A Guide To Roof Shapes & Roof Types In The UK

This is a classic roof shape and one of the most common you’ll find throughout the UK. It generally has two equal sides at an angle or pitch. It’s a standard design seen on new build homes and is the most common type of roof used in cold and temperate climates, which suits the UK and its weather conditions. The shape is also useful in combating rainfall and ensuring water does not pool on the surface of a home’s roof – hence its popularity in the UK.

Some homes sport a double gable roof, which was popularised in the Georgian era where there was not enough large timber to span the whole roof. New homes are still built with this style solely for aesthetic purposes.

This is where 2 areas of roof meet to form a T-shape. The pitched style allows for surface run off and weatherproofing much in the same way as a standard gable. Roofs may come in a variety of shapes such as T or L and where the two roof areas intersect we create an internal angle known as a valley which needs to be weathered for drainage, most often with lead or GRP. In turn a shaped roof can be either hipped or have a gable end, or even a mixture of the two.

This is a four-sided gambrel-style roof which features a double pitch on all four sides, with the lower slope incorporating dormer windows. Named after French Architect François Mansart, this roof style offers a classical-inspired look with lots of space under the roof, making it ideal for conversions. Care must be taken to ensure the pitch changes are properly weathered and that all internal cavities are properly ventilated.

This roof type has a continuous arched shape, most likely in the form of a semicircle. This curved style of roof is becoming particularly popular on larger new-build structures in town and city centres. These roofs are often weathered with a metal roof tile solution.

A flat roof is a roof with a pitch no greater than 100 to the horizontal. A flat roof system must have a fall to create drainage and the fall is created either by building a pitched deck or through the use of a tapered insulation system.

Flat roofing has risen in popularity in the UK – originally reserved for commercial structures but now becoming more popular in housing. They are popular in modern urban flat blocks and homes where their low cost helps ensure that the final housing stock is durable and more affordable.

When Britain was at the height of its industrial and manufacturing powers, sawtooth roofing was developed as an answer to sunlight protection for workers. The roof comprises ridges with dual pitches on each side, with the steeper surface facing away from the equator to guard workers in the structure from direct sunlight whilst admitting natural light into the building. Sawtooth designs faded out of fashion but are now returning to prominence thanks to their suitability for solar panels and the ingress of natural light that can save on electricity.