Hip vs Gable Roof What are their Differences?

Hip vs Gable Roof What are their Differences? The main purpose of the roof above your head is to protect your home and you from all the outside content. Usually, most of the roofs are in a slope form so that the water, sleet, and melting snow can run off into the gutter system. However, there are different options available for the types of roof designs that can make your home beautiful and impact the efficiency of your home.

Usually, some of the areas in different cities are using hip roofs and gable roofs. The main difference between the two roofs is the slopes on the sides. On a hipped roof, all sides slope downward to the home’s wall. However, in gable roofs, two triangle-shaped slopes extend from the bottom of the roof’s eaves to the peak of its ridge. We are here to help you to know about the difference between gable and hip roofs.

Hip-vs-Gable-Roof-What-are-their-Differences?

What is a Hip Roof?

A hip is without any vertical ends. This means it has slopes on all the sides, and they all meet at the peak of the roof and make a square-like structure there. However, if the structure is a rectangle, the slope ends inward to create a ridge with the adjacent sides.

Moreover, it is easy to determine a difference between gable and hip roof by checking all the roof sides slope down to the home’s walls, and the walls sit under the eaves on all sides of the roof.

Advantages of Hip Roofs

Hip roofs are more stable, and the inward slope on all four sides make them sturdy and durable. 

Disadvantages of Hips Roofs

They are more expensive than gable roofs, and they tend to have a complex design and require more skills and materials for their installation.

Hip Roof Variations

Here are some of the hip roof variations available for you:

  • Half-hip roof: It is typically an add-on to gable roofs. It occurs when the end of the gable roof includes a half-hip section at the slope edge.
  • Pavilion roof: This roof is made on a square structure where the sides join to form one peak in the center.
  • Mansard Roof: This roof comes with slopes are different angles, usually flatter at the top and a drop-off point in the mid.

What is a Gable Roof?

The gable roof has a structure of triangle-shaped slopes that extends from the bottom of the roof’s eaves to the ridge’s peak. Gable roofs have only two slopes, and the remaining space is enclosed within the home’s walls. They also go with a different name, i.e., pitched or peaked roofs, and these are some of the most common roof types for residential homes. 

Advantages of Gable Roofs

They are great at shedding water, snow, and another kind of debris and offer plenty of space for attics. They have an easy design and a simple construction method. 

Disadvantages of Gable Roofs

Gable roofs are prone to damage when it comes to high winds and snow, which can be problematic in hurricanes. The highs winds can create an uplift against the gables and which will make the roof detach.

Gable Roof Variations

Some of the variations available in gable roofs are:

  • Front Gable Roof: This is one of the most common designs used for decades in which the front of the house is the gable and the front door under that gable.
  • Cross-gable Roof: This roof consists of two or more lines of gable roof intersecting at an angle, usually seen in homes with different wings or an attached garage.
  • Dutch Gable Roof: It is a mixture of a gable roof and hip roof, and in this, the gable roof is placed on top of the hip roof, which allows more space in the loft.

 If you have questions about roofing materials or how a new residenatil roof should be replaced, call RRG today at 678-325-6949

Call Now Button Skip to content