
What are the differences between a Gable roof or a Hip roof?
- Better snow performance
- Less expensive
- More attic space
- Extra decor opportunity
Is a hip roof better than a gable roof?
Research has confirmed that hip roofs deal with even extreme winds better than gable roofs. When tested in a wind tunnel, roofs with four hips and a square footprint performed best. They require less diagonal bracing than gable roofs and don’t have a flat face where wind can catch.
Which is cheaper to build a hip or gable roof?
Gable roofs are generally cheaper than hip roofs. Compared to hip roofs, the gable allows for better ventilation and more attic space. They are also ideal for vaulted roofs. The gable roofs are a good option for climates with a lot of precipitation, as their design allows rain and snow to slide easily without accumulating.
Is a hip roof stronger than a gable roof?
Hip roof design is structurally stronger and more stable than gables because their construction requires less diagonal bracing – the hip framing filling the need. Higher material and labor cost, as already reviewed, is the downside.
What are the advantages of a gable roof?
What are 3 advantages of a gable roof?
- Low cost. As the gable roof is effectively two large pieces slanted together and attached, it is a very simple design – which forms a large part of its popularity.
- Weather resistance.
- The space it offers.
- Aesthetics.
- Customised pitch.

Which is better hip roof or gable roof?
The construction strength of the hip roof can support the weight of snow on top and the pitch of a gable roof can shed rain and snow easily. However, if you are building or buying a home in a high wind region or where storms such as hurricanes are present, a hip roof is a better option.
Is a hip roof more expensive than a gable roof?
The short answer is yes, hipped roofs are generally more expensive due to their more complex designs. Gable roofs have simpler designs and less required building materials, so tend to be cheaper.
Does a hip roof have a gable?
A hip roof is a roof where all four sides of the roof slope downwards from the peak. It does not have a gable or a flat end. Hip roofs are popular on church steeples, where they typically have a high pitch. They're also popular on houses in the suburbs, because they are easy to build.
What is a gable roof and a hip roof?
The difference between a hip roof and a gable roof will be the overall design and functionality of each. Hipped roofs have a style where all roof sides slope downward over the walls of your home. Gable roofs have two sides or peaks that slope downward towards your home.
What are 3 disadvantages of a gable roof?
Though this roof style is ideal for areas with heavy rain and snowfall, contractors do not recommend gable roofs for areas that experience high winds or hurricanes. Gable roofs tend to have a slight overhang from the face of the house that, in areas with high wind, may cause the roof to peel away.
What type of roofing lasts the longest?
What Roofing Material Lasts the Longest?Wood shakes and shingles: 15 to 20 years.Asphalt shingles: 10 to 30 years.Metal/steel: 50+ years.Slate: 50+ years.Tile and concrete: 50+ years.Foam: 25+ years.Built-Up roofs: 25-30 years.Single-Ply: 30+ years.
How do I know if my roof is gable?
The main difference between a hip and gable roof are the slopes on its sides. On a hipped roof, all sides slope downward to the home's walls. Gable roofs only have two triangle-shaped slopes that extend from the bottom of the roof's eaves to the peak of its ridge.
What is a gable roof look like?
Gable Roof Shapes. Gabled roofs are the kind young children typically draw. They have two sloping sides that come together at a ridge, creating end walls with a triangular extension, called a gable, at the top.
What is the advantage of a hip roof?
Hip roofs are self-bracing. This is one of their key advantages. It allows for them to be incredibly sturdy roofing options since the shape requires less diagonal bracing than other residential sloped roofing styles. You can expect a hip roof to be one of your most durable options.
What is a hip roof look like?
What is a Hip Roof? A hip roof has no vertical ends. It is sloped on all sides, with the slopes meeting in a peak (if the structure is square). Or with the ends sloped inward toward a ridge formed by the adjacent sides (if the structure is rectangular).
Can you change a gable roof to a hip roof?
Existing gable roofs can be converted into a hip roof without completely dismantling the entire roofing system. Building a hip roof from scratch will cost more, as it will require more roofing materials.
What are the advantages of gable roof?
Gable Roof Advantages While gable roofs need additional support against wind, they provide excellent drainage for rain and snow and are more weather resistant than flat roofs. They also allow for better ventilation in your house.
How much more does a gable roof cost?
Gable Roof Cost CalculatorGable Roof Costs Zip Code Sq.Ft. UpdateGable Roof Cost (Material Only)$2,000 - $3,000$3,125 - $7,500Gable Roof Installation Cost (Labor Only)$2,500 - $3,750$4,000 - $7,500Total Costs$4,500 - $6,750$7,125 - $15,000Gable Roof Cost per Sq.Ft.$3.00 - $4.50$4.75 - $10.001 more row•Nov 15, 2021
How much does it cost to build a gable roof?
Gable Roof Gable roofs have two sloped sides typically attached to your roof or wall. You can expect to pay $2,200 to $13,500 to build this roof type for your deck or patio. Factors like its height, material, and square footage impact its cost.
What is the advantage of a hip roof?
Hip roofs are self-bracing. This is one of their key advantages. It allows for them to be incredibly sturdy roofing options since the shape requires less diagonal bracing than other residential sloped roofing styles. You can expect a hip roof to be one of your most durable options.
Can you change a gable roof to a hip roof?
Existing gable roofs can be converted into a hip roof without completely dismantling the entire roofing system. Building a hip roof from scratch will cost more, as it will require more roofing materials.
Which is better, a hip roof or a gable roof?
Hips roofs are a solid choice for high winds. Research has confirmed that hip roofs deal with even extreme winds better than gable roofs. When tested in a wind tunnel, roofs with four hips and a square footprint performed best. They require less diagonal bracing than gable roofs and don’t have a flat face where wind can catch. As a result, hip roofs may be a better choice for you if your home faces high wind conditions.
Why are gable roofs more popular than hip roofs?
This cold weather performance may explain why gable roofs are more popular than hip roofs in snowy areas. That being said, architects can design hip roofs that have proper winter performance. Plus, you should protect your hip roof with ice and water protector to limit the effect of snowy weather.
What is a Gable Roof?
A gable roof has at least one flat end called a “gable.” This triangular end is not composed of roof materials. Instead it is made of siding, stone or whatever materials are used on the rest of the home’s exterior. A gable roof can have one, two or more gables.
Why are gable roofs so popular?
Less Expensive. The primary advantage of gable roofs and one reason they are so popular is that they are less expensive than hip roofs . An open gable roof will only have two roof planes, instead of four for hip roofs, so you will likely spend much less money on roofing material.
Why do hip roofs have less attic space than gable roofs?
Hip roofs also have less attic space than gable roofs because they require diagonal bracing that takes up space. In contrast, a gable provides a vaulted ceiling and additional space. However, you can include dormers on hip roofs to provide extra space and natural light to make up for the lack of a gable.
How many sides does a hip roof have?
A hip roof has four sloping sides, without a flat face. Both hip roofs and gable roofs can be incorporated into modern and historical architectural styles. Each also has unique benefits. Which you should choose is a complicated question. Much depends on: The climate conditions you face.
What is a hip roof?
A hip roof is a roof where all four sides of the roof slope downwards from the peak. It does not have a gable or a flat end. Hip roofs are popular on church steeples, where they typically have a high pitch. They’re also popular on houses in the suburbs, because they are easy to build.
What is the hip roof?
Hip roofs are easy to spot due to having four equal-length sides that form together at the top of the roof, referred to as the ridge. The place where two planes meet is the hip, which can create a triangle or a pyramid shape. These roofs do not have any flat ends, gables, or vertical ends.
Why do you need a gable roof?
Gable roofs provide better ventilation. Having the proper airflow in your attic space is crucial to keep your roof and home in healthy condition. Roofs that don't have the correct ventilation can end up with a host of unwanted problems. All gable roofs are compatible with gable vents, which reduce the humidity in your attic, making for a healthier home and occupants.
Why are hip roofs so expensive?
Two factors affect the price. The first is that hip roofs are challenging to design, which automatically increases the cost. And the second factor is the number of roofing materials needed to build a hip roof correctly.
Why are hip roofs so popular?
Another great selling feature of hip roofs is the basic layout, which allows for easier and faster construction. The lack of extra bracing and walls of the same height enables builders to erect a hip roof faster than a gable roof.
What are the downsides of hip roofs?
Another downside of hip roofs is that you will lose out on attic space due to the construction. The diagonal bracing of a hip design takes up more room than the bracing for a gable roof, causing the attic to be smaller. Some homeowners add dormers, which allow in natural light and give you extra space.
What is a gambler roof?
Gambrel: A mansard roof with two different sloped sides with a complex gable shape commonly seen on barns
Why does my hip roof not work?
Hip roofs do not perform well with snow due to the lower pitch. If you live in a climate with frequent snowstorms, a hip roof may fail to function correctly. Heavy snow buildup can result in a roof that leaks, caves in, or cracks.
How many sides does a hip roof have?
A hip roof has at least four sloped sides that meet at a center ridge. The sides usually sit at a milder angle than a gable roof, though that isn’t a requirement. The octagonal roofs you see on turret rooms and classic church steeples are also hip roofs.
Why are gable roofs so popular?
The venerable gable roof looks… common – because it is. They are durable, inexpensive, and easy to build, so they sit atop the vast majority of American homes. That popularity, though, causes most gable roofs to fail to impress. A new roof, however, will never fail to improve your chances of getting your list price, no matter what style it displays.
What type of roof is used in Houston?
Two of the most basic roof styles used in the Houston area are the hip roof and the gable roof. Above, you see a home using both styles, with the hip roof covering the rearmost portions of the home and a gable roof to the front.
Why do you need extra space under a gable roof?
The extra space beneath a gable roof also allows for better ventilation throughout your home. The close space under a hip roof can become cloying and difficult to move out of your home.
What is the name of the wall section that meets the peak at each end of the roof?
The wall sections that meet the peak at each end of the roof are called gables, thus the name of the roof.
Is a hip roof more structurally sound than a gable roof?
Both roof systems have been known to stand for over 100 years. But the hip roof is much more structurally sound than a gable roof. The hip roof’s design with four angled sides makes the roof system self-supporting. A gable roof, on the other hand, is vulnerable to external forces at each gabled end.
Do hip roofs work in high winds?
Hip roofs do well in areas prone to high winds since the low slope gives the wind less area to push on, and the lack of gables means there is no flat surface taking the brunt of the wind’s force.
Gable Roof vs Hip roof
If you are searching for more living or storage space, you can go with the gable roof. And the hip roofs typically have the lower ceiling in an attic and do not allow the living spaces in maximum cases. But to select this, you have to know the main differences at first.
What is the gable roof?
A gable roof is jo way like a hip roof. It comes in a triangular shape and gets placed at the end of a ridged roof. Simply a gave roof consists of only two sides put on the two sloping sides, which start from the ridge and placed till the end of the roof.
What is the Hip roof?
The hip roof generally does not have any vertical ends. It means this gets slopped on every side & the slope all meet at the peak of a top of the square structure & the specific system is the rectangle, the ends slope onward to form the ridge with adjacent sides.
What is the Difference Between a Hip and Gable Roof?
You may be wondering about the different kinds of roof options on the market. There are different roof types. Owens Corning tells us amongst the most common roof types are hip and gable roofs. When building a new home, I wondered which type of roof was best. Today, we are going to discuss the difference between two common roof styles.
What is a side gable roof?
A side gable roof is basically a pitched roof. Two equal side panels join together at a ridge in the middle of the building. A crossed gable roof can be constructed from two gable roof sections that are put at adjacent angles.
What Are the Benefits of a Hip Roof?
Thanks to Modernize, we know hip roofs are often more expensive. Hip roofs last longer and protect the integrity of your roof’s structure. There are many upsides to owning a gable roof, so explore our list of benefits below:
What Are the Different Hip Roof Types?
As you learn more about hip roofs, you may want to explore the different types of hip roofs. Every home is different and there are many variations to consider. Take a look at the different hip roof designs below.
Why do gable roofs have more space?
More Space – Because a gable roof has fewer sloped sides, there is more storage space. You can also use the space as an extra living area with the proper construction.
What is a half hip roof?
A half-hip roof is an addition to a gable roof. The end of the gable has a small, sloped hip roof section.
What is a tented roof?
A tented roof is a roof that has multiple sides and steeply pitched slopes that join at a peak. This design is often seen on church steeples. A Mansard roof is a hip roof that has two separate sloping angles on each side. Often, the lower angle is steeper than its upper angle counterpart.
What is the difference between a hip roof and a gable roof?
Tuesday, October 9, 2018. A gable roof slopes inward on two sides, and the other two sides have a wall with a triangle shape at the top; whereas, a hip roof slopes in on all four sides.
Which is more wind resistant, a hip or a gable roof?
Hip roofs are more complicated and labor-intensive to build, but are also more wind-resistant in a storm. Gable roofs are easier and less expensive to build, but the triangle-shaped “gable end” is prone to collapse in a hurricane force wind if not properly braced, with a domino-effect knocking down a row of roof framing members once ...
Is a porch roof considered hip perimeter length?
A gable roof that covers an open entry area, and a porch roof that is attached to the main structure only at the fascia and is not over an enclosed living space, are both not considered as deductions in the calculation of hip perimeter length.
Is a hip roof hurricane proof?
Because hip roofs have been proven in wind tunnel tests to be significantly more hurricane-resistant than gable roofs, there is a windstorm insurance discount for homeowners in Florida that have a roof shape that is at least 90% hip.

Gable Roof vs. Hip Roof: Major Differences
- The main difference between a gable roof and a hip roof is that a gable roof has vertical sides and a hip roof has no vertical sides.
Appearance
- Gable Roof
When viewing a gable roof from the direction of the roof slopes, the gables are less visible or may not even be seen at all. Yet turning 90-degrees in either direction reveals the gables rising high above the tops of the exterior walls. - Hip Roof
A hip roof viewed from any direction shows only slopes, so it has a low, smooth appearance.
Air Flow and Wind
- Gable Roof
A gable roof is aerodynamic when wind path is in the direction of the roof slopes. Yet when air is blowing perpendicular to the slopes (toward a gable), greater force is exerted on the house structure. - Hip Roof
A hip roof is aerodynamic in all directions. Instead of vertical gables, hip roofs have angles or slopes that direct the wind safely over and off the roof.
Water Resistance
- Gable Roof
A gable roof is effective at resisting water and rain because it tends to have a higher pitch. Gravity encourages rain and snow to move to the gutters and downspouts faster than with a low-pitched roof. - Hip Roof
Though lower pitched, a well-shingled hip-style roof sheds water well because the roof is a unified cap over the entire house.
Durability
- Gable Roof
With gable roofs, trusses run parallel with each other, up to the gable, much like a row of dominos. The gable end is the only brace against truss failure. In fact, this is the key failure area that retrofitting addresses by bracing the last several feet of end trusses. - Hip Roof
Trusses in hip roofs are laterally braced. The primary trusses are supported laterally—like buttresses or side braces.
Cost
- Gable Roof
On average, expect to pay between $25,000 and $50,000 to build a gable roof and install shingles. Gable roofs are a cost efficient way to build a roof system. Most gables can be constructed of prefabricated trusses, making them even easier to assemble. - Hip Roof
On average, expect to pay between $34,000 and $68,000 to build and shingle a hip roof.
Environmental Impact
- Gable Roof
A gable roof uses less shingles than a hip roof—a slight savings when using petroleum-based shingles. - Hip Roof
A hip roof is lower than a gable roof, so it contains less dead attic space that needs to be insulated.
Resale Value
- Gable Roof
A gable roof alone is rarely a determining factor in the home's resale value. Since gable roofs allow for ADUs or attic additions, indirectly they can lead to a higher resale value for the home. - Hip Roof
While a hip roof alone may not contribute to the home's resale value, they are often built on more expensive homes, which usually have a higher resale value.
The Verdict
- All other factors being equal, personal preference and budget determine whether you should buy and install a gable roof or a hip roof. Outside of taste and budget, one factor can tip your decision in the direction of a hip roof: location. If you are located in a Category III or IV wind zone or your area receives more than 10 tornadoes per year, your location is considered to be a high-risk win…