The fifth façade of each construction – or what we commonly call the roof – is no less important than any vertical façade of your building. But on the contrary, it plays a major role on several levels and especially in architecture, property investment and environment. Going through traditional and geometric, social and profitable, ecological and passive, bold and timeless, we identify below four categories of roofs that work for your residential or commercial project.

 

The Traditional and Geometric Roof:

Mostly used in residential projects, this type of roof is usually pitched or gabled, and sometimes can be geometric and have a pyramid shape for instance:

 

• The Pitched roof generally has a significant aesthetic appeal. It is always visible from the ground, giving the dwellers an additional way to express themselves aesthetically. This type of roof is still very popular to this day for a variety of reasons; providing additional space being one of them. Actually, a house with a pitched roof can have an extra living space inside. An attic, a bathroom, a bedroom, a storage space, or even a playroom can be designed to fit under a pitched roof, which adds more appeal to your home. Pitched roofs are often known for their longevity and durability, which makes them more reliable, especially when it comes to water drainage.

 

• The Geometric and Pyramid roofs can be used for smaller buildings, such as cabins, gazebos, and garages. A pyramid roof is a type of hip roof, where all four sides meet at the top of the roof. In some countries, pyramid and hip roofs are also used for houses. They can be found in upper class traditional houses, for example. Pyramid and hip roofs are extremely resistant to strong winds and their slope does not allow water to gather, which reduces the risks of leaks. This means that they can be an excellent choice for mountain and high-wind areas with heavy amounts of rain and snowfall. The slope in this type of roofs can help provide greater shade to your house as well, which makes the pyramid and hip roofs a good choice for city houses.

 

The Social and Profitable Roof: 

This roof is flat and provides an opportunity for property investment especially that it can accommodate gatherings and social events:

 

• The flat roof provides the option of having a rooftop deck or patio. Lately, flat roofs are being transformed into restaurants, pubs, and gardens, allowing visitors to gather and enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding from the top of the building. Some examples of flat roof projects include: Sky Bar in Bangkok and Uptown Bar at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. Usually, a flat roof is built slightly sloped or slanted, in order to allow rainwater to flow away from the roof. If built completely flat, it needs to have its own drainage system installed, in order to avoid water related problems and corrosion in the future.

 

The Ecological and Passive Roof:

This is definitely the type to adopt, for an energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly project construction in both urban and rural contexts. We distinguish two types; the green roof and the cool roof:

 

• Green roof systems often gain quick success in high-density urban areas, because they have a high potential in solving problems in landscape architecture, making up for concrete spaces by adding more urban space and increasing green areas. Today, landscape architects are leaning towards installing green roof systems, which increases the balance between concrete and greenery. Installing more green roofs, also known as garden roofs, means less carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere and a reduction of greenhouse and urban heat island effects. These systems provide good shading to the top of the buildings and help attract biodiversity, reduce stress levels, and increase quality of life. Green roofs have already been implemented in different parts of the world, such as the Netherlands, on top of the Biesbosch Museum, and in France, on top of Espace Bienvenüe Research Center. Green roofs can also be found in Germany, Singapore, the US, Lebanon, and many other countries.

 

• The cool roof is gaining more popularity today. Over the past few decades, rooftops have become a large contributor to excessive heat problems, as poorly designed roofs were built with heat-absorbing materials, leading to an increase in temperatures. The cool roof is considered one of the green technologies that prevent heat absorption and reduce pollution. This type of roof can actually be implemented in both rural areas and in cities. It is made to reflect the infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun. It also has high thermal emittance, which means that it can absorb heat and radiate it all back into the air and away from your home.

 

The Bold and Timeless Roof:

This type has a strong identity and can be made of different materials, such as Asphalt Shingles or Metal Tiles that we discuss below. This roof simply combines durability and aesthetics:

 

• Asphalt shingles are a common element used for roofing. This roofing type is lightweight, inexpensive, and durable. Asphalt shingles are known to last a very long time; almost 20 years. Yet, that depends on the climate and the weather conditions in the area of your project. Asphalt shingles are also easy to clean and maintain, are widely available, and come in a variety of styles, colors, and textures. One of the benefits of asphalt shingles is that they are recyclable at the end of their life. They are used for road repairs when they’re removed, which makes them environmentally friendly.

 

• Metal roofing is a roof type that consists of metal pieces or tiles. The metal roof is known for its durability, longevity, and high resistance. It is designed to resist erosion, cracks, fire, and harsh weathers. This is why it is often used in mountainous areas. Although expensive, the metal roof is environmentally friendly, especially that it is completely recyclable. It is important to note here that the metal roof is usually energy-efficient, as it reflects solar radiant heat instead of absorbing it, therefore reducing cooling costs in summer.

 

Whether designing your outdoor residential space or investing in a rooftop terrace, the 5th façade is an element you always need to consider. A wide range of types and styles is available; so, define the needs of your project to better decide on the type to adopt. Whatever roof type you decide to go for, make sure it is sustainable, durable, and weather-resistant.

Which roof type would you consider for your project? Share your opinion with us in the comment section below.

 

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