Roofing Systems
1. What is a roof?
a. A covering of the top of a building, serving to protect against rain, snow,
sunlight, wind, and extremes of temperature. Roofs have been constructed in a
wide variety of forms—flat, pitched, vaulted, domed, or in combinations—as
dictated by technical, economic, or aesthetic considerations
2. History
The earliest roofs constructed by man were probably thatched roofs that were made of
straw, leaves, branches, or reeds; they were usually set at a slope, or pitch, so that
rainfall could drain off them. Conical thatched roofs are a good example of this type and
are still widely used in the rural areas of Africa and elsewhere. Thicker branches and
timbers eventually came to be used to span a roof, with clay or some other relatively
impermeable substance pressed into the interstices between them. Gabled and flat
roofs were possible with these materials. With the invention of brick and cut stone for
building, the basic roof forms of the dome and vault appeared.
3. Types
a. Flat Roofs
i. The flat roof (see the Figure) has historically been widely used in the
Middle East, the American Southwest, and anywhere else where the
climate is arid and the drainage of water off the roof is thus of
secondary importance. Flat roofs came into widespread use in Europe
and the Americas in the 19th century, when new waterproof roofing
materials and the use of structural steel and concrete made them more
practical. Flat roofs soon became the most commonly used type to
cover warehouses, office buildings, and other commercial buildings, as
well as many residential structures.
b. Sloping Roofs
i. Sloping roofs come in many different varieties. The simplest is the lean-
to, or shed, which has only one slope. A roof with two slopes that form
an “A” or triangle is called a gable, or pitched, roof. This type of roof
was used as early as the temples of ancient Greece and has been a
staple of domestic architecture in northern Europe and the Americas
for many centuries. It is still a very common form of roof. A hip, or
hipped, roof is a gable roof that has sloped instead of vertical ends. It
was commonly used in Italy and elsewhere in southern Europe and is
now a very common form in American houses. Gable and hip roofs can
also be used for homes with more complicated layouts. The gambrel
roof is a type of gable roof with two slopes on each side, the upper
being less steep than the lower. The mansard roof is a hipped gambrel
roof, thus having two slopes on every side. It was widely used in
Renaissance and Baroque French architecture. Both of the
aforementioned roof types can provide extra attic space or other room
without building an entire additional floor. They can also have a strong
aesthetic appeal.
4. Materials Commonly used?
a. Metal
b. Wood
c. Asphalt shingles
d. Concrete and Clay tiles
e. Slate Tiles
5. Difference between rafter and truss.
Rafters are roof structure that support the roof, especially in shorter lengths. They are
usually installed directly on-site.
Meanwhile truss is roof support for longer spans, it is usually structurally support much
like a bridge.
