The constant news about the housing shortage might make potential homeowners think that no new home construction has happened in years. Yet, in 2021 alone, construction started on around 1.6 million new homes.
What many people may not think about is how roof design impacts those new homes.
While many new homes go with an open gable roof, it’s not the only option. There are also hip-and-valley, flat, saltbox, and even Dutch gable roofs.
For some, the choice is a matter of roof aesthetics. For others, that component of a home’s exterior design is about what’s happening inside the home. Keep reading for a more in-depth look at why designing a roof shouldn’t be an afterthought if you’re building a new home.
Storage Space
The standard open gamble roof is a practical roof design because architects and home builders have so much experience with it. Yet, it’s less practical in some ways because it diminishes your storage space in a home more than you might think.
Sure, you can store some boxes and maybe even small furniture in the attic of an open gamble roof house, but it’s tight quarters. Other options, such as a mansard or gambrel roof, create more open space in the attic. That extra space allows for more storage in the attic.
Additional Living Space
At some point, most homeowners look around and start wondering how they can expand the available living space in their homes. You might opt for creating an outdoor living space if you live where it’s warm most of the year. You might also consider an addition.
If your home has one of those mansard or gambrel roofs, though, there is a decent chance you can convert the attic into a living space. You might not convert it into a full apartment, but you could make it into a home office or an entertainment area for your kids.
Solar Power
Unless you live in California, you probably didn’t give much thought to building a roof for solar panels. Yet, your roof design can influence the practicality and cost of adding solar panels to your home.
If you build with solar in mind, you can add reinforcement from day one that will support the additional weight on your roof. This foresight will speed up the process when it’s time to install those panels.
You may also consider a complete roof replacement to accommodate the solar panels. In some cases, certain roof designs are not compatible with solar panels. Therefore, it is important to consider this factor before building a new home.
For more on solar panel installation, you can check out the best solar website here.
Roof Design and You
Unless you have a specific aesthetic goal in mind, you probably don’t give roof design much thought. Yet, roof design can have a long-term impact on how you live in your home. For example, some roof designs allow for more storage or converting an attic into a living space.
If you think you’ll want solar one day, not every roof can provide the necessary support as originally built. If you plan on solar, you can reinforce the roof during construction.
Are you looking for more architectural insights? Check out the posts over in our Architecture section.
