The final appearance of a house is determined not only by the shape of its body, number of storeys, impressive glazing and façade colour, but also by the type of roof crowning the design. Which roof should you choose to ensure that house construction runs smoothly and is cheaper to carry out?
Roof type and MPZP/WZ requirements
House designs delight with their variety, but the search for the ideal one should begin by checking the provisions of the Local Spatial Development Plan, which applies to the Investor’s plot. If no MPZP applies to a given plot, an application for a decision on Development Conditions (WZ) should be submitted to the relevant administrative authority. These documents provide the Investor with very important information about the possible appearance of the house, including the shape and appearance of the roof, as well as its type and pitch, the ridge height—the height of the highest element of the roof covering found in every pitched-roof structure—and the type of roof covering. The provisions may also include requirements concerning the colour scheme of the roof covering.
Gable, hipped and flat roofs in ready-made house designs
Among many Investors, house designs with gable roofs are very popular. They are often associated with a traditional style and appearance, but the enduring trend of designing gable roofs, for example without eaves, proves that they also work perfectly in modern designs. A gable roof consists of slopes joined at the ridge. This uncomplicated structure makes a gable roof simple and relatively inexpensive to build. Its undeniable advantages also include the easy drainage of water and accumulated snow, as well as the possibility of illuminating the habitable attic with windows in the gable walls.
A hipped roof is a more complicated structure, so it is more expensive to build than the solution described above. It is a popular way to crown a building’s body, used in single-storey house designs, but it works equally well in designs with habitable attics and multi-storey houses. In buildings with an attic, this type of roof requires roof windows or dormers to provide adequate light to the space on the upper storey.
Flat roofs are often used in modern house designs. Their area is smaller than that of gable and hipped roofs, and their construction is not complicated, so they are usually cheaper to build. A flat roof must have a designed slope to allow rainwater to drain away. A flat roof gives Investors the opportunity to arrange a terrace or garden, which may be an interesting solution, especially in the case of a small plot.
Roof construction costs depend on many factors. Which ones?
The final cost of building a house, including the cost of constructing a suitable roof, depends on many variables. The main factors affecting its price are the roof area, structure, degree of complexity, finishing materials and the additional cost of arranging a terrace or garden—as in the case of a house with a flat roof. The type of roof covering also determines the difference in costs. Investors can choose, for example, popular ceramic or concrete tiles, cheaper metal roofing tiles or bituminous shingles, through to the most expensive natural roof coverings, such as wooden shingles or slate.
To enjoy their dream home, it is worth analysing the budget and considering the most important needs of the household members. An experienced construction team is also important, because solid and error-free construction not only makes it possible to stay within the planned budget, but above all guarantees our safety.
House designs with gable, hipped and flat roofs available at www.archon.pl