What Is a Gable Roof? 8 Styles to Know

A gable roof is a popular roof design that is used with most architectural styles. Not only are gable roofs beautiful, but they're easier to construct than other roof styles, such as hip roofs, mansard roofs, and gambrel roofs. Plus, the simple design sheds water easily and provides more attic space than most other roof styles. Below, we've explained what a gable roof is, defined popular types of gable roofs, and discussed the pros and cons of gable roofs, so you can decide what roof style is best for your home.

What Is a Gable Roof?

A gable roof is a roof style consisting of one horizontal ridge and two slopes that form a triangular shape. Because gable roofs are very simple, they're often accompanied by dormers, which rise vertically from the roof slopes to create more living space and architectural interest.

Variations of Gable Roofs

Within the larger genre of gable roofs are numerous variations. Some methods are commonly used across many home designs, while others are reserved for specific architectural styles.

Here are some popular types of gable roofs:

• Open Gable: The open gable is a standard gable roof consisting of two slopes meeting at one ridge to form a triangular roof. The gable's end is left open and the wall fills the space between the slopes.
• Box Gable: On a box gable, the gable's end is closed and the wall stops below the start of the gable. The finished triangular section gives the roof a more finished look.
• Front Gable: A front gable is a standard gable roof that jets out at the front entrance of the home.
• Gambrel: While often designated as a separate roof style altogether, a gambrel roof is technically a variation of a gable roof in which the sloping sides are broken into two pieces with different pitches.
• Saltbox Gable: A saltbox gable is one with an off-center peak, resulting in two slopes with differing lengths. The slopes can be the same pitch, which allows them to reach different wall levels by spanning different distances, or different pitches, which allows them to reach the same wall level over different distances.
• Dutch Gable: A Dutch gable is a hybrid roof style combining features of a hip roof and a gable roof. The lower portion of the roof is a hip roof and the upper portion is a gable roof.
• Shed Gable: A shed gable is often called a skillion or a lean-to. This design is defined by a single roof slope that's often standalone but can be attached to a building or another roof surface.
• Jerkinhead: A jerkinhead roof is a gable roof with a hipped portion near the peak. This hybrid style creates a unique aesthetic while offering a significant level of wind resistance over a standard gable roof.

Gable Roof: Pros and Cons

Gable roofs are undoubtedly the most popular style of roof in America. The reason for this? Gable roofs have many more advantages than disadvantages. Here are some pros and cons of gable roofs.

Pro: Attic Space

When compared to a hip roof, another popular roof style, gable roofs create far more usable attic space.

Pro: Easy to Build

A simple gable roof is the easiest type of roof to build, as it has a very simplistic frame.

Pro: Rain and Snow Resistance

A gable roof's simple two-slope design allows it to easily shed rain and snow, assuming the roof has the appropriate pitch for the given location. This is because gable roof design lacks an excess of ridges and valleys, which may create potential leak points.

Con: Poor Wind Resistance

While gable roofs are plenty strong, they aren't always the best pick for areas that see high winds or hurricanes. Hip roofs have superior wind resistance thanks to their aerodynamic design and strong frame design.

Pro: Design Possibilities

Gable roofs aren't limited in their design potential, making them popular choices for many architectural styles, from Bungalows to Colonials to Greek Revivals. On the other hand, hip roofs, gambrel roofs, mansard roofs, and other common roof styles tend to heavily alter a home's overall look.

Pro: Ventilation

The horizontal gable at the end of a gable roof creates an ideal spot for an attic vent. This is preferable, as gable vents are some of the best ways to vent an attic, over other options like ridge vents, roof turbines, and soffit vents.