ROOFS

A roof is defined as the upper most part of a building,

provided as a structural covering, to protect the building from
weather. The structural elements may be trusses, portals,
beams, slabs, shells or domes and the roof coverings may be
A.C. sheets, G.I. sheets, wooden shingles, tiles, slates etc.

Classification of Roofs
1. Flat roofs or terraced roofs
2. Pitched or sloping roofs
3. Curved roofs
The choice of the type of roof will depend on the climatic conditions,
shape of building, availability of materials, importance of building etc.
Requirements to be satisfied by a good roof:

1.It should be structurally strong to carry the dead and live load safely.

2.The roof should be durable against adverse elements like sun and rain.

3.Should be water proof and have proper drainage provision.

4.The roof should provide insulation against heat.

5.It should provide insulation against sound.

Advantages of Flat Roof
1. The construction of roof is simple, Maintenance is easier.
2. They can be easily made fire proof, in comparison to sloped roof
3. The roof can be used as terrace for playing, gardening, sleeping and
for celebrating functions.
4. In a multistoried building, it is good choice so that construction work
of upper floors can be easily started.
5. A flat roof is more stable against high winds.
6. A flat roof is found to be overall economical than a pitched roof.
7. They require lesser areas of roofing material than sloped roof.
8. In multistoried buildings, overhead water storage tanks and other
services are located.
Disadvantages of Flat Roof
1. Their span is restricted and cannot be used for large spans without
the introduction of intermediate columns and beams.
2. The dead weight of flat roof is very high and hence is more expensive.
Its initial cost is higher than a pitched roof.
3. They are unsuitable at places of heavy rainfall
4. The cracks are developed on the surface of the roof when the
variation in temperature is high.
5. It is difficult to trace and to rectify the leakage of flat roof.
6. The progress of work is slow compared to pitched roof.
7. They are highly unsuitable for hilly areas.
Types of Flat terraced Roofing

1. Mud–terrace roofing
2. Brick-jelly roofing
3. Mud phaska terracing with tile paving
4. Lime concrete terracing
5. Lime concrete terracing with tile paving
6. Bengal terrace
7. Light weight flat roofing.
Sloped Roof or Pitched roof
Sloped Roof or Pitched roof

1. A roof with sloping surface is known as a pitched or sloped roof.

These roofs suitable for buildings in coastal regions or in areas where
in rainfall are very heavy.
2.Buildings with limited width and simple shape can generally be
covered satisfactorily by pitched roofs.
3. In pitched roof a slope of less than 1 in 3 is generally not considered
from drainage point of view.
4. In areas of heavy snowfall steeper slopes of say 1 to 1 ½ or 1:1 are
provided to reduce the snow load on roof
5. The slope varies according to span, climatic condition, and nature of
covering materials.
Types of pitched roofs
Curved Roofs

 Where large area is to be covered without obstruction from columns,

domes and shell roofs are provided.
 Shell and folded plate roofs are provided in public buildings like
libraries, theatres, recreation centre’s, factories etc.
 Domes are provided for large circular halls used for assembly.