edge keeps<\/a> rain from the roof and away from any window dormers that you may decide to add to the design. These roofs are also very good for using gutters to collect water and move it to a corner drainage pipe. This protects the house and foundation from extra moisture that could cause the need for maintenance.<\/p>\nDisadvantages<\/h2>\nMore Maintenance<\/h3>\n Consider the angles of the gambrel roof. Because there are more angles than there are on a simple gable or hip roof, the roofing is more likely to be weathered with time. This weathering will not always happen evenly because the angles are different and because only two roof sides are exposed. Because of this, you’ll want to perform routine maintenance checks.<\/p>\n
Some roofers will suggest annual inspections to find leaks or weak areas. The cost of this (and the repairs) will add up over time, especially if you have an inexpensive roofing material that is more likely to weaken and need replacing.<\/p>\n
Bad Ventilation<\/h3>\n Given the shape and construction of a gambrel roof, owners have complained of ventilation issues. The rounder shape makes it difficult to circulate the air. To fix this, be sure that you add soffit and ridge vents when constructing or replacing the roof. Poor circulation and ventilation mean moisture and heat will remain in the upper-most part of the house, which can cause damage to the paint, drywall, and wood.<\/p>\n
You can also install ventilation fans, similar to the ones you find in bathrooms. These allow a way for heat and moisture to escape the attic space. There are three primary types available: turbine, electric, and solar.<\/p>\n
Bad with Snow<\/h3>\n Because of the low slant to part of the roof, snow will likely stay on that portion of that roof and not slide off as easily as on gable roofs. This means that the collection of snow on this narrow slant will increase a lot of pressure on the roof. Overall, this could cause collapse or leaks if not properly maintained.<\/p>\n
One option to combat this is to seek a contractor who can reinforce the trusses and beams of the roof. This is easiest to do when first building the roof, but it can also be done during a renovation or roof replacement. If you live in an area with a lot of snow accumulation, you may want to reconsider a gambrel roof.<\/p>\n
Bad with High Winds<\/h3>\n Similar to the snow issues that gambrel roofs have, wind can also cause major issues for homeowners. Unlike a hip roof that covers all four sides, two sides are exposed to the wind on gambrel roofs. These exposed sides often have a slight overhang of the roof that can easily be caught by a strong gust of wind.<\/p>\n
The shape of the roof means that this home is not aerodynamic at all, meaning it will take the full force of the wind. Under the right circumstances and weather, these roofs can peel right off the home. For this reason, it\u2019s not wise to use a gambrel roof if you live in Tornado Alley or a hurricane-prone zone.<\/p>\n
Leakage<\/h3>\n Along with the concerns of snow and wind, rain can eventually cause issues with gambrel roofs. But I said they\u2019re great for drainage, right? I did say that, and I stand by it. However, with low pitch roofs, water can pool in one area causing eventual leakage.<\/p>\n
If your upper slant is closing in under 20 degrees, you\u2019ll need to make sure that the roof is completely waterproof. Construction should seal any problematic areas, like around windows and ridges. This is an additional reason for annual inspections: you want to avoid seepage at all costs. It will only cost you more money down the road.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s One and Done<\/h3>\n What do I mean by one and done? Well, gambrel roofs are very difficult to renovate to or from a different type of roof. If you have a gable roof, it is not impossible to retrofit to a gambrel roof, but it will need to be completely altered, with new construction and a hefty price tag.<\/p>\n
If you purchase a home with a gambrel roof and decide it’s not for you, you’ll find that its unique structure and design make it difficult to change designs. In fact, you’ll either need to add an entirely new story or lose an entire floor for your home. It\u2019s best to decide on a gambrel roof when building and keep it as a lifelong commitment, or it\u2019ll cost you.<\/p>\n
Costly Replacement<\/h3>\n I know this seems like a lot of contradictions: how can this have a costly replacement if it is more cost-effective to install? When looking at a gambrel roof compared to a traditional gable roof, it will cost more. This is because of the angles. Of course, if you have any dormers for windows, the cost will rise significantly.<\/p>\n
Also, let’s be honest, it’s very wise to put out the money for the more expensive, sturdy roofing material (i.e. metal) than the cheaper materials. So, when replacing the roof, it will be less expensive than most roof designs, but it may be more upfront.<\/p>\n
Gambrel vs. Mansard<\/h2>\n The gambrel roof is often confused with the mansard roof. While these both have two slopes per side, the mansard roof has four sides rather than two. This is quite similar to a hipped roof, which has four sides and all meet at the upper-most point of the roofline.<\/p>\n
Having two different slopes for the four sides makes the mansard roof unique. In fact, some mansard roofs only have one slope, with the upper portion of the roof being entirely flat. This is often seen in Victorian homes that have fencing around the top for decoration. This is often the premise of some creepy Gothic homes. Think of the mansion from the Addam\u2019s Family<\/em> movies or Norman Bates\u2019s home.<\/p>\n <\/picture><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"My husband is Swedish. Because of this, we\u2019ve taken the big leap across the very big pond to visit family in Sweden. I\u2019m always taken by the beauty of the land, including the Scandinavian architecture. Just like in America, houses are built in all different styles and colors, but on your first visit to Sweden, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Gambrel Roofs: Advantages and Disadvantages - Two Make a Home<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n