Guide
Roof Types Explained
Roof "type" means two different things: the shape of the structure and the material covering it. This guide covers both, with what each costs and how long it lasts.
The most common residential roof shapes are gable, hip, flat, shed, gambrel and mansard. The most common materials are asphalt shingle, metal, tile, slate, wood shake and membrane. Gable roofs with asphalt shingles are the default across most of the United States because they are the cheapest combination that performs well.
Roof shapes
The shape determines how water leaves the roof, how the building handles wind, and how much usable space sits underneath. It is fixed at construction and expensive to change later.
- Gable
- Two slopes meeting at a ridge, with vertical triangular ends. Cheapest to build, sheds water and snow well, easy to ventilate. The vertical gable end catches wind, which makes it the weakest common shape in hurricane country.
- Hip
- All four sides slope down to the walls. Much better in high wind because there is no flat end to push against, and often earns an insurance discount. Costs 10 to 15% more than a gable and gives less attic space.
- Flat
- Not truly flat, since code requires at least 1/4 inch per foot of fall. Standard on commercial buildings and modern homes. Cheapest to build per square foot, but drainage is critical and lifespan is shorter.
- Shed
- A single slope, like half a gable. Common on additions, porches and modern architecture. Simple, cheap, and easy to build, but it dumps all its water on one side.
- Gambrel
- Two pitches per side, steep below and shallow above. The barn profile. Maximises usable loft space under the roof, at the cost of a horizontal break line that needs careful flashing.
- Mansard
- A gambrel on all four sides. French in origin, and the shape that gives a full extra usable floor. The most expensive common shape to build and to re-roof.
Roofing materials compared
Material choice drives cost far more than shape does. The table below is installed cost per square foot, computed from our material and labor dataset rather than copied from a cost guide.
| Material | Installed / sq ft | Lifespan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt 3-tab | $4.50 – $6.50 | 15 – 20 yr | Budget replacement, rentals |
| Asphalt architectural | $5.50 – $8.00 | 25 – 30 yr | The default choice for most homes |
| Metal, exposed fastener | $4.00 – $9.00 | 25 – 40 yr | Outbuildings, barns, budget metal |
| Metal, standing seam | $12.00 – $18.00 | 40 – 70 yr | Long-term ownership, wildfire zones |
| Clay or concrete tile | $10.00 – $20.00 | 50 – 100 yr | Hot and dry climates, Spanish styles |
| Natural slate | $16.00 – $30.00 | 75 – 150 yr | Historic homes, permanent roofs |
| Cedar shake | $10.00 – $16.00 | 25 – 40 yr | Traditional aesthetics, mild climates |
| TPO / EPDM membrane | $5.00 – $9.00 | 20 – 30 yr | Flat and low-slope roofs |
How to choose
Start with slope. Below 2/12 you must use a membrane; asphalt shingles are not permitted and will leak. Between 2/12 and 4/12, shingles work but need doubled underlayment. Above 4/12 everything is on the table.
Then weigh how long you will own the house. Metal and tile cost two to three times asphalt but last three times as long, so on cost per year of service they are competitive, but only if you stay long enough to avoid paying for a second asphalt roof.
Finally check the structure. Tile and slate weigh three to ten times what asphalt does. Putting either on a house framed for shingles requires structural reinforcement, and that engineering assessment has to happen before you commit to the material.