How Strong Is A Gambrel Roof

The unbraced gambrel roof produces an irregular pentagon with no built in stability.

How strong is a gambrel roof.

A gambrel roof design is a very distinctive attribute of barns sheds and outbuildings while the gambrel roof design is used for homes as well it is mostly found in large barns and garages because of its strength over a large area. Learn the pros cons of metal roofing and the pros and cons of shingle shed roofs. The usual architectural term in eighteenth century england and north america was dutch roof the upper slope is positioned at a shallow angle while the lower slope is steep. Besides its unique appearance a gambrel roof also serves to maximize the usable floor space in the attic area.

Similar to mansard the lower side of the gambrel roof has an almost vertical steep slope while the upper slope is much lower. Gambrel roofs were a very popular style in traditional dutch architecture which is why you might associate this roofline with an old barn. Each sloping side of the roof is broken into two halves. Odds and ends to consider.

The unbraced gambrel roof is unstable compared to a properly constructed gable rafter roof with rafter ties at the wall stud tops. A gambrel or gambrel roof is a usually symmetrical two sided roof with two slopes on each side. A gambrel or barn style roof is simply a gable roof with a change in slope partway up the roof. When used on storage sheds the gambrel roof allows for more interior room to build a second level or loft basically doubling the storage space.

Because there is a strong chance that weathering will occur with a gambrel roof over time there must be an annual maintenance check to ensure its stability and durability. Installation of hurricane clips on trusses is strongly advised when building a storage shed with a gambrel style roof. If you are thinking of a building project that involves a gambrel roof design here are a few tips to help you calculate the angles. The relatively simple design of a gambrel roof makes it easier to build than roofs with lots of peaks and valleys or more complex designs.

There are two slopes are coming down from a central ridge instead of two. That means the job goes much faster and roofers can build it easily without worrying about as many different angles and pieces coming together just right. Both gambrel roof sheds and gable roof sheds withstand wind and rain just fine as long as they are installed properly. Most gambrel roofs use two beams with gusset joints to create the structure.

A triangle is inherently stable resists deformation by outside forces. The difference between the two is that the gambrel only has two sides while the mansard has four. Gable rafters plus rafter ties produce a triangle. The gambrel roof is like that with one difference.

If damage occurs over the course of the year then the cost to keep up with this design can be more than it is for a more traditional approach. Gambrel roof sheds are not recommended for high wind areas. You can choose metal or shingles on either one.