Gambrel roof house plans are architectural designs that feature a distinctive roof structure, characterized by two slopes on each side with a central ridge running the length of the house. This unique roof design not only adds aesthetic appeal but also provides additional space and functionality to the home.
Gambrel roofs are often used in traditional barn and farmhouse designs, but their versatility has led to their adoption in a wide range of residential styles. The lower slope of the gambrel roof extends down to the eaves, creating extra headroom and usable space in the attic or second story, while the upper slope provides a steeper pitch that efficiently sheds water and snow.
In the following sections, we will explore the various benefits, considerations, and design options available with gambrel roof house plans, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of this unique and functional architectural design.
Gambrel roof house plans offer numerous advantages and design considerations to homeowners. Here are 8 key points to keep in mind:
- Additional space and headroom
- Efficient water and snow shedding
- Variety of architectural styles
- Increased natural light
- Energy efficiency
- Ventilation and airflow
- Curb appeal
- Historical significance
These factors make gambrel roof house plans a popular choice for those seeking both functionality and aesthetic appeal in their homes.
Additional space and headroom
One of the most significant advantages of gambrel roof house plans is the additional space and headroom they provide. The lower slope of the gambrel roof extends down to the eaves, creating extra headroom and usable space in the attic or second story. This space can be utilized for a variety of purposes, such as creating additional bedrooms, bathrooms, or living areas.
- Increased vertical space: The lower slope of the gambrel roof allows for taller ceilings on the second floor, providing a more spacious and airy feel to the living areas.
- Usable attic space: The additional headroom created by the lower roof slope makes the attic more usable, allowing for the creation of additional rooms or storage space.
- Versatile layout options: The extra space provided by a gambrel roof gives homeowners more flexibility in designing the layout of their home, allowing for unique and customized floor plans.
- Improved natural light: The higher elevation of the gambrel roof allows for larger windows on the second floor, providing more natural light and creating a brighter and more inviting living space.
Overall, the additional space and headroom provided by gambrel roof house plans make them an excellent choice for homeowners who need more living space or who want to maximize the functionality of their attic.
Efficient water and snow shedding
Gambrel roof house plans are renowned for their efficient water and snow shedding capabilities, making them particularly well-suited for areas with heavy rainfall or snowfall. The unique design of the gambrel roof, with its two slopes on each side, provides several advantages in this regard:
Steeper upper slope
The upper slope of the gambrel roof is steeper than the lower slope, allowing water and snow to shed more easily. The steeper pitch reduces the amount of time that water or snow remains on the roof, minimizing the risk of leaks or damage.
Lower slope overhang
The lower slope of the gambrel roof extends beyond the walls of the house, creating an overhang. This overhang helps to direct water and snow away from the foundation of the house, preventing water damage and protecting the structural integrity of the building.
Reduced snow accumulation
The steep upper slope of the gambrel roof helps to prevent snow from accumulating on the roof. As snow falls, it slides down the steep slope, reducing the weight and stress on the roof structure. This is particularly important in areas with heavy snowfall, as excessive snow accumulation can lead to roof collapse.
Improved drainage
The gambrel roof design also facilitates improved drainage. The two slopes of the roof create a natural drainage system, with water and snow flowing down the slopes and into gutters or downspouts. This efficient drainage helps to prevent water from pooling on the roof or seeping into the attic, reducing the risk of leaks and water damage.
Overall, the efficient water and snow shedding capabilities of gambrel roof house plans make them an excellent choice for homeowners in areas with challenging weather conditions. The unique design of the roof ensures that water and snow are effectively shed, protecting the home from damage and maintaining its structural integrity.
Variety of architectural styles
Gambrel roof house plans offer a wide range of architectural styles, allowing homeowners to choose a design that complements their personal tastes and the surrounding environment. The versatility of the gambrel roof makes it suitable for both traditional and modern architectural styles, creating a timeless and visually appealing home.
Colonial Revival
Gambrel roofs are a defining feature of Colonial Revival architecture, a style that draws inspiration from the colonial era of American history. Colonial Revival homes often feature symmetrical facades, dormer windows, and a central chimney, all complemented by a gambrel roof. This style evokes a sense of nostalgia and historical charm.
Dutch Colonial
Dutch Colonial homes are characterized by their gambrel roofs with flared eaves, creating a distinctive and elegant appearance. These homes typically have a symmetrical facade with a central entrance and double-hung windows. The gambrel roof adds height and visual interest to the home, creating a stately and welcoming presence.
Federal
Federal architecture, popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, often incorporates gambrel roofs. Federal homes are known for their refined details, such as delicate moldings, Palladian windows, and a central entrance with a fanlight. The gambrel roof adds a touch of grandeur to the home, balancing the elegant facade with a practical and functional design.
Modern Farmhouse
Modern farmhouse architecture blends traditional farmhouse elements with contemporary design principles. Gambrel roofs are a common feature in modern farmhouse homes, adding a touch of rustic charm to the overall aesthetic. These homes often feature open floor plans, large windows, and natural materials, creating a warm and inviting living space.
The variety of architectural styles available with gambrel roof house plans allows homeowners to create a home that reflects their unique style and preferences. Whether seeking a traditional colonial charm, a stately Dutch Colonial elegance, the refined details of Federal architecture, or the rustic warmth of a modern farmhouse, a gambrel roof can provide the perfect complement to any architectural design.
Increased natural light
Gambrel roof house plans offer increased natural light compared to other roof designs due to the unique angle and positioning of the roof slopes. Here’s how this design feature contributes to brighter and more inviting living spaces:
Higher elevation
The gambrel roof’s design elevates the second floor or attic space, allowing for larger windows to be installed. These windows are positioned higher up on the wall, capturing more natural light from the sky. The higher elevation also reduces the obstruction from surrounding structures or landscaping, ensuring unobstructed views and ample sunlight.
Larger windows
The increased headroom created by the gambrel roof’s lower slope allows for larger windows to be incorporated into the design. These larger windows maximize the amount of natural light entering the home, creating brighter and more spacious living areas. The larger windows also provide panoramic views of the surroundings, enhancing the overall ambiance of the home.
Multiple window orientations
Gambrel roof house plans often feature multiple window orientations due to the two slopes of the roof. This allows for windows to be placed on both the lower and upper slopes, capturing natural light from different angles throughout the day. The combination of multiple window orientations ensures that the home is filled with natural light from morning till evening.
Reduced shadowing
The gambrel roof’s design helps to reduce shadowing on the windows, allowing for more natural light to enter the home. The lower slope of the roof extends beyond the walls of the house, creating an overhang that shades the windows from direct sunlight during certain times of the day. This reduces glare and heat gain while still allowing for ample natural light to illuminate the interior spaces.
The combination of these factorshigher elevation, larger windows, multiple window orientations, and reduced shadowingresults in increased natural light in gambrel roof house plans. This abundance of natural light creates a more inviting and comfortable living environment, reduces the need for artificial lighting, and provides numerous benefits for health and well-being.
Energy efficiency
### Insulation and thermal performanceGambrel roof house plans offer inherent advantages in terms of insulation and thermal performance. The additional space created by the lower roof slope allows for thicker insulation to be installed, improving the home’s ability to retain heat in winter and cool air in summer. The higher elevation of the second floor or attic also reduces heat loss through the roof, as warm air naturally rises. Additionally, the overhang created by the lower roof slope provides shade to the upper windows, reducing heat gain during the summer months.### Ventilation and airflowGambrel roof house plans often incorporate passive ventilation strategies to improve airflow and reduce energy consumption. The two slopes of the roof create a natural chimney effect, with warm air rising through the upper slope and escaping through vents at the peak of the roof. This airflow helps to ventilate the attic and upper levels of the home, reducing the need for air conditioning during the summer months. Additionally, the overhang created by the lower roof slope helps to direct prevailing winds over the roof, further enhancing ventilation and reducing energy consumption.### Reduced air leakageThe simple and symmetrical design of gambrel roof house plans contributes to reduced air leakage, which is a major source of energy loss in homes. The lower roof slope extends beyond the walls of the house, creating an overhang that helps to seal the joint between the roof and the walls. Additionally, the gambrel roof’s two slopes meet at a central ridge, which is typically sealed to prevent air leakage. By reducing air leakage, gambrel roof house plans help to maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems to work harder.### Solar energy potentialThe two slopes of a gambrel roof provide an ideal surface for installing solar panels, which can generate electricity from the sun. The higher elevation of the roof allows the solar panels to capture more sunlight throughout the day, increasing their efficiency. Additionally, the symmetrical design of gambrel roof house plans makes it easier to integrate solar panels into the overall design of the home, ensuring a seamless and aesthetically pleasing appearance. By harnessing solar energy, gambrel roof house plans can significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower energy costs.Overall, gambrel roof house plans offer numerous energy-efficient features that can help homeowners save money on energy bills while also reducing their environmental impact. The combination of improved insulation, ventilation, reduced air leakage, and solar energy potential makes gambrel roof house plans an excellent choice for homeowners seeking energy efficiency in their homes.
Ventilation and airflow
### Natural chimney effect
Gambrel roof house plans incorporate a natural chimney effect that promotes airflow and ventilation within the home. The two slopes of the roof create a natural airflow pattern, with warm air rising through the upper slope and escaping through vents at the peak of the roof. This airflow helps to ventilate the attic and upper levels of the home, reducing the need for air conditioning during the summer months.
- Improved attic ventilation: The natural chimney effect helps to ventilate the attic, preventing heat buildup and moisture accumulation. This can help to extend the lifespan of the roof and reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth.
- Reduced indoor air pollution: The airflow created by the natural chimney effect helps to remove indoor air pollutants, such as dust, dander, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). This can improve indoor air quality and create a healthier living environment.
- Lower energy consumption: The natural ventilation provided by the gambrel roof design can reduce the need for air conditioning during the summer months, leading to lower energy consumption and utility bills.
Overall, the natural chimney effect in gambrel roof house plans promotes airflow and ventilation, creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment while also reducing energy consumption.
Passive ventilation strategies
In addition to the natural chimney effect, gambrel roof house plans can incorporate other passive ventilation strategies to further improve airflow and ventilation. These strategies take advantage of natural forces, such as wind and thermal buoyancy, to provide ventilation without the need for mechanical systems.
- Cross-ventilation: Cross-ventilation is achieved by placing windows or vents on opposite sides of the home, allowing air to flow through the space. Gambrel roof house plans often have windows on both the lower and upper slopes of the roof, which can be opened to create cross-ventilation and promote airflow.
- Stack ventilation: Stack ventilation utilizes the natural tendency of warm air to rise and cold air to sink. Vents or windows are placed at different heights in the home, with the lower vents allowing cooler air to enter and the higher vents allowing warm air to escape. This creates a natural airflow pattern that helps to ventilate the home.
- Wind-driven ventilation: Wind-driven ventilation uses the force of the wind to ventilate the home. Vents or windows are placed on the windward side of the home, allowing air to enter. The airflow created by the wind helps to ventilate the home and remove indoor air pollutants.
- Solar chimneys: Solar chimneys are devices that use the sun’s heat to create airflow. They are typically installed on the roof and consist of a dark-colored vertical shaft. The sun’s heat warms the air inside the shaft, causing it to rise and create an upward airflow. This airflow helps to ventilate the home and reduce indoor air pollution.
By incorporating these passive ventilation strategies, gambrel roof house plans can provide excellent ventilation and airflow, creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment while also reducing energy consumption.
Curb appeal
Traditional charm
Gambrel roof house plans exude traditional charm and timeless appeal. The symmetrical design, with its two symmetrical slopes on each side, evokes a sense of nostalgia and historical elegance. Gambrel roofs have been a prominent feature in American architecture for centuries, and they continue to add character and charm to homes today. The traditional style of gambrel roofs complements a variety of architectural styles, from Colonial Revival to Dutch Colonial to Federal, making them a versatile choice for homeowners seeking a classic and inviting exterior.
Visual interest and architectural detail
Gambrel roof house plans offer visual interest and architectural detail that sets them apart from other roof designs. The two slopes of the roof create a dynamic and visually appealing silhouette, adding depth and character to the home’s exterior. The gambrel roof’s design allows for creative variations, such as flared eaves, dormer windows, and cupolas, which can further enhance the home’s visual appeal. Additionally, the lower slope of the gambrel roof can be adorned with decorative elements, such as shutters or trim, adding a touch of personal style and architectural interest.
Increased perceived height
Gambrel roof house plans create the illusion of increased height, making the home appear more spacious and stately. The two slopes of the roof extend vertically, drawing the eye upward and giving the home a more imposing presence. This is particularly beneficial for homes with a smaller footprint, as the gambrel roof design can make the home appear larger and more substantial. The increased perceived height also adds to the home’s overall curb appeal, creating a sense of grandeur and elegance.
Complements various landscaping styles
Gambrel roof house plans complement a variety of landscaping styles, providing homeowners with flexibility in designing their outdoor spaces. The traditional charm of the gambrel roof pairs well with formal landscapes featuring manicured lawns, hedges, and symmetrical plantings. The gambrel roof’s simple and elegant lines also complement more modern landscaping styles, such as those that incorporate native plants, natural stone, and sustainable practices. Additionally, the gambrel roof’s height and vertical lines can be visually balanced by mature trees and lush greenery, creating a harmonious and inviting outdoor space.
Overall, gambrel roof house plans offer exceptional curb appeal, combining traditional charm, visual interest, increased perceived height, and versatility in complementing various landscaping styles. These factors make gambrel roof house plans a popular choice for homeowners seeking a home with a timeless and attractive exterior that enhances the overall beauty and value of their property.
Historical significance
Origins in Europe
The gambrel roof design originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was commonly used in agricultural buildings, such as barns and stables, as it provided a spacious and functional loft space for storing hay and other materials. The gambrel roof’s ability to shed water and snow effectively made it well-suited for the often harsh European climate. Over time, the gambrel roof design found its way into residential architecture, particularly in the Netherlands and England.
Arrival in the American colonies
European settlers brought the gambrel roof design to the American colonies in the 17th century. The design quickly gained popularity in New England, where it was used in both residential and commercial buildings. Gambrel roofs were particularly well-suited for the cold and snowy New England winters, as they efficiently shed snow and provided additional insulation for the upper floors. The gambrel roof became a defining feature of Colonial American architecture and can still be seen in many historic homes and buildings throughout the United States.
Federal and Greek Revival periods
During the Federal and Greek Revival periods in American architecture (late 18th to mid-19th centuries), the gambrel roof continued to be a popular choice for both residential and public buildings. Federal-style homes often featured gambrel roofs with flared eaves and delicate moldings, while Greek Revival homes typically had simpler gambrel roofs with a more classical appearance. The gambrel roof’s versatility and adaptability made it a suitable complement to these architectural styles.
20th-century revival
The gambrel roof experienced a revival in popularity during the 20th century, particularly in the Colonial Revival and Dutch Colonial Revival architectural styles. These revival styles sought to evoke the nostalgia and charm of early American architecture, and the gambrel roof played a significant role in creating this aesthetic. Modern interpretations of the gambrel roof often incorporate contemporary materials and design elements, while still retaining the traditional form and function of the original design.
Throughout history, the gambrel roof has been a versatile and enduring architectural element, adapting to different styles and periods. Its unique design and functionality have made it a popular choice for both practical and aesthetic reasons, and it continues to grace homes and buildings around the world.
Related Posts
