If you are planning to build a new home or make some changes in the existing style of your home, there is a list of things to consider, such as the type of changes, budget, preferred design, etc. One of the items from the list could be the roof designs. The roof style not only affects the look of the exterior of your home but also plays a vital role in protecting your home from extreme weather conditions. In this blog, we'll discuss the two widely used roof designs in the U.S., namely Hip roofs and Gable Roofs, and their comparison.
What is a Hip Roof?
Origin
Hip Roofs became popular in the early 1700s in the United States. Hip roofs, inspired by British architecture, continue to be a popular roof style. Hip roofs became very popular in the early 1900s and 1910s, featuring details inspired by the 19th-century Queen Anne Style.
Features
In a Hip Roof, all the sides of the roof slope downwards, forming a ridge at the top of the roof. There are no vertical ends. If the structure of the room is square-shaped, all the slopes meet at the peak, and if the structure is rectangular, all the adjacent sides form a ridge at the peak.
Hip Roofs are stable and have low wind resistance, due to which they are mostly used in areas that are prone to high wind and hurricanes. For example, regions of Texas.
What is a Gable Roof?
Origin
Houses with gable roofs have been built in the U.S. since the early 1600s, and they can be seen in several old buildings in the state.
Features
In a gable roof, only two sides of the roof slope downwards, which forms a triangular shape at the front and back sides of the home. In this type of roof, a triangular portion of the wall fills in the gap between two sloping sides. Many homeowners in Texas choose gable roofs because of their classic look, better airflow in the attic space, and simple construction process.
Appearance
If you see gable roofs from the side, you might notice that the gables rise above the exterior walls, which makes the design more noticeable.
In contrast, hip roofs show sloping sides from all angles regardless of the viewer's direction. They are preferred for their smooth appearance.
Weather Resistance
Gable Roof drains rain and snow effectively, but they can be easily destroyed by extreme winds, especially if poorly supported.
In contrast, hip roofs handle strong winds because of their sleek shape. Rain and snow easily slide off the hip roofs.
Durability
Hip roofs are generally stronger than gable roofs. This is because hip roofs have multi-sided slopes, which helps the wind pressure to spread evenly. Hip roofs also have lateral bracing.
Gable roofs, on the other hand, have trusses that are placed parallel to each other, resulting in low durability.
Functional Space
Hip roofs have slopes that direct inwards. These sloping sides reduce the attic space in the room.
Gable roofs, on the other hand, come up with more usable attic space. You can easily make extra things like dormers and vaulted ceilings in this space.
Maintenance
Hip roofs usually have more folds and require more roofing materials and higher maintenance.
Gable roofs, on the other hand, need very little maintenance, and some sections of gable roofs are very easy to replace.
Water Resistance
Both roof types resist water effectively.
Hip roofs don't allow water to enter the attic space even if it rains heavily, so homeowners need not worry.
On the other hand, gable roofs have steep slopes, which easily let the rainwater flow off. This makes the gable roof handle rainwater efficiently.
Cost
Hip roofs come with more complex designs and require more materials for roofing. Therefore, if you choose hip roofs, you may have to bear high expenses.
Gable roofs, on the other hand, require only two roof planes instead of four. Therefore, gable roofs may require less expense than hip roofs.
Construction
In hip roofs, all the walls are of the same height and do not require any extra work of bracing. Thus, they are easy to build.
On the other hand, gable roofs are harder to construct as the roof shape requires different sizes of the four walls. A gable roof also needs extra brackets so that they effectively resist wind. Therefore, the construction of gable roofs requires both time and skill.
Hip Roof vs Gable Roof
Both the hip roof and the gable roof are good choices for your home. But both of them come with a few challenges. Let us understand both the roofs in detail so that you can make the right decision for your home.
| Hip Roof | Gable Roof |
| Smooth appearance | Noticeable appearance |
| Strong wind resistance | Low wind resistance |
| Durable with lateral bracing | Low durability |
| Less attic space | More attic space |
| Requires more maintenance | Requires low maintenance |
| Good water performance | Good water performance |
| Expensive due to complex structure | Lower cost |
| More complex to construct | Needs time and skill for construction |
Conclusion
If you're confused when choosing between hip roofs and gable roofs, consider the budget, ease of installation, durability, and your preferred roofing style. If you need strong storm resistance and a polished look for your home, hip roofs are a better option. But if you're concerned about the budget and want a more usable attic space, gable roofs are a better option.
