When you decide to construct a new home, you’ll need to determine what roof style you want. There are a plethora of options on the market today. However, there are just a handful of options that are widely popular throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Gable Roofs
Probably the most popular type of roof in Minnesota is the gable roof. This very simple roof is characterized by two sides sloping downward towards the exterior walls. The opposing two sides comprise the exterior walls extending from the ground right up to the peak of the eave. These roofs most commonly use asphalt shingles or metal roofing material and are constructed of trusses, rafters, or purlins.
Advantages
These triangular-shaped roofs are ideal for their ability to shed water and snow melt easily. They do wonders for providing extra attic space and offer more ventilation. Due to their simple design, this style of roof is fairly easy to build and cheaper to have installed than more complex roofing styles.
Disadvantages
In areas that experience high winds and hurricanes, gable roofs are not highly recommended, as they’re more susceptible to materials peeling away. Additionally, their slight roof overhang can allow hurricane-force winds to push the roof up and detach from your home’s walls.
Hip Roofers
Known as a hip or hipped roof, this type of roof is comprised of four roofing slopes that intersect at the top and extend down to the exterior walls. There are no gables included in a hip-style roof. Rather, a square hip roof would take on the appearance of a pyramid. Asphalt tends to be the most commonly installed roofing material on hip roofs, especially ones with a steep slope.
Advantages
Because a hip roof has four roofing sides meeting up at an intersecting point, it is more durable and stable than the traditional gable roof. This gives it a large advantage in regions that experience a lot of snow and high winds. The design of the hip roof can also offer more extra living space.
Disadvantages
Hip roofs have a very complex design that requires more building materials than the gable-style roof. This means that a hip roof will be more expensive to construct. Due to the increased number of valleys, these roofs are more susceptible to developing water leakage in their valleys.
Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are becoming increasingly popular for residential homes in the Minnesota region. Their blend of modern-day aesthetics and practicality simply can’t be beaten. As their name suggests, these roofs are constructed nearly flat. There is typically a 10 degree or less incline to help with water drainage, but these roofs appear to be horizontal to the human eye.
Advantages
Probably one of the biggest advantages of a flat roof is that it requires much fewer construction materials and is, therefore, cheaper to have installed. Its flat surface allows for extra living space, such as a patio or rooftop garden. Furthermore, a flat roof makes the perfect concealed location for hiding heating and cooling units. It’s also ideal for installing solar panels.
Disadvantages
The most obvious disadvantage of a flat roof is that it’s more susceptible to water damage. These roofs aren’t recommended for areas that receive heavy rain or snowfall throughout the year. You’ll likely find that you’ll need to invest more money in ongoing maintenance to ensure a water-tight seal.
Shed Roof
Another type of roofing style that is growing in the residential sector is the shed roof. This roof is comprised of one single-pitched surface. You may hear it also referred to as a lean-to, pent roof, outshot, or a mono-pitched roof. These roofs tend to have a fairly steep slope.
Advantages
One of the biggest advantages of a shed-style roof is that it’s very cheap to construct and can be used with a variety of roofing materials. Due to its single downward design, this roof style is very effective at shedding precipitation and isn’t highly susceptible to water leaks, as it has no complex valleys.
Disadvantages
Because the shed roof has a fairly basic design, it may appeal only to some homeowners. Additionally, you’ll need to have large gutters installed to handle the excessive water runoff from this singular surface.
Reliable Roofing Service
Doug Brue Construction offers reliable roofing replacement service for the entire Hastings, MN community. Our helpful roofers can assist with all of your commercial, custom roof design, storm damage, siding installation, gutter installation, and window installation needs. Simply give us a buzz today to schedule your next service consultation.
