Roofs and Hawaii homes
Few things in the architecture of a home generate more disagreement, discussion and emotion that the configuration of a home’s roof. When comparing the styles of a Spanish-Mediterranean, a Tudor Estate and a Craftsman home, the thing that people most often initially point out is the home’s roof. Roofs can identify an architectural style, lead to energy savings, create fire hazards with the materials they use and give us insights into the owner’s lifestyle.
The function of a roof
A roof of course provides shelter. In this sense, it is a very basic fulfillment. And this sense of shelter to all people is profound. On a sunny day it keeps us cool. In a rain storm, the roof keeps us dry and warm.
Roofing styles
Some roofs blend into the rest of a home’s architecture, while others merely seem to sit on the house itself. This is one of the measures of how well the architect did their job of integrating the components of the home.
Roofs are either flat or pitched. A flat roof is more prone to leak and often does not have an attic to provide insulation benefits. At the same time, flat roofs can be seen on some expensive homes in Honolulu and can be associated with stylish architecture. Usually, a flat roof is saving its owner building costs. A pitched roof has one or more slopes.
When a pitched roof slopes down in two parts from a central ridge, it is called a gable roof. From the side, a triangle is formed with the ridge forming an angle at the top and each eave or side forming an angle at the bottom. When the roof is tall, these homes are often called A-frames. Taking the A-frame structure and making it more complex is the Gambrel roof. Think of a barn roof (see picture). Gambrel roofs can be found on some older Hawaii homes, usually those built in the 1930’s. A-frame and Gambrel roofs have sloping sides facing opposite each other.
When a roof adds two additional directions of roof surfaces (sections of the roof face four different directions) it is called a hip roof. Normally, two sides are longer and the other two are shorter.
If you've ever seen a roof that was extended to make a shed or to cover a laundry area, that's a skillion roof. Some people just call the extension a shed roof. Normally, the extension is at the same angle as the original roof. It's an inexpensive way to add more covered area around the home.
Roof surfaces can have smaller projecting structures built out from them. These structures usually contain a window or a ventilation grid and are called a dormer. If the dormer has two slanting sides, it is called a gable dormer. A one-sided roof is called a shed dormer and a hip-style roof is called a hipped dormer.
Roofs can be curved rather than having an even slope. When they have a central ridge, they are called rainbow roofs. If they have an even curve with no apparent ridge, they are called barrel roofs (think of a quonset huts made of corrugated steel back in the old days).
As a roof displays more surfaces or lines, it becomes more appealing to look at. Roofs can integrate lanais and decks to provide sunshine and space for gardens. The highest, largest and widest portion of a roof usually is centered over the most significant section of the structure.
Roofing Materials
Common roofing materials include composition shingles, concrete, wood and tile. Tiles are often made from clay or concrete. Composition materials employ thick tarpaper covered with small ground up rock.
Some architectural styles rely on certain types of roofs. Spanish-Mediterranean usually employs a tile format while the Tudor and Craftsman use wood shingles. Hip roofs can be seen with composition shingles and metal shingles. Some roofs have been redone in aluminum sheet, which should prove durable.
Roof Coatings
In the past few years, roof coatings have become popular as a means to reflect the sun’s heat and prevent leaks. The coatings are usually white in color. Tinting is an option to make a roof look more traditional and also to avoid blinding passersby when the sun is shining directly on it. When considering roof coating, take a close look at your roof to see if it has layers of shingles on it. If so, talk to a professional about your options. Adding a roof coating over layers of shingles might be a heavy burden on older homes, especially those with single wall construction.
Looking for that special Hawaii home with a classic roof style?
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