It is completely understandable for you to want your home to be unique from its foundation all the way to its roof – that’s why choosing the perfect roof is such a fun (and difficult) experience. The hardest part of this process is narrowing down your options to figure out your favorite style of exotic roofing that is durable enough to withstand the tests of time while also remaining inside your budget.
The typical architectural roofing aesthetic can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, and there are plenty of options to suit whatever requirements you may have for your roofing. Our high-end roofing contractors are happy to talk to you about any roofing questions or concerns that may arise, so get a free installation quote today!
Types of Roofing Styles for Residential Homes
If you’re not quite sure what roofing style you want to go for, you should consider some of the most popular exotic roofing styles out there. The top 9 styles of luxury roofing (in no particular order – simply personal preference and needs) are:
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Bonnet Roof
The bonnet roof, also commonly referred to as kicked-eaves, has a unique look because they feature two slopes; the upper slope is at a larger angle than the lower slope. The lower slope on this roof creates a perfect overhang to cover an outdoor porch or veranda area. This extremely stylized roof isn’t used in much modern architecture and is typically utilized in French Vernacular style homes.
This type of roof has a variety of perks that come with it, including the added water protection for your home’s walls thanks to the overhanging nature of this roof. This happens because the design of the roof urges water to run down the lower slope and be kept safely away from the walls of the structure, making it more practical than a gable roof. Having the upper slope tier on this roof also allows for additional space for the home, giving you the option of adding an attic or vaulted ceilings for example.
Although this style is great and has a lot of benefits, it does have a few down sides. One of the cons to this roof style is that it has a more complex design, making it more difficult to build and a little more expensive due to the additional materials required to construct it.
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Mansard Roof
The mansard roof is also known as the French roof, as it is also very French inspired. This roof consists of a double slope on each side of the house adding up to four slopes total. The design of this roof is basically a reverse of the bonnet roof design where the lowest slope is much steeper than the upper slope, and the sides have the option of being either flat or curved.
This style of luxury roofing is ideal for someone who is planning on future renovations to their roof; the flexible characteristics of this design allow you the option of garret additions or other types of renovations later down the line.
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Gambrel Roof
The gambrel roof gets much of its design inspiration from Dutch architecture. This style of roof is mostly used for barns, but it still shouldn’t be overlooked as a potential home roof option. Like the bonnet and mansard roof styles, the gambrel can also provide extra space for a potential attic for the homeowner. This roof also has two slopes, but the slopes are only on two sides of the house as opposed to the mansard’s four.
This roof is less expensive due to its very simple construction process using only two roof beams. The simplicity of the gambrel roof combined with its flexibility to be used on barns, sheds, and houses makes it a great option for many people. However, the gambrel style is not the ideal choice for homes that regularly receive heavy wind and a lot of snowfall due to its open design. Like the mansard and bonnet styles, a gambrel roof should be carefully waterproofed to ensure its longevity.
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Gable Roof
Gable roofs are the most recognizable roofing styles in the United States and can be easily identified by their classic triangular and peaked shape. Due to the pitched roof, gable roofs easily deflect both rain and snow while offering the same attic or potential vaulted ceiling space. Since the overall shape of this roof is fairly simple to construct, it is a cheaper option than the more heavily detailed designs.
A downside to gable roofs is that they tend to not hold up well against hurricanes and strong winds. While being built, these roofs should be given adequate supports to avoid collapsing while also making sure the roofs don’t have much overhang to avoid being uplifted by heavy winds. Gable roofs are still a great option, but you should have it checked out before and after a storm to ensure that it is still in top shape and not at risk of collapsing or peeling away in the wind.
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Saltbox Roof
The saltbox roofing style creates one of the most unique exterior looks for your home due to its asymmetrical shape. This pitched roof is long on one side and short on another; the shorter side has a sharper slope than the other. This design is common in colonial and Cape Cod designed houses with the function of creating additional space without needing much building materials.
The sloping of this roof makes it easy for water to run off and the off-center design adds additional stability compared to a typical gable roof. A con of this design is that getting the design right can take some time, which adds on to the overall price tag for the saltbox roof.
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Flat Roof
As the name implies, flat roofs look like they don’t have any pitch and are completely flat (but they do have a small, unnoticeable pitch to help with water drainage and flow). Flat roofs are more commonly seen by our crews specializing in industrial and commercial roofing in Flagstaff, but seeing a flat roof on a residential house isn’t out of the ordinary. Flat roofs are easy to install and provide extra safety for anyone that needs to do work on top of the roof for any reason.
A benefit of a flat roof is that you can use the flat space as a patio or a garden, or even just use the space to keep heating and cooling units out of the way and out of sight. However, since there is no obvious slope to this style, you need to be wary of debris collecting and having no way to naturally come off.
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Skillion Roof
The skillion roof is also known as a shed roof or a lean-to; it is basically an angled flat roof in that it is a single sloping roof that is attached to a taller wall on one side. These roofs are usually used in home additions and their steep pitch adds the benefit of allowing water and snow to run off easily. While skillion roofs are great in snowy and rainy areas, they are not super wind resistant.
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Hip Roof
Compared to flat roofs or gable roofs, a hip roof is a bit harder to build. This style of roof has a more complex design where every side has an equal length and meets at the top to create a flat ridge, which means they need a unique truss and rafter formation. This roof is extremely sturdy and performs well in both high wind and heavy snow areas. Hip roofs also have the option of additional space or dormer add-ons, so they have a lot of design possibilities.
Hip roofs require more materials (compared to a simple gable roof, for example) which makes it a little more expensive.
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Pyramid Roof
The pyramid roof, shockingly enough, resembles the shape of an actual pyramid. This design is similar to that of a hip roof in that every side comes together at the top to form a point. Pyramid roofs tend to be used on bungalows, cabins, or another type of small building. These roofs do an excellent job of resisting high winds and are the prime architectural roofing choice for any area that experiences strong winds or hurricanes.
No matter what type of roof you pick for your home, The roofing contractors at Polaris are the crew for you!
