A roof plays a crucial role in the structural integrity and aesthetics of a building. However, if you get it wrong, it could be an absolute nightmare to fix. Find out what you need to know about choosing the right roofing for your home by following this guide. Whether you are building from scratch, extending, or renovating.
Choosing a structure
There are many structural roofing designs you can choose from. It is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each structure before making a decision.
To size your options, ask yourself the following questions:
- What is your budget?
- What is the complexity of the design you are looking for?
- In the future, would you like to be able to convert the loft/roof space?
The roof of a home is one of the most important external features, and if it’s built incorrectly, the entire project will suffer. Depending on the style of the home you are building or renovating, the pitch will vary.
You’ll need to choose a covering that can handle the more turbulent flow of water if you lower the pitch of your roof. It is important to consider this when choosing your building trusses.
- Monopitch: A sloping plane with only one slope. Depending on the location, this can potentially enhance views and maximise space on one side.
- Duopitch: A duopitch roof has two sloping planes that meet at the right angle and have a gable on both ends.
- Hip: This is a pitched structure with slopes on all four sides, meeting at the corners to create a hip. There may or may not be a ridge down the middle
- Mansard: This is considered a double-pitched hipped or gabled roof. Particularly popular on American and French properties.
Planning Permission
Planning permission is something that really needs to be taken into consideration. You’ll likely meet some objections from the local planning department if you build a new home with a steeply pitched roof that stands taller than the building next door.
For the best chance of a successful application, you should seek pre application advice from the local authority and get a planning officer’s appraisal of your plans. In this way, you can decide exactly what you can do, before considering variables like truss prices and which roofing truss company to hire.
With permitted development rights, you can make a number of improvements and changes to existing dwellings. Under permitted development, you may convert your loft by adding rooflights, changing the roof covering, or adding dormer windows if certain restrictions and conditions are met.
Expenses
The price of roof design will steadily increase as you get more complex and interesting. Roofs with simpler shapes are likely to remain affordable. You can also save money by choosing a roofing system that requires fewer man-hours to install. A more expensive roof structure may be more economical in many cases if it allows you to convert the space at a later time.
Roof Build
Choosing how the roof is constructed is crucial, even though relatively few house builders will be involved in that section of the project. The same is true if you are project managing the build and hiring your own tradespeople. For pieces like timber trusses that require specialist knowledge and equipment, you will need a professional.
Depending on the shape of your roof then it may be more appropriate to have a roof truss, rafters, or some other installation type. At Aber Roof Truss we have been providing roof trusses of all designs, shapes and sizes since 1998. Contact us with your enquiry and we’d be happy to help you further.