Residential Roof Types

PLTW Engineering
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Project 2.1.2 Roof Systems

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 Residential Roof Types
Roof Shapes
Roof Types
Roofs in Architecture
Roofing Materials
Roofs as Sustainable Space
Energy Star Roof Systems
Roof Trusses
Roof Rafters
Roof Pitch
Building Codes
Roof Pitch and Materials
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 Roof Shapes

Roofs protect
buildings and
occupants from
wind, rain, cold,
sun, heat, dust, etc.

Roofs add to the

visual appearance
of a building.

Roofs come in many shapes.

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 Roof Types

Shed Gable Hip Gable with Dormer

Low-Slope Gambrel Gable & Valley Hip & Valley

(Flat)

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 Roofs as Sustainable Space
Natural light creates a pleasant space for occupants and
requires less energy for lighting.

Istockphoto.com®

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 Energy Star Roof Systems

Energy collected from the

sun can be used in the
structure.

Reflective roofs reduce

cooling energy costs.

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 Roof Trusses
A roof truss is a simple assembly Courtesy Isle of Palms, SC Recreation Department

of members forming a rigid

framework of triangular shapes.

Courtesy Leslie Eaves

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 Rafters
Rafters are an alternative to trusses
for roof support.

Rafters are roof beams that slope

from the ridge beam to the top of
the wall.
Istockphoto.com®

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 Roof Pitch (Slope)

Roof pitch determined Run 12 in.

by rise/run
Rise 7 in.

Example:
A 7/12 (or 7:12) (pronounced “seven twelve”) pitch means that the
roof rises 7 units vertically for every 12 units horizontally.

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 Common Residential Roof Covering Materials

Standing Metal Seam Clay/Cement Tiles Asphalt Shingles

Istockphoto.com®

Wood/Cedar Slate

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 Building Codes
• A set of rules that specify the minimum standards for
construction
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-family
Dwellings (IRC)
• Minimum regulations for residential building systems
• Adopted by many municipalities
• Dictates minimum roof slope by finish material

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 Roof Pitch and Covering Materials
The International Residential Code for One- and Two-family
Dwellings (IRC) provides roof slope requirements based on
roof covering.
Asphalt shingles
Roof slope must be 2:12 or steeper. Shallower slopes may be
allowed if double underlayment is used.

Clay and concrete tile

Deck slope must be 2½ :12 or steeper. Shallower slopes may
be allowed if double underlayment is used.

Source: 2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings
(www.iccsafe.org). Reference 2012 for additional roof requirements.

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 Roof Pitch and Covering Materials

Slate and Slate-style shingles

Deck slope must be 4:12 (33-percent slope) or steeper.

Wood Shakes
Deck slope must be 3:12 (25-percent slope) or steeper.

Metal roof panels

Slope. Varies by type

Source: 2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings.
Reference 2012 IRC for additional roof requirements.

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 Roof Pitch and Covering Materials
Low-slope roofing materials
Built-up roofing
Modified bitumen roofing
Thermoset single-ply roofing
Thermoplastic single-ply roofing
Roofs shall have a minimum slope of a minimum ¼:12 (2-percent
slope) for drainage

Source: 2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings.
Reference 2012 IRC for additional roof requirements.

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 Identify the Roof Type

Istockphoto.com®

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 Identify the Roof Type

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 Identify the Roof Type

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 Identify the Roof Type

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 Identify the Roof Type

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 Identify the Roof Type

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 Identify the Roof Type

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 Image Resources
iStockphoto. Retrieved March 16,2010 from
http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php
Microsoft, Inc. (n.d.). Clip art. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx

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