In the Gothic era of the Middle Ages, front-gabled buildings were the standard on the streets of German cities.įrom the 14th to the 17th centuries, side-gabled buildings influenced by Italian architecture became popular during the Renaissance. When the ridges face it with its gutter or cullis and are parallel to the street, it is called a side-gabled building. Ever since, America and Northern Europe have come to rely heavily on it in their architecture.Ī front-gabled building has its gable facing the street. They date back to the early days of the ancient Greeks when they were used for temples. Several types of roofing materials can be used on gable roofs, including cedar shakes, metal concrete, asphalt shingles, or tiles made of concrete, clay, or terra cotta. However, without adequate support in windy areas, the frames can cause problems. It is usually made of roof trusses, rafters, or purlins. It is a common roof type adopted in many building designs, especially in temperate or cold climes because it can shed snow and water. What Is a Gable Roof?Ī gable roof comprises two sections with horizontal edges that meet to form a ridge. In this article, our focus will be on gable roofs and everything you need to know about it.

There are a wide variety of roof designs for houses, and each one is better suited to particular climates and architectural preferences. Soon, you will realize how wrong that assumption is. Many assume that the roof is a standard rectangle or square when drawing up plans for a building. Roofs do more than just shelter us from the elements they also improve the aesthetics of a building.

Hip and gable roofs