Hip Roof vs Gable Roof: Comparing the Two

One of the largest parts of your home, especially your home’s exterior is the roof.

I’m sure you knew that and if you didn’t, I would not be surprised with how overlooked it is as a whole. Many homes have common roof types, while some differ greatly in roof design, roofing materials, and shape.

However, there are two main roof styles that you should be aware of: hip roofs and gable roofs.

Roofs are a complex part of your house to understand and while these roof types are probably not in the back of your mind or pre-existing knowledge, it pays down the road to know about them.

Today, we will discuss hip and gable roofs and break them down for you to understand since they are the two most common roof styles. Let’s go!

Seel Also:

• Roof Replacement Info
• Roof Repair Info
• Shingle Info

How can you tell the difference between a hip and a gable roof?

Hip roofs and gable roofs can exhibit similar qualities and can be versatile in their own right; however, the main difference between the two is that a hip roof is a lower sloped type of roof while a gable roof is a higher sloped type of roof.

Hip Roofs & What to Know:

What are Hip roofs?

Hip roofs are when roof sides slope downward toward their respective walls. In the hip roof design, the walls are tucked away under the eaves of all the roof’s sides. Keep in mind that there are no vertical ends and the edges slope inward towards a ridge (ends of adjacent sloping sides). This ridge, when formed when two adjacent sides meet, creates an angle, giving it the name “hip”.

Types of Hip roofs

• Half hip roof (Jerkin head roof/clipped-gable) – A gabled roof with a small hip roof section.
• Tented roof – A polygonal, hipped roof with slopes that meet at a peak. Think of a church!
• Pavilion roof (Open Gable roof) – A square hip roof designed with a square structure base that creates a pyramid roof.
• Mansard roof – A hip roof with two different sloping angles, where the bottom angle has a higher degree of steepness than the top.
• Dutch gable roof – A hip roof with a small gable portion on the top of the roof.

Pros:

• A wonderful contribution to the curbside appeal
• Eaves and gutters are consistent and congruent at every side of the roof
• Resistant to heavy impact from elements: high winds and heavy snow.
• Intended for more self-bracing = more durability, rather than diagonal bracing!
• Higher Energy efficiency

Cons:

• Less attic space overall
• Requires extensive knowledge, very complex = more building materials.
• Expensive to build and also new shingles are more expensive because they require extra roofing material
• If have dormers can be prone to water leaks.

Gable Roofs & What to Know:

What are Gable roofs?

Gables roofs are a popular roof style in mostly cold and temperate climates that must have two sloping sides with one or more gable in the roof design. A gable is a section of a wall that encompasses a particular end of a pitched roof. Keep in mind that roof pitches are highly variable depending on the size, architectural design, and so forth of the roof.

Types of Gable Roofs

• Flying Gable roof (prow gable roof) – A gabled roof where the eave overhang is tucked away underneath the extended ridge overhand.
• Open Gable roof – A hip roof designed with a square structure base that creates a pyramid roof.
• Box Gable roof – A hip roof with two different sloping angles, where the bottom angle has a higher degree of steepness than the top.
• Gambrel roof – A polygonal, hipped roof with slopes that meet at a peak. Think of a church!
• Crossed Gable roof – A gable roof where a 90-degree angle is formed due to the intersecting of two gable roof lines.

Pros:

• Easier to design and construct
• More air ventilation with gable vents
• Versatile can be combined with different roof designs.
• Less expensive and also requires less shingles
• More space for vaulted ceilings and more attic space due to increased vertical space

Cons of Gable Roofs:

• Less Resistant to heavy impact from elements: Especially high winds.
• Detract from curbside appeal with a plainer look overall.
• More overhang in the roof creates structural vulnerability

Hip Roofs vs Gable Roofs: Which is better?

The question you have all been waiting for!

Truthfully, this is more than a yes or no question. It really depends on your current context. Hipped roofs are stronger, it also takes a little more out of the budget. While gable roofing is more cost-effective, it’s less resistant to high-impact elements. Regardless of your context, always think long-term!

Roofs are a pretty penny, which means exercise care!

There will always be trade-offs in making the ultimate decision, but if you are stuck in any way, shape, or form, feel free to reach out to licensed roofing professional to help address your home’s roofing needs.

Hip and gable roofs will be a walk in the park if you do so, all in all, with the time, money, and peace of mind saved on the back end.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of a hip roof?

When you are comparing a gable roof and a hip roof, most people look at the cost. The main disadvantage to a hip roof is the sheer cost in how much construction costs but also if you replace the shingles.

On average, a hip roof costs more because instead of just one ridge like a gable roof, a hip roof has the top ridge and four other ridges. Therefore, a hip roof requires more shingles, and roofing contractors have to factor in more shingle loss when shingling the ridges.

Some homeowners also don’t like the fact of less attic space and dormers that can be more prone to leaks. More roof space equals a greater chance of more leaks in some cases.

Is a hip roof cheaper than a gable roof?

No, a hip roof is not cheaper than a gable roof. Gable and hip roofs tend to require about the same about of shingles when covering the roof decking, but the extra ridges make a hip roof more expensive.

A hip roof has no vertical ends meaning it is sloped on all sides whereas a gable roof style encloses the end of a pitched roof. The sides of a gable roof do not slope downward unlike a hip roof which is why a hip roof is also more pricey.

Lastly, everything is measured by the square foot but also, by square meaning 100 total square feet. On average, a hip roof will require more squares than its gable roof counterpart.