The roof refers to the load-bearing structures of the house, so its construction must be taken with particular seriousness. Naturally, when planning the construction of a house, the question arises which roof is better?
In order for the roof to successfully cope with its functions, it must not only be strong and stable, but also have a number of properties. Namely, to have heat and waterproofing properties, comply with fire safety rules. In addition, the roof is an important architectural element that forms the appearance of the whole building.
Main types of roofs
The choice of materials for creating a roof depends mainly on the type of roof. There are two main types of roofs - pitched and flat.
- Flat roofs. This option is used, most often, in the construction of sheds, baths, garages and other outbuildings. In addition, this type is necessary if the project of the house provides for a roof terrace.
- Pitched roofs. This type of roof, in turn, is divided into non-attic and attic, as well as warm and cold.
The attic can be used as an additional utility room. In addition, the presence of an attic makes it easier to equip the ventilation of residential premises.
And if the house is heated using a stove or equipped with a fireplace, then there is a chimney in the attic. Recently, it has become fashionable to use attic spaces for attic living quarters.
Classification of pitched roofs
There are several types of pitched roofs, among them:
- Single roof. In this case, the roof is one plane supported by two outer walls of the house, which differ in height.
- gable roof. These are two planes located at an angle to each other and based on two outer walls of the building, which are of equal height.
- Half hipped roof. This is a type of roof with two slopes, in which the end walls in the upper part are cut in the form of a hip (triangle).
- Hip roof. This type of roof is characterized by the presence of end slopes in the form of a triangle, and side slopes in the form of trapezoids.
- Shed roof. This is a type of four-pitched roof, made of slopes of equal size.
- Sloping standard roof. A type of gable roof, the slopes of which are rectangles at the bottom, and at the top are connected at an obtuse angle.
- And finally, the cruciform roof. This is the most complex type of roof in execution, which is created over a house with a complex layout. When constructing this type of roof, it is necessary to provide for the installation of a groove, which greatly complicates the design and requires special care when performing roofing work.
How to choose the right type of roof?
When choosing the type of roof, the operational and decorative qualities of the future roof are taken into account. In low-rise buildings, the roof occupies a significant part of the volume of the house, so its appearance determines the overall architectural solution.
As a rule, in the construction of private houses, preference is given to high roof structures. Such a decision will give the house a presentable appearance and will allow (immediately or subsequently) to build an attic floor.
In addition, the steep slopes of the roof do not contribute to the retention of snow and rainwater. However, in areas where strong winds prevail, it is more expedient to choose a structure with a low type of roof, or use high structures with additional reinforcement of the supporting truss systems.
When choosing the type of roof, you also have to take into account the economic aspect, that is, to decide which roof is cheaper? Naturally, the simplest designs will require less investment, so if the most economical option is selected, you need to opt for a flat or shed roof.
By the way, a shed roof is also quite convenient, as it allows you to make the most of the internal cubic capacity of the building, and in some outbuildings it can play the role of a ceiling.
If it is planned to use the attic for any household needs, for example, for storing things or for drying washed clothes, a gable or sloping roof is required.
In areas with high wind load, the best choice is hip roofsbut the construction is very labor intensive.
Advice! If you plan to build a hip roof, then you should entrust its construction to experienced craftsmen, since this work requires professional skills and knowledge.
If it is planned to build a house of complex shape, then the only option is a cruciform roof.
As already mentioned, this type of roof is a complex structure, consisting of a large number of slopes that can intersect with each other at a variety of angles.
The main difficulty in the construction of such a roof is that the parts of the roof that form the internal corners remain airtight. The device of such a roof is a rather expensive pleasure, requiring the use of expensive building materials and the labor of workers with a high level of qualification.
Components of the roof structure
After the type of roof has been selected, you can proceed to the selection of materials, and for this you need to know what structural elements it consists of.
So, the main elements of any roof:
- Basic structure.The type of this element depends entirely on what type of roof is planned to be built. It can consist of wooden beams (with a span of no more than 4.5 meters), rafters or trusses, which, in turn, consist of lower and upper chords, struts, ligaments and other elements.
- Foundation for roofing. It can be solid or in the form of a lattice;
- Layer of heat and waterproofing;
- Roofing material.
Types of rafters
Rafters, as an integral element of the roof, perform a very important function. They serve as a support for the crate, taking on the entire mass of the roof, including snow pressure and wind load.
There are two types of rafters:
- Inclined, which are used with a span of up to 6.5 meters (if there is an additional support, then this value can be increased to 12 meters)
- Hanging, which are used for long spans.
The design and installation of truss systems is one of the most difficult jobs in the construction of a roof. The bearing capacity of the future structure, and, consequently, the strength of the roof, depends on the quality of its implementation.
Types of bases under the roof
The choice of the type of base under the roof is carried out depending on what roofing material is planned to be used.
There are two types of bases:
- solid flooring;
- Crate.
The first is recommended for use when using rolled roofing materials, the second - for roofing from slate, metal profiles, metal tiles, etc.
When constructing a continuous flooring, the boards are laid out in two layers. The first layer is working, the second, which is laid out from narrow boards located at an angle of 45 degrees to the working floor, is protective. Between the layers of the flooring it is necessary to install a windproof material.
Advice! It is recommended to use RPP-350 or RPP-300 ruberoid as a windscreen.
When constructing a crate, it is important to observe the following rules:
- Elements must be securely fastened to the rafters;
- The joints of the elements of the crate should be located above the rafters in a run;
- The distance between the individual elements of the crate must be exactly maintained over the entire roof surface.
Roofing and roofing materials
The roof is the uppermost part of the roof, which absorbs the impact exerted by wind and precipitation. Therefore, the main requirement that applies to it is water resistance and durability.
Roofing can be made from a variety of materials, so when deciding which roof is best, you should definitely compare the performance of different roofing materials.
When choosing a roofing material, the following factors must be taken into account:
- The functional purpose of the building (a house for permanent residence, a bathhouse, a summer house, etc.);
- Compliance with the roof structure and roofing material;
- Climatic conditions in the area where the construction is carried out;
- The durability of the selected material and its compliance with the planned durability of the roof under construction;
- Aesthetic component;
- Economic opportunities of the developer;
- Heat-saving and noise-insulating properties;
- Service labor intensity.
It is extremely difficult to give advice on the choice of material for roofing without knowing the listed nuances. After all, there is no material that could be called ideal.
Yes, and the defining criteria for each developer may differ.For example, with a lack of funding, the price of the material comes to the fore, and all other characteristics are evaluated with less bias.
For another homeowner, on the contrary, the most important condition is the best consumer qualities, and the cost of the material does not really matter. For the third, the aesthetic component is more important, as they plan to build a house that will not look like everyone else in the area.
Therefore, in order to choose the best roofing material, it is worth studying the offers on the market, comparing the performance characteristics and cost of materials, and be sure to consult with a specialist.
Moreover, it is necessary to make a choice even at the stage when a house project is being created. After all, the type of roof structure depends on what material will be used. It will be extremely difficult to make changes to the finished project.
Conclusion
Thus, it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question posed in the title of the article. It is necessary to decide which roof is the best in each case.
In this case, it is necessary to take into account:
- features of the house project;
- the nature of its operation (house for permanent residence or summer cottage);
- features of the local climate;
- aesthetic component;
- construction budget.
Only by weighing all of the above factors, you can decide what kind of roof structure should be and choose the most suitable type of roof and roofing material.
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