3) b)What is a ROOF? What are the different types of roofs and their functions?

 In continuation with the earlier article on ‘the various stages in construction of a house’, after laying the slab, the next step is construction of walls and roof structure.

In this article we will be discussing on what is a roof, types of roofs and their various functions!

Roof:

• A roof is covering of the top of a building, serving to protect against rain, snow, sunlight, wind, and extremes of temperature 
• Roofs do much more than just serving the basic purpose of protecting a home and its occupants from sun, wind, rain, snow and other outside elements
• For instance, the shape of a roof plays a huge role in defining and characterizing the complete look and elegance of a house 
• In addition to this, a roof plays a prominent role in making a home more resilient, weatherproof and energy efficient, also it provides some additional living space
• Hence, when building a new house or remodeling an existing one, choosing the right type of roof can be one difficult task for most of the people. 

In this article we will be discussing about the 8 roof types most suitable and commonly seen in India

• Thatched Roofs:

• The earliest roofs constructed by man were probably thatched roofs that were made of straw, leaves, branches, or reeds 
• They were usually set at a slope, or pitch, so that rainfall could drain off them 
• Conical thatched roofs are a good example of this type and are still widely used in the rural areas of Africa and elsewhere 
• Thicker branches and timbers eventually came to be used to span a roof, with clay or some other relatively impermeable substance pressed into the interstices between them 
• With the invention of brick and cut stone for building, the basic roof forms of the dome and vault appeared
  

• Flat Roof:

• Much of ancient architecture in India is made using flat roofs
• It is one of the simplest types of roof and very commonly seen in our country 
• This roof types instantly adds additional living space, which no other roofing style does maybe not that easily 
• This roof type is ideal for creating open spaces for humans to visit, gardening, dining, akin to a patio or deck
• The installation process of a flat roof is simple, the standard materials used are Rubber and cement

• Parapet Roof:

• The concept is similar to Flat roofs 
• A parapet typically is defined as an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, walkway, balcony, or other structure 
• On modern roofs, parapet can be both a safety feature or a constructional and stylistic feature 
• A large ratio of flat roofs features a parapet of some height, no wonder parapets often go unnoticed on modern houses as they commonly appear as the line of a flat roof

• Gable Roof:

• These are axiomatic roof types
• The term ‘gable’ typically refers to the triangle shaped spot formed when two pitched areas of the roof come together
• This is one of the most popular roof types in India.
• It is easy to build, sheds water easily, facilitates ventilation and can be applied to most of the house designs
• These type of roofs are popular in those parts of the world with cold or moderate climates 
• In India, these kinds of roofs are most commonly seen on huts, private bungalows & cottages, villas, and chalets

• Box Gable:

• Box gabled roofs are almost very similar to open Gable roofs, with one minor difference
• This type of roof has 2 sloping sides which meet to form a ridge, with a triangular extension on either side that is typically boxed off from the walls
• Box gables are popular for areas which have cold weather conditions, as it offers a stable design which deals well with rain and snow

• Hip Roof:

• A roof form which has all sides slope downwards towards the walls
• Normally hipped roof has 4 sides, two with triangle shapes and two with trapezoids 
• These are more stable than gable roof and perform great in high wind areas
• Also, owing to the extra eaves on all sides, the hip roof can provide extra shade during the warm summer months keeping the home cooler

• Skillion Roof:

• A skillion roof is also commonly called a shed roof, these are totally different from flat or gable roofs
• These have one single flat surface which is steeper with a more noticeable pitch
• These roofs are easy to install and at the same time cost effective
• This roof type doesn’t suffer from the drainage issues encountered by less steeply pitched roofs and they also provide the opportunity to add natural light by allowing skylight installations 
• These roofs are a symbol of sophisticated and modern design

• Combination Roof:

• It is difficult for one single roof type to be ideal for any house
• More than that climate or even how your building is situated on the property (sunlight, wind, etc.) plays a huge role in deciding the type of roof
• Combination roofs come to rescue in such circumstances
• A combination roof integrates a design of two or more roof types on the same structure for aesthetic and practical reasons

Therefore these are the different types of roofs used in construction of a house.

In the next part of this article, we will be discussing on the EXTERNAL FINISHES of a house

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PK,

PKC Realtors.