Last Updated on: 18th March 2021, 09:56 pm
Two daughters of one roof mother
Both gambrel and saltbox roofs are just variations of the adorable gabled roof. Any of them looks like the traditional gable roof but shows certain differences.
Gambrel roof
Gambrel roof, also known as a double-pitched roof, is a style of roof that features two slopes on each of the four sides of a house, usually a shallow pitch on the front and a steep pitch on the back. It can be thought of as a combination of a gabled and a hipped roof. Technically a gambrel roof is any roof with two pitches, whether or not they are the same.
Our grandfathers needed to put as much crops in their barns as possible. Therefore they invented the roof shape that allowed them to stock as much material under the roof as possible.
Building a gambrel roof is a great project for anyone looking to build their own home, and while they are very popular, they do have their disadvantages.
The most significant disadvantage of the gambrel roof is that it is very expensive to build. The construction is a bit more tricky since the roof lines are different on each side of the roof. Also, the materials themselves are more expensive and require a special gambrel roof truss.
Saltbox roof
A saltbox roof is a two-sided roof with a steeply pitched front and a shallowly pitched rear. The design is commonly used for houses on sloping terrain. The steeply-pitched front of the roof allows for more storage area, while the shallowly-pitched back allows rainwater to be more easily drained.
The two-sided design is popular in areas with heavy snowfall, as it allows for easier shoveling. It also allows for more variety in roofing materials. However, one of the disadvantages of the saltbox roof is it may need a more frequent roof and gutter maintenance.
The front of a saltbox roof is usually supported by a wooden truss, while the rear is supported by a wall.
In addition to their unique shape, they also have a number of distinct advantages.
They not only provide a more visually appealing structure, but they also are more energy-efficient and are more secure against fire than traditional gables. This roof design also helps to keep snow from forming on the roof, thus preventing leaks.
In my opinion, the saltbox roofed houses will always be popular in the future as their design is very simple and they offer better thermal insulation and water-proofing conditions and some attic space compared to the flat roofs.
