Minimalism is one of the defining elements of modern architecture. Roofs are no exception. Whereas in earlier times simple roof forms such as the easily constructed conical roof were used primarily for the sake of efficiency, nowadays economy and straight lines are also the trend in terms of design.
The monopitch roof in particular, which was originally found exclusively on garages, stables, sheds, barns and factory buildings, is becoming increasingly popular in the course of current construction projects. Although it is still the gable roof that has the widest distribution in USA, more and more house builders are now opting for the variable and inexpensive monopitch roofs. You can check out the best pressure washers for cleaning your home’s roof to keep it clean. You can also use them for washing cars, the yard, the road, walls, bikes.
Roof construction with the pent roof
Pent roofs have only one sloping roof surface. This makes their construction much simpler than, for example, the construction of the 4 sloping roof surfaces of the cripple hip roof.
The lower edge of the roof surface, which can be realized in a flat, broken or curved design, forms the eaves. The upper edge is the ridge. This is attached to a vertical wall and is called a monopitch termination. On both sides of the roof are the so-called verges, which connect the eaves and the ridge.
The pent roof is usually constructed as a single-slope rafter or purlin roof. As with the Berlin roof, the truss structure is asymmetrical.
Advantages of the pent roof
Simple construction
The pent roof is the easiest roof form to construct. Its design requires far less preliminary geometric considerations than, for example, the calculation of ridge, valley and ridge lengths for a gable roof.
Variability in construction
Architects and roofers have a wide range of options for the structure and orientation of a pent roof, which are otherwise only offered by the individual design variants of solid roofs. Thus, pent roof surfaces can also be staggered or combined at different heights. This often results in innovative and varied roof landscapes.
Generous integration of the roof space into the living area
Houses with monopitch roofs have a full-fledged floor under the roof. In contrast, most pitched roof designs only have a very confined roof space available. The only other exception is the mansard roof, whose lower roof surfaces provide generous living space due to their steepness.
Better lighting conditions on the upper floor
Due to the room height that a monopitch roof gives to the upper floor, not only skylights, but also conventional can also be integrated. This provides more brightness on the top floor.
A variety of options for roofing
There are a variety of options for roofing a monopitch roof. Whether covered with slate, bitumen or tiles, whether greened, gravelled or clad with sheet metal: There are almost no limits to your individual ideas. We recommend installing snow guards for standing seam metal roof on the roof of your home. Because they are durable and keep snow from sliding off the roof.
In order to realize your ideas and wishes in a professional roof planning, it is recommended to make a consultation appointment with a roofer.
A monopitch roof can save costs
Anyone who has a monopitch roof installed on their house can save costs in a number of ways.
First, because of the uncomplicated design, both planning and installation are comparatively inexpensive. Added to this are:
· a low consumption of materials in the roof truss construction (simple rafter or purlin construction without ridges, valleys and decay, as in the case of a folding roof, for example, which makes for a complex finish)
· the freedom to choose almost any type of roofing (if you want, you can reduce the total cost by using a cheap roofing)
Second, rainwater harvesting on a shed roof requires far less effort than on other pitched roofs because there is only one eave side. The domestic water yield, however, is equivalent in height, and can even be increased by a trailed roof area that extends beyond the eaves.
Furthermore, with the right orientation of the pent roof, photovoltaic cells can be installed more effectively and over a larger area than on any other roof shape. This lowers energy costs, and you can also earn extra money by feeding electricity into the grid. The legal basis for considerations of this kind can be found in the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).
Disadvantages of monopitch roofs
Long drying times
Pitched roofs can have different angles of inclination. The steeper the pitch, the better the drainage of water, which means that the roofing dries quickly after a snow or rainfall. They also install snow guards for metal roofs to protect themselves and their families.
With a monopitch roof, this process takes a comparatively long time due to the low slope. Therefore, professional waterproofing is particularly important here.
The installation of insulation is time-consuming.
Due to the shallow pitch of the monopitch roof and the large surface area for rain and snow to attack, higher requirements have to be met in terms of waterproofing and insulation than in the case of other pitched roof forms.
In addition, the low angle of inclination promotes both heat development in summer and cooling in winter. Therefore, roof insulation must meet specific criteria. If you want to learn more in detail about the insulation of pitched roofs, you can get all the important information on this topic elsewhere on this portal.
CONCLUSION
The pent roof is a popular roof form. On the one hand, this may be due to the modern as well as relatively simple construction, on the other hand, other advantages can be achieved with the construction of such a roof: A generous living space can be integrated below the roof surface, furthermore the roof surface offers an optimal place for photovoltaic systems!
