Roofing aside from functioning to offer protection from the elements plays a pivotal role in the aesthetic appeal of your home. Well, you might as well say that a roof is a roof, as long as it still performs its basic duty. However, the different roofing styles make a whole lot of difference. With a pitched roof, been the roofing style in vogue, having a professional roofer install these architectural delightful roofing styles in your home won’t be out of the line. Your home will thank you for it.

What Is A Roofing Slope?

Perhaps, you already know that roofing slope is the amount of incline in a roof surface. It is usually expressed as a ratio of “rise overrun.” For instance, in roofing installation, a roofer may have a 5:12 slope rise, which explains that there’s a rise of 5 vertical inches for every 12 horizontal inches. It is easily determined with a level and measuring tape.

What Can Affect Sloped Roofs?

The pitch or slope, which is the angle at which a roof rises, can be considerably different depending on the style of the building. It is also vital not to overrule the effects of these various roof slopes. Some forces like rain, sleet, and snow have a greater influence on the performance of such roof styles. Wind also has a great influence on pitched roofs.

But it’s that all that can affect pitch roofs? Well, temperature fluctuations perhaps caused by direct sunlight or frost coupled with cold winds. Moreover, the sloped roofs can be attacked by pollutants such as acid rain, nuclear fallout, or anything upon the wind. There have also been cases of trees falling on roofs.

It is, therefore, easier to say that sloped roofing is always subject to attack from all sorts of factors. However, every homeowner who desires or already has sloped roofing can take solace in the fact that most of these sources are predictable and so are fully considered at the design or specification stages of building. All things been equal, most pitched roofs are expected to have a long lifespan. As all things can never be equal, the lifespan of sloped roofs is subject to good maintenance and the exposure rating of the roof to weather extremes. Factors that can greatly influence the life expectancy of such roofing styles include

• The type of material used
• Hiring professional and well-experienced roofing contractors
• Your roofer abiding by Good Practice Guidelines at the installation stage
• Well designed support frame and liner details
• Effective loft space ventilation
• Adequate and well placed under insulation

The Roof Slopes

• Low Pitch Roofs

The low pitch roofs generally measure at 3:12. However, for metal roofing, mechanically seamed standing seam roofs should be used on pitches lower than 2:12. The low sloped roofs are common in residential buildings. Also, this slope roofing type is visible in certain areas of a home like the porches. One thing you can’t take away from low sloped roofs is the ease of its installation and a higher level of safety it offers while walking around the roof probable for repairs and maintenance. This is of a greater good, given that they are more subject to leaks and are always in need of more frequent inspection. These roofing styles are rarely installed in regions of severe weather due to the stress of snow accumulation on roofs of structures. Also, the roof is not slanted well enough to encourage properly run off of melt ice. They have quite greater appeal in geographies with lesser rain and snowfalls and appear favorable to modern architects in contemporary designs.

• Medium-Pitched Roofs

One constant fact in all roofing is that as the roofs get steeper, they will be an increase in the level of safety pieces of equipment it will be required, and there will be, of course, a greater amount of time that will be needed to work on the roof. In summary, the general cost of fixing (be it installing, repair, or maintenance) such roofs is much higher. The medium-sloped roofs go a higher than 6:12 pitch. They offer great help by encouraging easy run off of snow and rainwater. It could also be inspected and repaired with not much ease but little difficulty.

• High-Pitch

If there’s anything so appealing about high pitched roofs, its all in the aesthetics. The roofing in high sloped roofs is a significant part of the house. Roofing products with a great level of beauty and elegant designs are always sought after. This also increases the value of the home. These roofs are dynamic but albeit very expensive to install, repair, and maintain. Irrespective of how durable the roofing material can be, it can never rule out the need for a roofing inspection and repairs or replacement when necessary. The shortage of labor for this unique sloped roofing couple by the high risk of slips and falls all work to make this roofing style, quite an expensive venture.

Roof Types And Effects Of Slopes

• Gable Roofs

The Gable roofs can shed off snows and water. However, high winds and hurricanes can greatly hurt this roofing design. High winds may lead to peeling away from the roofing materials and in extreme cases, a complete collapse of the roof.

• Hip Roofs

The hip roofs promise to be more durable and sturdy. The downside to this pitched roofing design lies greatly in its high cost. Also, water leaks are more prone to occur in the valleys, more due to poor roofing installation.

• Gambrel roof

The Gambrel roof is easier and costs less to install and maintain. However, it could be very risky to install such areas with heavy winds or a significant amount of rainfall. This is because the Gambrel roofs are subject to be damaged by heavy storms, rainfall, and snow. Regular inspection of the roof is, therefore, advisable.

• Bonnet roof

The Bonnet roof is designed to offer protection to the porches and walls from water damages. Water runs off smoothly from the roof. The major downside of the Bonnet is its high cost of installation and repairs. Also, working on such roof design could be a very difficult task. Another major turn off is the presence of valleys, which provides space for runoff water to the pool.

• Sawtooth roof

The sawtooth roof provides ample ventilation and illumination in the home. However, the installation and maintenance worth’s a fortune.

Determining the slope or pitch of your roof is important, and it plays a huge role in influencing the choice of material, the degree of inspection, and the cost of installation, repairs, and roof replacement.