Hip roof - 60 Photos of roofing ideas

The article will discuss what advantages house designs with a hip roof have, what disadvantages are inherent in such a rafter system, what its structure consists of, what types builders use today when constructing one-story houses. Photos and videos of finished implemented options will tell you what kind of roof to make.

One-story house with a hip roof Source www.sk-goldenhome.ru

Two-story houses

By installing a hip roof, the owners of a private two-story house receive a beautiful and practical roof, under which an additional floor appears for living.

Photo: eaglemetalsmfg.com

A hip structure is a variation of a gable roof, in which two slopes are trapezoidal in shape, and the other two are triangular.

All slopes of a hip or half-hip roof usually have a steep slope, so this design can withstand heavy rains and snowfalls. Such roofs are given a colorful eco-ambiance using natural coverings: reed (reed), tile, slate or metal.

One of the varieties of hip roofing is a half-hip Dutch roof with truncated triangular slopes. The photo shows a private house of modern design with bitumen roofing, creating the illusion of natural tiles.

See also: Beautiful roofs of private houses: photos, design options, views

Materials

Recommended material: timber, wooden plate or log made of coniferous trees, larch, oak. The material must be of good quality, dried, with an optimal humidity of up to 22%. For rafters, boards with a cross section of 50x100 mm are used; for a very large roof area, it is advisable to use boards of 50x200 mm.

Under the Mauerlat, the best option would be a solid beam with a cross-section of at least 150x150 mm. To strengthen the Mauerlat, you will also need threaded metal studs, planks for sheathing and overhead metal plates connecting the wooden parts.

It is advisable to impregnate wooden parts with antiseptic and fire retardant substances ahead of time. When producing a large number of racks, purlins and crossbars at once with the same cut angle, a previously made sample is used.

One-story houses

Photo: dallasmetalroofs.com

A laconic silver galvanized seam roof will successfully complement the design of a one-story house with facades made of variegated red brick.

All types of hip roofs look much more original than a conventional gable roof, but the costs of materials and installation will be impressive. Especially if the cottage consists of several living spaces, and the roof itself is complex in configuration, as you see in the photo.

A hip roof allows you to significantly expand the useful space of the house and equip a comfortable bedroom, office, library or nursery in the attic.

Photo: muellerinc.com

Hip roofing demonstrates increased strength under significant wind loads. If you live in a flat region and your house is located in an open area, then such a roof will be the best option.

Compared to a gable structure, a hip roof is a more rational option for arranging an attic: both with dormer windows and with window openings in the plane of the roof covering. It is precisely this, more economical option with windows embedded in the slopes that is shown in the photo of a wooden house with a slate hip roof.

See also: Beautiful brick cottages: 60 photo ideas

Construction technology of hip roof structures

First of all, the hip roof is calculated. That is, they determine the number of necessary elements, their dimensions and cross-section. This is an important point on which the load-bearing capacity of the entire roofing structure will depend. Here, they mainly take into account the size and shape of the house, snow and wind loads in the region where construction is taking place, as well as whether living quarters will be organized under the roof.

In fact, this is a complex process that requires knowledge and experience in performing calculations. Today on the Internet on various construction portals there are special online calculators with which such calculations can be made. Some of them, according to experts, can calculate the simplest options quite accurately. But the final calculation must still be done by a professional - not a single calculator will “tell” what formulas and errors are included in it.

Now we move on to analyzing the rafter system of the hip roof. In this design, both hanging and layered rafters can be used.

Mansard roofs

A hip roof with an attic is ideal if you want to rationally use the roof space.

The tandem of dark-colored hip and half-hip roofs beautifully sets off the white facades of the half-timbered structure.

Arranging an attic with dormer windows will allow you to place several bright and spacious living rooms under the roof.

An attic can be provided not only under the hip roof of the main building, but also above an extension to the house, for example, above a garage.

If you decide to build a budget house in the English style, then it is best to use clinker or decorative stone to decorate the facades, and cover the hip roof with a material that imitates ceramic tiles.

See also: Beautiful mansard roofs of private houses: photos, design examples

What is a hip roof

Many can say that a hip roof is exactly the roof shown in the photo above. That is, these are four identical triangular-shaped slopes. In fact, the figure shows the classic version of the roofing structure of this modification. But this is just one example. And at its core is a square-shaped house.

If we talk about tent structures, they got their name due to the fact that all the roof slopes rest on one point, like a tent. And there may be several stingrays, but not less than four. For example, if the building has a round shape, then the roof structure can be constructed from five or six slopes. And this is not the limit. It’s just that the more slopes, the more complex the design. And since many private houses have a rectangular shape, the classic model is most appropriate here.

The tent-type roofing structure is designed and formed on the principle of symmetry. That is why it is erected over buildings of the appropriate shape - round, square, hexagonal, octagonal and so on. In general, there is no problem in erecting it over a rectangular building, as shown in the first figure, but it is structurally difficult, so most often in such cases, preference is given to a hip roof.

Hip roof over an octagonal-shaped building Source landshaftdesign.org

Structural elements of a hip roof

The construction of a hip roof consists of several standard elements. Next we will deal with the classic modification.

The ridge of a hip roof . It should be noted that there is no ridge as such, in the classical sense of this design, here. There is a so-called ridge knot. This is the connection point of the upper ends of the rafter legs. It is the ridge knot that forms the peak of the tent structure.
Stingrays . In our case there are four of them. They are formed by rafters and frames. The latter are still the same rafter legs, only their upper ends rest not on the ridge unit, but on the main rafters. That's why the sprigs have a shortened length. Their number is determined by the size of the slope. The larger the area, the more roof racks will have to be installed to ensure the required load-bearing capacity of the roof.
Stingray overhangs . They can be formed by the rafter system by extending the rafters beyond the walls of the building. Or with the help of fillies - these are short rafters that are attached to the main elements of the rafter system in order to lengthen them.

Structural elements of a hip roof Source obustroeno.com
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in roof repair and design.

Advantages of a hip roof

The tent-type roofing structure is quite complex to design and difficult to install; in any case, it is a labor-intensive process. But architects and designers say that hip roofs have quite serious advantages over other structures. It’s not for nothing that they are so popular among country developers. What are these advantages:

Excellent aerodynamic qualities . They allow a roof of this shape to cope not only with strong winds, but also with hurricane gusts.
A hipped roof structure can be erected at an angle of inclination of the slope within 20-50 ° . This solves the problem of clearing snow from the roof. That is, at this angle, snow precipitation does not linger on the roof. This means that it is not necessary to clean the hip roof in winter.
It is easy to organize an attic under this type of roof . True, since such a roof does not have gables, you will have to install attic windows. However, installing windows of this type is not a problem today, so this cannot be considered a minus in modern construction.
The original shape always stands out among other types of roofs.

Gazebo covered with a hip roof, original version Source nkkconsult.ru

Roof with dormer window

Most often, dormer windows in the attic are covered with a gable roof - this design harmonizes well with the hip roof of the house, provided that the parallel slopes have the same slope.

The contrasting finish of the dormers allows them to stand out against the background of the roofing.

To make the attic more comfortable, dormer windows are often combined with balconies.

Dormer windows can play the role of an expressive accent on the roof, especially if they have a semicircular shape.

Dormers of varying sizes on the gables are a distinctive feature of European-style hip roof and mansard houses.

Marking and cutting rafters

To mark the rafters, Anatoly uses a “large mark with two rulers”; if the plans include only your own roofs (house, outbuildings), such a device can be made from ordinary plywood. If you do roofing work professionally, it is better to use hard wood: beech, oak, hornbeam, mahogany. For the convenience of working along the edges of the rafters, a small keel is made at the end of the screed to fix the ruler on the workpiece.

The marking set is complemented by a small mark for sloping rafters, and a regular square with a tape measure completes it.

For those who do not have extensive experience in marking cuts, at the first stage of mastering this science, I recommend marking by sliding the tool back and forth. In this case, it will not be possible to make a “mirror” angle when marking cuts. When marking cutout parts, you have to work with material that varies greatly in height. It is the cutting that allows you to compensate for this difference in heights. The fry always slides along the top of the rafters; we always set the height mark from the top edge of the rafters. This is the key to success and smooth slopes.

It is convenient to make an oblique cut of the rafters of the hip slope from fifty using parquet (a hand-held circular saw for wood) with a large overhang of 75 mm.

In order not to get carried away and cut a batch of one-sided rafters, Anatoly advises beginners to mark and cut the blanks in pairs: they made the right and left ones, marked them on the drawing, and put them aside.

Support cuts for layered rafters: two oblique cuts with parquet, removing the remainder with a sharp chisel. It is more convenient to make cuts in thick timber (100 mm) using a saw.

When working alone it is more difficult - ingenuity helps. For handling parts that are slightly shorter than the sawhorses, additional support is convenient.

For very short workpieces, you can use a backing board and a clamp.

Houses with a bay window

A bay window often becomes not only a spectacular facade element, but also allows you to create a cozy and well-lit area in the living room, dining room or bedroom.

To cover the semicircular bay window protruding beyond the facade, hipped and conical structures are used, which are in perfect harmony with the hip roof.

The bay window often serves as a kind of “core” on which all the floors of the house are “strung,” as in the photo of this modern cottage with a cascading hip roof.

About change houses, storage of materials and physics

...A few words about the change house itself: if you decide that you need a change house, and you will live in it for some time (the time of year does not matter), never buy ready-made ones! In the summer it will be hot in such houses, even with a split, but in the winter (what am I talking about), in the fall, you will simply freeze. If you want to live and build in comfort, make a change house yourself, with insulation, at least 100 mm thick, with films and taped seams. Remember, warm air will find somewhere to go.

Lumber with natural moisture, imported in advance, dries out when properly stored, which affects both the work and the result. Instead of a “small pile” - a retreat from the ground and storage of wood through spacers for ventilation and drying. As for blackening, it is not so critical; in unfavorable conditions, namely, under a well-ventilated roof, the fungus will stop developing.

To save on a crane or accessories, Anatoly advises using a hoist (electric winch). And if there is no electricity at the site, blocks will simplify lifting loads. One block reduces the weight of the load by half, two blocks - by four times. If you apply knowledge of physics, you can really make your physical work easier.

Hip hip roofs

Hip-type hipped roofing is a traditional option for English Tudor-style houses. This architecture is distinguished by a harmonious combination of brickwork, half-timbering and natural roofing in the form of ceramic or slate tiles.

In addition to the impressive hip roof, English Tudor architecture is characterized by multi-level triangular gables with large arched windows.

The pediments are located both along the axis of the building and asymmetrically; they play the role of a striking element on the facade of the building.

The most difficult thing in arranging a hip roof is the articulation of roofing structures covering several residential volumes in the case of a complex house layout.

The roof of the gazebo in the photo is a classic version of a four-slope hip structure with two trapezoid slopes and two triangle slopes. This roof is optimal for various outbuildings: pavilions, garages, summer kitchens.

Advantages and disadvantages of a roof with four slopes

It is customary to highlight the following pros and cons of a hipped roof:

Pros:

aesthetics;
high level of resistance to natural phenomena due to smoother contour lines and aerodynamic features of the hipped roof design;
better water discharge and faster drying time;
high thermal insulation qualities;
frost resistance;
The hipped roof type is the best option for tall buildings. This roof looks miniature and neat.

The downside is that it is more difficult to build a hipped roof. Accurate calculations and thorough knowledge of engineering technologies will be required. It also takes longer to install.

Gable half-hip roofs

A gable roof with a half-hip configuration became a successful architectural solution for the design of a colorful house with arched windows and a semicircular terrace on the attic floor.

Soft roll roofing under tiles is a budget solution for installing a gable roof.

Half-hip roofs look noble and stylish in a European way, especially in combination with vertical landscaping of facades.

The photo shows a gable roof with half-hips and dormer windows in the Danish style.

See also: Cottage interior design: 60 photos in a modern style

Creating a rafter frame

The prepared drawing of a hipped roof must contain all the parameters and dimensions of the purlins and slopes, and the angles of inclination. Using them, it’s easy to calculate the required size of rafters, depth and distance between cuts.

All of them must be transferred to a wooden block. Before starting work, you need to check the condition of the boards so that there are no bends, grooves, or cracks on them.

Then the work continues according to a certain scheme:

First, one rafter is cut out. It’s better to check it right away on the roof to see if it’s suitable or not. If there are errors, they should be corrected. All the rest are made from this rafter. The amount needed will depend on the area of the house and the angle of inclination.
4 row rafters are being installed per house. If they fit well, then you need to install the ridge and screw the prepared rafters to it. First of all, the outer bars are fastened, then, using a rope, the position of the remaining ones is determined. It is important that the rafter legs are in the same plane.
Corner rafters are cut according to the drawing. Since they are long, you will have to extend the boards. This element will not be strong, so the bending weight is reduced.
A sprengel is installed under the slanted rafters, which will relieve the load and will firmly hold the structure in side winds. For stability, they are supported by struts.
Stretch the rope along the entire bottom of the eaves and place the remaining rafters. Next you need to outline the corner cuts, either using a template or using a triangle.
All that remains is to screw the sheathing on. The distance between steps depends on the roofing material.

The film does not spread under the grille if soft material is used for the roof. Metal tiles require certain step sizes on the sheathing: on the first two bars 30 centimeters, and then 35 cm each. All boards are attached to the ridge so that a metal ridge element can be installed on them.

If the rafters are installed correctly, then the counter-lattice will not need to be leveled.
The roof is installed using the technologies established by the manufacturers.
If you plan to install ventilation hatches and chimneys in the roof, you should purchase additional elements to create a seal at the joints.
They come with the roofing material. The gutter for water drainage is attached after hemming. Install it at a slight angle so that there is a stack.

The complexity of installing a hipped roof is compensated by the high-quality characteristics, as well as the resulting design. You can make such a roof yourself if you carefully study the entire structure and the purpose of its elements.

Broken hip roof

Due to additional edges and planes, hip-type broken roofs not only give a private cottage an original look, but also improve the roof’s resistance to negative climatic influences.

Soft rolled tiles are a modern roofing material, optimal for installing a broken-shaped roof due to the ease of installation on the bends of the slopes.

Metal tiles look great on cascading roofs, emphasizing the non-triviality of roofing forms.

Small bends of the hip roof along the edge of the slopes are a practical solution for regions with heavy snowfall. Such a roof reliably protects the attic floor from precipitation and promotes the gradual melting of snow.

Arrangement of the sling system

This seemingly complex configuration at first glance is actually assembled no heavier than a children's construction set. The rafter system of a hipped roof is a skeleton made up of different rafters: ordinary, sloping, diagonal, spigots, tie-rods, struts. The use of a sprengel increases the strength of the mowing slings. Other design details that provide the required strength and reliability are also extremely important. It is recommended to consider them in more detail:

Mauerlat. Strong adhesion of the rafters to the load-bearing walls is ensured by the Mauerlat. It is a powerful beam attached to the upper edges of the walls, which forms a supporting frame that is not interrupted anywhere.
Sloping legs. These are rafter pairs; they are installed obliquely at the point of contact of the slopes from both types of walls. Their rafters will be longer than those from which the slopes themselves will be made.
Horse. The rafter legs of the hip ones are articulated at the top with a bar called a ridge purlin or ridge. It creates rigidity of the rafter skeleton; the racks will rest against it with their upper ends. The ridge is usually a block measuring 10x10 centimeters.

In order to clearly imagine how to properly make a hipped roof, it is proposed to construct it according to the following steps:

Mauerlat gasket. Load-bearing walls are reinforced with concrete screed and reinforcement. When pouring, steel rods are immersed in it with a projection of up to 10 cm to the surface. The Mauerlat “sits” on them. The ends of the mauerlat bars are fastened by splicing using the “half-tree” method.

Laying the beds. Next, prepare supports for the racks; assemble the beds from horizontal bars measuring 10x10 cm or double boards.

Arrangement of racks and ridge. First, the supports are strengthened under the tops of the sloped legs, then the racks are secured under the rafter pairs. The installation step is identical to the step of the rafter configuration.

Construction of rafters. The assembly of rafters begins with the head pairs with a known pitch. The top of the beam is cut at the required angle and connected to the ridge. The lower section forms an overhang and is attached to the Mauerlat. At the end, external rafters are formed.

Lathing. It is needed to create a base for attaching the roof covering and to give the rafter structure perfect rigidity. The sheathing is obtained by installing edged boards 2.5 cm thick and 10 cm wide between the rafters.

Insulation. The top of the sheathing is covered with a layer of thermal insulation. Foam slabs or basalt slabs are the recommended material for this.

Roofing covering. Its installation begins from the bottom up, using fasteners designed specifically for the selected material. The worthy result of considerable work will last a long time, living under such a roof will be cozy, warm and safe.

Hip roofs from Onduvilla roofing

The colorful Onduvilla with brown tiles effectively completes the image of a house in a classic style.

The red hip roof from Onduvilla with natural tiles harmonizes well with the facades of a soft peach shade.

The house design, built in Burundi, features Onduvilla hip roofs over the main building and porch.

Benefits of working with us

Our company carries out installation of timber houses in any settlements of the central and northwestern parts of Russia. Standard designs take into account the features of the roof structure in accordance with GOST standards, as well as the climatic characteristics of the construction region. If you are not satisfied with standard solutions from the catalog, architects will develop an individual project or partially change the existing drawings. The cost of such adjustments is calculated separately, depending on the volume and complexity of the changes.

To clarify all stages of construction and calculate the final price, leave a request. This can be done by phone, by email or in the feedback form on the website.

Roof made of Onduline roofing

The hip roof made of red Ondulin has become an interesting accent in the architecture of a private country-style cottage built in Turkey.

Wavy Ondulin looks great on hip roofs - a two-story house in the Philippines with light facades and a brown roof is a prime example of this.

See also: Ondulin: Beautiful photos of house roofs, types of roofs

Photos of roofing options for private houses

The structure of the rafter frame of 4-pitch roofs allows the construction of practical and reliable roofs with various combinations of hip and side slopes of different configurations with other types of roofs. As a result of architecture, aesthetic forms of the roof are achieved, giving special beauty to the entire external appearance of the building.

In many countries, there are structures made from full and truncated hip slopes in combination with gable roofs, etc. Here are some examples.

The four-slope roof includes a built-in gable roof of the attic gable and facade (on the left), a bay window roof canopy with vents (almost in the center of the facade) and a side hip with a half-hipped slope above the glazed attic showcase.

Semi-hipped roof covered with reed mats. This roof gives the house a fabulous look. A quite suitable illustration for the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Andersen and the Harry Potter series.

This is an example of country estates, where the hip roof of the cottage adjoins the gable roof of the garage. The general appearance of the house construction is distinguished by the beauty of the strict lines of the facade architecture in a combination of gray and beige. The imagination of architects in this regard has no limits. A huge number of photos with beautiful 4-pitch roofs are published on the Internet.

Metal roofs

The hip roof looks very nice in the case of a rectangular house layout with clear axial symmetry, emphasized by a pair of bay windows along the front.

An obligatory element when installing a metal tile roof is snow retainers that prevent avalanches from falling off the roof.

Victorian manor houses with hipped roofs are a traditional version of English architecture. Moreover, the hip roof covers not only the house itself, but also extensions: a porch, veranda or garage.

The brick cottage for two families attracts the eye with its originality: terracotta-red facades, a hip roof made of black metal tiles and white architectural decor.

The hip roof of this brick cottage is effectively combined with a hip roof over the garage and a conical roof over the bay window.

See also: Beautiful interiors of cottages: 60 photos inside country houses

How to make carpenter sawhorses

In the process of manufacturing elements of the rafter system, Anatoly uses special carpenter's sawhorses, assembling them from the same timber as the rafters themselves. The main condition is strength, because more than one cube of lumber will pass through this “machine”.

A prerequisite is that the trestles are parallel and horizontal - everything is measured according to the level during installation. The time spent on painstaking installation will be repaid by simplifying the operation of the chain saw and the quality of the cut. Naturally, the key to quality processing is a sharp chain. It is the chain saw that is indispensable when processing rafters with a cross-section of 100 mm.

Figured supports on trestles are necessary for cutting rafters onto the tower part of the roof.

Differences for different buildings

Due to the complexity of installation, hipped roofs are used on terraces, bathhouses, and sheds, unlike in private houses.

For square buildings, it is recommended to choose a tent structure, triangular slopes that converge at one point.
For rectangular ones, the classic hip one is suitable.
For a terrace or an extension of small width, hanging or inclined rafters at an angle of up to 40° are installed, resting on the floor beams or on the base.
For gazebos, a hip roof is a fairly popular option. Due to its small volume, it is quite easy to install.
When building one-story houses and cottages in the northern regions, the attic space is increased and the foundation is protected from slanting rain by choosing a Dutch-type roof with a small slope adjacent to the ridge. It is also possible to equip an attic.
In private 2-story houses, the hipped structure not only ensures the creation of a third floor suitable for living, but also protects the façade from snowfalls and rainstorms. Using natural materials for flooring, they create a beautiful building with a colorful design.
For high-rise buildings, a hipped structure is not suitable; the maximum height is 3 floors.

Reference! A Danish roof with sloping hips retains heat and promotes efficient combustion of fuel, since there is free space in the area where the pipe exits.

Correct installation with your own hands

When installing the rafter system frame yourself, the individual elements are first assembled.
The support beam, which transfers the load from the roof to the walls, is laid along the perimeter of the building on a gasket.
The floor beams of the 2nd floor are placed on the mauerlat and the beam, to which the rafter system is fixed.
The rafters are fixed in 2 places - from below on the mauerlat, from above on the ridge girder, and sloping rafters are installed.
To increase the stability of the frame, spacers and tie-downs are installed.
Under the roofing material, a sheathing is made of boards or plywood.
Lay layers of roofing cake.
To improve air circulation, a counter-lattice is installed to the rafters.

Read more about how to properly make a hip roof with your own hands in a separate article.

From the video you will learn how to assemble a hip roof rafter system:

Types of structures

In addition to the classic hip design, there are other types of 4-pitched roofs:

The broken line is more expensive, but allows the attic space to be used as a room. You may be interested in learning how to make a sloping roof with your own hands, including with an attic.
Hip roof , more suitable for square buildings, has diagonal ribs connected at one point (read about how to make a hip roof with your own hands here).
The half-hip roof , like the classic envelope roof, has 2 types of slopes - in the shape of a trapezoid and a triangle, but the latter are shortened by installing a pediment. Read about the design features and arrangement of a half-hip roof with your own hands here.
In a Dutch type roof, the side slopes are longer than the sides of the triangle. It does not retain precipitation and is resistant to wind loads.
Danish roofing is distinguished by shortened hips, the size of which is reduced by the gables, which are mounted in its upper part.

Read more about the varieties and types of hip roofs in this article.

Valuable advantages of the half-hip rafter system

Many people find the design of a house with such a truncated roof quite attractive. Although they were originally built based on the climate, today both the Danish and Dutch roofs are already classics of architecture. Moreover, in conditions of dense urban development, shortened slopes to some extent solved the space problem.

From the beginning, half-hip roofs were high enough to withstand bad weather. Today these conditions are no longer necessary. But even with a low ridge height, the design and installation of such roofs is still quite labor-intensive.

This type of roofing in its classic versions is still most popular in Denmark and Holland. However, the half-hip roof has several subtypes and modifications that are far removed from the frame according to the Danish or Dutch scheme:

Of all the types of hipped roofs, the Dutch half-hip roof is considered the most perfect and thoughtful. It combines all the advantages of both hip and gable rafter systems, but at the same time is devoid of their disadvantages.

So, for example, a gable structure is considered too simple and primitive, but underneath it you get quite spacious attics, which have at least two vertical walls, which is quite convenient. But there is little space left under the classic hip roof, and besides, all the walls are sloping.

Under the half-hipped roof (Danish or Dutch) in the attic there are already vertical walls on which you can install not attic windows, but ordinary windows. At the same time, the top of the house will not lose either its functionality or appearance.

The problem with hip attics is that no matter how cozy the space under the roof turns out to be, the inclined walls psychologically “put pressure” on a person, and not everyone is comfortable being in such a room.

That is why it is extremely important when at least two planes look more familiar. In addition, this also matters for windows: despite the highest quality waterproofing, roof windows are often prone to leaks. What can we say if you opened the window and forgot about it, and it started to rain outside.

In a Dutch roof, two hip parts are “cut off”, only slightly overhanging from above. In the Danish one, on the contrary, the hip part on both sides begins below the ridge element, and small pediments are formed on top. They are often used to furnish a window, and the space underneath is extended to the floor by a plasterboard partition.

In a word, the half-hip roof differs from the classic four-pitched roof in that its triangular slopes seem to open up most of the pediment. In both types this happens in different ways: in Dutch roofs the lower part of the fountain opens, while in Danish roofs the upper part opens. Thanks to these differences, such a roof is divided into two types according to its design: gable half-hip and four-slope half-hip:

The rafter system of a half-hip roof is called both the most complex and the most perfect. It was invented and implemented for the first time 300 years ago on the coast of the Baltic Sea, which was dictated by the humid and snowy climate.

Half-hips are not necessary for the sake of aesthetic effect, although that is important. Such elements effectively cover the ridge from the wind, thereby significantly reducing the wind load on the entire rafter system.

It is not surprising that half-hip roofs were usually previously built on houses that were located in the steppes or on the windy coast. That's why when building a home, it always makes sense to first learn about the wind and snow loads in your area. The fact is that when choosing a roof shape, these parameters are usually placed within a fairly strict framework, but it’s not at all bad if one of the recommended options turns out to be the Danish shape. It looks great on the house!

The main difficulty of installing a half-hip roof is that even with the most meticulous approach and accurate measurement of all the details, it often turns out that something has to be trimmed and adjusted. Here the entire rafter structure is assembled like Lego, and the parts do not always fit together.

Absolutely accurate dimensions can only be achieved in the factory on specialized lines for the production of rafter frames. Therefore, it makes sense to order ready-made trusses so as not to worry about the geometry of your roof. In the case of a gable roof, small errors will not play a special role, but with a hip roof, individual elements may not converge at control points, which will entail many problems.

In addition, a half-hip roof has a lot of seams and joints between slopes, and these are potentially weak points for leaks or damage to the integrity of the roofing covering. Therefore, you will have to work hard to achieve absolute tightness of the entire roof covering on such a roof.

Advantages

The advantages include:

Lack of vertical end walls and pediment.
Best wind resistance.
Less susceptible to destruction than other types of roofs is the eaves area.
High rigidity thanks to angular ribs.
You can install overhangs that protect the walls and façade from weather influences (rain or snow).
Aesthetically attractive appearance, solidity, solemnity.

Device

The basis of the hip roof consists of the following elements:

The ridge is the top of the roof and the support for the rafters.
Hips are triangular slopes above the end walls.
Slopes - 2 trapezoidal slopes, starting from the ridge and ending with an overhang.
Ribs are the junction of trapezoidal slopes and hips.
Rafter system - there are 3 types of rafters: diagonal, intermediate and short rafters. We talked in detail about the preparation and installation stages of the hip roof rafter system here.
Elements that strengthen and form the roof - trusses, struts, racks, sheathing, etc.

Read more about the construction of a hip roof here.

Calculations

In order to calculate the roof area in square meters, you need to take into account:

The length of the slope from the eaves to the ridge.
Area, taking into account the chimney pipe and skylights.
Overhangs, paralets and firewall walls.
Junctions of sheets (in the case of roll roofing), as well as standing seams.

If the roofing material used to cover the hip roof is metal tile, then the length of the slopes must be reduced by 0.7 meters.

Calculating the area of a hip roof is very difficult and it is not recommended to do it yourself. It is best to involve professionals who can accurately calculate the area using a computer program and take measurements.

For maximum accuracy, the roof is conditionally divided into several parts, after which the area of each of them is calculated and finally summed up. This method is optimal because it is simple and reliable, and the possibility of error is completely eliminated.

Correct calculation of the area affects not only the strength and reliability of the structure, but also the cost of construction, since the required amount of all materials is calculated: wood, roofing, etc.

It is also important to take into account the technical parameters of the coating, its thickness and length. All this directly affects the weight of the roofing and the ease of its installation. For example, ceramic tiles are heavy, it is necessary to create rafters and install sheathing, but for flexible tiles all this is not required, since they are relatively light in weight.