When deciding on a roofing design, choosing between either a gable or a hip roofing system is commonplace. Gable and hip roofs each come with unique advantages and disadvantages and an array of styles and variations. Choosing between a hip or gable roof depends on your personal preference, the structure of your home, the climate of your home’s environment, and your budget.
We will detail to you how the hip and gable roofing systems compare to one another, and hopefully, we can help you decide which roofing system is best for you.
Hip Roofing
Advantages
What characterizes a hip roof is that all four roof sections are of equal length, and each side slopes downward from the roof’s peak. The hip roof design is a classic. It features clean design lines, has a modern appeal, and is a trusted roofing design across the states as it is pretty stable and fares well in severe weather conditions.
If you live in an area that experiences intense winds, this roof design is the one for you. The highly aerodynamic hip roofing system won’t take as heavy a beating as the gable roof.
The hip roof is a favorite among contractors as it is one of the most straightforward roofing designs to build, and it can be constructed with just about any roofing material. Speaking of building, when adding dormers or a crow’s nest to your hip roof, you’ll be able to increase the living space in your home. The high roof peak of this roof design also allows for vaulted ceilings.
Hip Roof Styles
The hip roof design is available in many styles and variations, and these are some of them:
The Simple Hip Roof
This is the most common hip-style roof. It comprises rectangular or polygon sections on two opposite sides of the rooftop and then two triangular areas, which are also opposite one another, making up the four sides of the hip roof.
Pyramid Hip
As the name suggests, the pyramid hip is shaped like a pyramid. Instead of the four roofing sections coming together at the ridge, the four roof slopes meet at a single roof peak. As we know, the pyramid is one of the strongest shapes, thus making the pyramid hip a stable and durable roofing structure.
Cross Hip
The cross hip occurs when two hip roofing structures are combined to create one roofing system. Each hip’s meeting point comes together to form a valley on your roof.
Disadvantages
While the hip roof design is a popular option among American homeowners, it has its fair share of disadvantages.
While a hip roof is a lot easier to install, it is a complex design and requires more building materials than a gable roofing system. You’re looking at a price range of between $20 000 to $50 000 depending on your roof’s size and the materials you use.
The slopes of this design are not as steep as that of the gable roof and thus do not perform as well during a rainstorm. Because the peak is not as high, the hip roof leaves minimal space for an attic.
Gable Roofing
Advantages
The gable roof design is characterized by its high peak and triangular roof frame. The ‘gable’ of the roof is the flat section that is not covered by roofing material and consists of the material covering the home itself. The gable roof is a simple design and is loved by homeowners who prefer minimalist architecture.
Much like the hip roofing design, the gable roof is built using just about any roofing material. For homeowners on a tight budget, the gable roof design is an excellent choice as it is easily constructed and costs less than a hip roof to build.
They’re a favorite in areas with colder climates as their high peaks make for effective shedding of significant snowfall. These high peaks also allow homeowners to create spacious attic areas and allow for excellent ventilation within the home.
Gable Roof Styles
The gable roof design is available in many styles and variations, and these are some of them:
The Side Gable
The side gable roof is the most basic of the gable roof designs. It comprises two sections of equal length and forms the characteristic triangle. The two sections of the roof meet at the top to form a ridge.
The Crossed Gable
The crossed gable roof is formed when two or more gable roofing structures are joined at a right angle. The heights, length, and pitch of the gable roofing can be of varying degrees. This is a standard roof design for large homes with separate wings.
Dutch Gable
The Dutch gable roof design is a unique combination of the gable and hip roof styles. The dutch gable roof is constructed by placing a gable roof above the hip roofing structure’s hips. It combines both the benefits and downfalls of each roofing system.
Disadvantages
The gable roof design is notorious for not holding up too great in areas that experience high wind speeds or hurricane-prone regions. Without adequate frame support, your gable roof design is at risk of collapsing when the strong winds approach.
Intense winds can also cause uplift to occur on your roof, which could result in the roof structure detaching from your home. Therefore, the gable roof is not as strong or durable as the hip roof design. When building your gable roof, it’s essential to have adequate roof braces to support your gable roof.
If you’re still unsure which roofing design to opt for, please feel free to contact the 5-star San Antonio and Austin roofers today! We’ll guide you through all the ins and outs of each roofing style and help you make the best decision for your home.