When building a new home, adding a gable roof can deliver a timeless, classic style. Learn about the seven most popular types of gable roofs.
What Is a Gambrel Roof?
A gambrel roof resembles a vintage barn roof on your home
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A gambrel roof features two slopes on each side of your home's tallest peak, with a shallow upper angle and a steeper lower angle creating a distinctive barn-style look.
Roof framing costs range from $13,000 to $22,200, and gambrel roof framing adds a few thousand dollars more because of the specialized truss design required.
Your gambrel roof sheds rainwater efficiently thanks to its double-slope design, though snow can accumulate on the shallower upper section in heavy winter weather.
Hiring a local roofing professional keeps your gambrel roof project on track with proper truss installation and ensures the specialized framing meets your home's structural needs.
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Your roof design is front and center when planning a home. If you want a look that emphasizes the height of your house, a gambrel design is worth considering. So, what is a gambrel roof? This design features symmetrical slopes off the tallest peak, including a shallower-angled section at the top and a steeper-angled section toward the bottom. Learn more about a gambrel roof, including the perks and drawbacks.
What Is a Gambrel Roof and What Sets It Apart?
The gambrel roof's tallest peak is directly in the middle of the home. It resembles a vintage barn roof, making it look different from most roof types, including the gable design, which resembles a triangle from the side and commonly appears on homes.
The gambrel roof has a shallow angled upper slope, usually at around 30 degrees, extending from both sides of the tallest peak. At the end of the first slope section, a second, steeper slope occurs at about a 60-degree angle. It expands until it hangs slightly over the edges of the building. Your builder can change these angles as desired, but the gambrel roof always has two connected slopes on each side of the tallest peak.
Pros and Cons of a Gambrel Roof
A gambrel roof provides several advantages and disadvantages for the homeowner.
| Gambrel Roof Pros | Gambrel Roof Cons |
|---|---|
| Easily add dormers | Pricier than others |
| Extra interior space | Needs big windows |
| Fits many home designs | Tricky construction |
| Rain flows quickly | Can retain snow |
| Enhances home’s height | Very high gutters |
What to Know About Building a Gambrel Roof
Photo: Baharlou / Adobe Stock
If you are building a new home or extensively remodeling an existing home, you could install a gambrel roof. The roof builder will use a series of trusses across the width of the roof with support from the ground at the edges. The trusses match the planned dimensions and slopes of the gambrel roof. The roof deck goes directly over the trusses.
The gambrel roof does not need support beams and columns in the middle that reduce the usability of the interior space. The trusses provide all the support for the middle of the roof deck. They require fewer materials than some other types of roof construction.
The cost to frame a roof ranges from $13,000 to $22,200. The cost to frame a gambrel roof is often a few thousand dollars more than the average roof cost.
Because of the similarities, a builder might suggest a mansard roof, instead. It uses a double-slope design that’s similar to the gambrel roof, but it has the design on all four sides of the building, rather than just two sides like the gambrel design. You will pay even more to frame the mansard roof than the gambrel roof, however.
This is similar to the common gable roof versus hip roof comparison. A hip roof has slopes on all four sides of the building, while the gable roof has slopes on two sides.
Reach out to a local roofing company for an estimate of what a gambrel roof will cost at your home.
Is a Gambrel Roof a Good Choice for Bad Weather?
A Dutch Colonial style house often features a gambrel roof. These types of homes are common in the Northeastern United States, where stormy seasons can be harsh.
The double-slope design provides a strong mix of stability and water flow, especially during high-wind events, like hurricanes. However, the varying angles of the slopes could enhance the effect of sudden changes in wind direction that can tear shingles loose.
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, it could accumulate on the shallower upper slope, causing too much weight. A designer could increase the angle of the upper slope to allow snow to slide downward more efficiently.
In many designs, the edge of the gambrel roof is well off the ground, meaning your gutter system usually is higher than with other roof designs. It may be more difficult to keep your gutters clean yourself when the edge of the gambrel roof is two stories off the ground. It can be tougher to gain roof access to clean the roof yourself, too, because of the height of the edges of a gambrel roof.
Roofing services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.3★ avg. • 120 total reviews
- Chance R.
D1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLC - Jeremy P.
This place took $25,000 for a flat roof job with a five-year warranty and never returned to fix the leaks that were caused by their work. These people are not professionals and should not be doing this type of work. They incorrectly changed the pitch of the roof, and caused more damage than...
- David B.
The technician was very professional and friendly. He answered all my questions and was very thorough. He left the fireplace area very clean . He inspected from the roof and advised me as to other work that might need to be done. There was no pressure there. I was very satisfied with the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Kevin S.
I am really impressed with their timeliness and turnaround. Mitchell came out, and we decided to move forward with their pricing. Our roof was on within a week, and we could not be happier with their team! Amazing company, great prices and honest, dependable craftsmanship. I highly recommend...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Rob B.
Manuel Calvillo is the best option in the area for roofing and you won't be disappointed.
- Julie K.
They damaged multiple items on my property, including a marble slab used as a table top, tried to hide it, and refused to pay or replace. Arrived day one without a ladder to access roof & delayed a day. Left a mess in back yard; didn't wear face masks; no show by owner to property to see damages
Grants Tree Service - Marcia L.
I've hired Gary/Cherokee Roofing for two different homes, work quality, responsiveness, and completion have been great both times. And the prices quoted were very competitive. I would definitely hire again.
- Paul F.
Lyle did a great job removing asbestos shingles from our front porch roof. They worked together with our roofer to make sure that the new roof was able to be installed on the same day that Lyle removed the asbestos shingles.
Lyle Environmental - Paul F.
Bradley Builders did a good job replacing the roof on our front porch. They color-matched the existing shingles on the rest of the house and installed a metal ridge roll since we live in a historical neighborhood. They did the job while we were out of town. When we got back, everything was...
Bradley Builders, Inc. - Madison B.
I would absolutely recommend this business. They offer a variety of services, including: painting, roofing, and refinishing wood flooring. I hired them to refinish the original hardwood flooring in my home built in 1874. The job was quite challenging, as the floors were extremely aged and...
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