fills all sorts of cracks. Disadvantages: the use of special equipment in installation work.

There are other ways to insulate a roof.

Ecowool - made from paper

Painting the roof - nuances, methods, features

The roof is covered with different materials; the specifics of the work and the feasibility of using painting depend on this:

1 Slate. At first it looks good. Over time, it fades, and islands of lichen begin to appear on its surface. You can prevent these manifestations by painting it with water-dispersion or acrylic paint. They are resistant to external and weather factors. True, before this you should tint the coating.

2 Corrugated sheet. It is rarely repainted. During production, they are coated with a colored polymer-based coating. It is painted only during the process of restoration or restoration work.

3 Sheet metal. It can be painted, but before doing this you need to treat the surface with an anti-corrosion primer.

The roof is painted in two ways - manual or machine. Before the procedure, you must adhere to the following requirements:

  • Do not paint the roof in bad weather, especially during rain. It is best to do this in spring in April or May, in autumn in September or October. During these periods, the paint layer will have the best adhesion, which means it will last a long time.
  • In summer it is generally not recommended to paint due to the heat.
  • Painting should be done in non-slip shoes that do not scratch the surface.
  • If work is carried out at a high height, you need to take care of your own safety by tying yourself with a rope to the rafters or beam.
  • It is highly not recommended to attach a safety rope to the chimney - the support is unreliable and may not support your body weight.

How many coats should a roof be painted?

In order for the paint layer to be stronger and look appropriate, at least 2 layers of paint should be applied:

  • When applying for the first time, you need to take 700 grams of drying oil for each kilogram of paint, mix and only then paint.
  • When painting again, for every kilogram of paint you need to take 5000 grams of drying oil.

Application technology - or how long to wait between the first and second painting:

  • After applying the first layer, you need to wait a week for it to dry thoroughly.
  • The second layer will take 3 days longer to dry, that is, a total of 10 days.
  • If you decide to apply the 3rd layer, then you need to use and wait exactly this time.

How to choose a color for the roof and facade?

You can order a ready-made turnkey project, but such a service is not available to everyone. You can consider all possible options in another way - by creating a template. To do this, the flat projection of your facade needs to be transferred to tracing paper(you can also use plastic film), and then use the color substitution method to select a shade and manufacturer.

Even if everything goes well with the color, the chosen option will suit you in all respects; there is no need to run out and buy all the coloring material. First you need to paint a small piece of the facade and roof in the selected colors.

The assessment of the final shade is influenced by:

  • surface texture;
  • base type;
  • lighting.

Look at them at different times of day and weather conditions:

  • in the morning before sunrise;
  • during the day in good light;
  • in the evening, when only the lights are on;
  • on a cloudy day.

The disadvantage of this selection method is that it can be used to test a limited number of colors.

The types of roofs of private houses are quite diverse both in design and appearance. Usually, there are several options that are most common for a particular area, the popularity of which is explained by the cultural customs of the people living in this territory, better adaptability to the climatic conditions of the country, and the availability of building materials.

However, continuous progress and development of construction technologies makes it possible to create almost any shape, giving preference to a design that will satisfy both functionally and aesthetically. In this article we will tell you about the roofs for a private house that are most often used in Russia.

The roof is the upper part of the house structure, which separates the interior from the surrounding area, giving a complete and harmonious appearance to the structure. As a rule, the roof can have a complex structure.

Depending on its shape, it consists of one or several slopes and pediments, with which the space between them is sewn up. The roof frame is made up of rafters, which give mechanical strength and shape to the structure.

The waterproofing coating is made from corrugated sheets, metal tiles, roofing felt, slate or other materials that are highly resistant to moisture.

All types of house roofs, due to their design and three-layer structure, perform the following functions:

  • Waterproofing. All roof structures have a waterproofing finishing coating that protects the interior of the house from the penetration of precipitation in the form of rain or snow. This is the primary task of the roof, which it copes with not only through the use of materials that do not allow water to pass through, but also with the help of the roof slope.
  • Thermal insulation. In addition to protection from moisture, all types of roofs help protect the house from the penetration of cold. According to the laws of physics, warm air rises, which is why even a heated house gradually cools down. Therefore, thermal insulation material is necessarily used in the construction of roofs. It is laid between the rafter legs or laid on top of them.
  • Aesthetic. In the end, buildings with properly selected roofing structures look more harmonious and complete. After all, this element helps to emphasize the architectural style of the building.

Note! When building sheds, garages or other small structures, the roof does not bear a significant load. But the construction of a private house requires accurate calculations, as well as the creation of a roof design, because it must have sufficient load-bearing capacity and strength.

Flat and pitched options

Types of roofs (roofs) of private houses differ significantly in appearance, design features and costs of their construction. To understand this variety of shapes, you first need to divide them all into pitched and flat:

  1. Flat

Which is laid on a strictly horizontal floor of the building. It is a multi-layer cake made of thermal insulation and waterproofing materials, laid in several layers to form a monolithic coating that does not allow heat and moisture to pass through.

Installation of such a roof usually occurs by fusing or gluing rolled waterproofing or a special membrane. This option does not allow the space under the roof to be used for organizing an attic, and also requires the installation of a powerful internal drainage system.

Therefore, flat roofing structures are more often used in the construction of high-rise buildings, high-rise buildings and industrial facilities. You can also use self-leveling waterproofing.

  1. Sloping

A pitched roof is a roof that consists of one or more slopes located at an angle to the base of the structure. A special feature of pitched roofs is the slope of its slopes, which allows precipitation to be more effectively removed from its surface.

The single-pitched option is the simplest way to cover a structure, and with an increase in the number of slopes, the complexity and cost of this type of roof increases.

Interestingly, experienced builders emphasize the rationality and proven effectiveness of pitched roofs for private houses. With a relatively small overlap area, this option provides much better protection against leakage and cold. In addition, it is more aesthetically pleasing and convenient to use.

Varieties by slope

Looking at private country houses, you can see that although their roofing elements have common features, visually they are very different. The slope of the roof has a significant impact on the appearance of the building.

This design characteristic is understood as the angle of inclination of the slope plane to the base of the roof. The slope can range from 1 to 60 degrees. The greater the slope, the better the water flows and the easier the snow slides off.

  • Flat. These are considered structures whose slope angle is no more than 3 degrees. Flat roof coverings usually have coatings made from roll materials. They are most often used in the construction of economic and industrial facilities, multi-storey buildings. Among private houses they are considered a rarity, so it is not possible to install them in a limited area and on a wooden base.
  • Low slope. The slopes of such structures range from 5 to 30 degrees. They are distinguished by the most optimal cost ratio for its construction and efficient drainage. This is the most convenient slope, which is most often chosen for covering private houses. In addition, this type of roof allows the use of almost any type of roofing.
  • Steeply inclined. If the slopes have an angle of inclination greater than 35 degrees, the roof is considered steep. A large angle guarantees effective removal of precipitation and snow masses from the slope, however, it increases the weight and cost of the frame. Roofs of this type are more complex to construct than low-slope roofs, so they are used only in regions with high snow loads. They remove precipitation well, but have a high windage.

Remember! The more precipitation falls in the region where construction is taking place, the greater the slope should be on the slopes. On the contrary, if the area is characterized by strong winds, it is better to give preference to low-slope options that help reduce the load on the frame of the slopes.

Classification by number of stingrays

Analyzing the architecture of private housing construction, experts note that pitched structures are still the most popular in Russia. Of course, these options have undeniable advantages: effective removal of precipitation, cost-effectiveness and ease of installation, and aesthetics. Pitched roofs are divided into the following types based on the number of slopes:

  1. Single-pitch. Such an overlap consists of one slope, usually located at a slight slope towards the base. The shape of the slope in this case will be rectangular or square. The advantage is its ease of installation and low cost, which is why this option is used in the construction of garages, sheds and other outbuildings. However, if you need an attic, then you will have to abandon this economical method.
  2. Gable. Traditionally, gable structures are the most common in Russia. Visually, they resemble a triangle with its apex near the ridge. Such roofs consist of two inclined slopes and two pediments enclosed between them. One of the varieties is the attic roof, which has a broken slope geometry, which allows for maximum use of the attic space. The rafter system of a gable roof can be hanging or layered.
  3. Four-slope (hip). Hip structures are more complex to construct than single- or double-slope structures; they have 4 slopes and no pediments. Thanks to this structure, the under-roof room will be more difficult to equip, including due to the massiveness of the rafter frame.
  4. Half-hip. In this case, part of the pediment is replaced with a small slope, which is smaller than usual. As you can see in the photo, this roof has two varieties: Dutch, in which the upper part of the pediment is replaced with a slope, and Danish, which has a slope in the lower part of the pediment. This structure allows you to place skylights at the front, improving the lighting of the under-roof space.
  5. Tent. Tent structures have four or more slopes. They are only suitable for covering square-shaped structures. To build a domed house, you will need more wood to make the rafter frame, and in addition more roofing material.

Please note that thanks to its complex shapes, the roof takes on an elegant and extravagant look. However, for the same reason, the consumption of roofing material and wood for installing the rafter frame increases, the complexity and, consequently, the cost of assembly increases. That is why, when building a private house, a reliable but fairly simple gable structure is most often used.

Warm and cold methods of arranging floors

Types of roofs differ in design as much as in appearance. First of all, we are talking about the composition of the roofing pie, which changes in accordance with the type of ceiling, as well as the nature of the use of the under-roof space.

According to these characteristics, all roofs are divided into attic and non-attic. They differ according to the following criteria:

  • « Cold» the roof does not contain thermal insulation material as part of the roofing pie, since underneath there is an unheated room called an attic. The attic serves as an air layer, which has thermal insulation value. The advantage of this option is its low cost, ease of installation, and increased insulating ability.
  • « Warm» The roofing part of the roofing pie must have thermal insulation material. These types are used with an attic if a heated living space is equipped under the roof. Insulation of slopes and gable walls, which must be carried out in this case, is necessary to retain heat in the attic and also to prevent the formation of condensation.

Remember that the design of a warm roof is much more complex than a cold one. The composition of its roofing cake includes not only thermal insulation material, but also additional waterproofing and vapor barrier, which protects the insulation from damping out.

Classification by type of roofing material

Different types of roofs have differences not only in appearance and design, but also in the roofing material used. There is no more important element of the roof than the waterproofing coating, which affects the service life, resistance to precipitation, and operating characteristics. The most common types are:

  1. Metal coatings. Very often, roofing materials based on corrosion-resistant metal, such as galvanized steel, are used to cover private houses. This type includes corrugated roofing, metal tiles or simply metal sheets. The advantages of this flooring option are strength, durability, and high load-bearing capacity.
  2. Soft materials. To cover slopes of complex or irregular shape, for example, hip roofs, soft bitumen-based coatings are used - roofing felt, roofing membranes, bitumen shingles. They are inexpensive, lightweight, elastic, which is why they can take any shape.
  3. Ceramic. Classic tiles have excellent thermal insulation properties and an impressive appearance, but at the same time they weigh quite a lot, and can also only be used if the angle of the slopes is steep enough.

Note! It is very important to choose high-quality, durable roofing materials when working on the roof of a house, so that the roof structure has all the necessary characteristics that contribute to better waterproofing, as well as thermal insulation of the room.

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