Types of wooden roofs

When choosing a house design, we can choose from many solutions available today.

Pitched roof

It is formed by two slopes, which can have different angles of inclination. This popular and classic type of roof is very often used for many types of houses - it gives them a traditional look.

Hipped roof

This is a very popular roof shape, which is favoured by many homeowners. The marquee variant, without a ridge, has four slopes converging in one centrally located apex. It perfectly emphasises the proportional body of buildings on a square plan.

Mansard roof

It is a variation of a pitched or hipped roof. On the roof, the slopes are divided into two parts with different angles of inclination. This design makes it possible to conveniently develop the attic space inside. The mansard roof has a long tradition, and its roots go back to the French Baroque.

Panelled roof

This roof, otherwise known as a mono-pitched roof, is made up of only one slope, usually with a small angle. It is perfect for long, narrow buildings. The single-slope roof is a relatively simple technical option, and therefore an inexpensive one.

Wooden elements in the construction of roofs are not manufactured from just any wood. For roof trusses, wood of a certain grade is used, which, based on calculations, is recommended by the architects. The use of wood of a lower grade is simply dangerous for the occupants of the house. In addition to the strength of the wood, its moisture content is also extremely important. Wood that is not properly dried will change and shift, which affects the integrity of the roof. 

The roof is the highest part of a building, protecting its interior from the adverse effects of weather (precipitation, wind, sun, frost), as well as protecting against heat loss. It is formed by the load-bearing structure (the elements that transfer the weight of the roof to the walls of the building, i.e. roof trusses, lattice trusses or prefabricated reinforced concrete elements) and the covering materials (e.g. ceramic, cement, bituminous tiles, slate, sheet metal, straw, reeds, etc.).

The timber roof structure, consisting of a wooden support truss alongside insulation and finishing layers, historically represents the most common type of roof. Even today, it is a popular choice due to its beauty, lightness and flexibility. In some locations, choosing this type of construction is a legal requirement. To enjoy a wooden roof structure for many years, regular maintenance is a must.

If you have a wooden roof structure, the most important thing is to carry out regular maintenance not only of the sheathing, but of all elements of the structure. Maintenance is aimed at checking not only the condition of the structure and sheathing, but also the stability of individual components, the drainage system, and the overall condition which may change over the years. Intervention of a team of specialists is necessary, especially on a damaged roof or in abandoned buildings. As for older buildings, it is often necessary to remove the insulation, replace it and reinsulate the entire structure.

Each structure, whether wooden or concrete, has advantages and disadvantages. As for timber roofs structures, we have already mentioned the lighter weight and greater flexibility of the sheathing as advantages. The fact that the material is natural is also important. However, if the building requires a more rigid structure with much better performance in terms of sound insulation, then concrete designs are much more effective. Moreover, they are decisively safer, as they have better fire resistance and require less maintenance. Concrete structures are increasingly used in modern construction, but it is worth remembering that they are heavier and more time-consuming. Of course, you can't forget about such parameters as the geometry of the roof and the number of additional elements.