Roof Facts for Kids

A roof in Poland with wooden shingles. You can see six dormers (windows sticking out).

A roof is the very top part of a building. Its main job is to keep out bad weather like rain and snow. It also protects people inside from the hot sun.

Some roofs are sloped or pitched. This means they are angled so that rain and snow can easily slide off them. Other roofs are flat. Even flat roofs have a small slope to help water drain away.

Types of Roofs
- Pitched Roofs
- Flat Roofs
Roof Materials
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Types of Roofs

There are many different types of roofs. The kind of roof a building has can often tell you about its style.

Pitched Roofs

Pitched roofs are angled. The most common types are:

Gable roofs: These look like an upside-down 'V'. They have two sloping sides that meet at a ridge.
Hip roofs: These have slopes on all four sides that come together at the top.
Gambrel roofs: These have two different slopes on each side. The lower part is steeper than the upper part.
Mansard roofs: Similar to gambrel roofs, but they have four sides, each with two different slopes.
Shed roofs: These are simple, single-sloping roofs.

Pitched roofs are often covered with asphalt or wood shingles. But they can also use metal, slate, or clay tiles. Walking on a pitched roof can be dangerous because of the steep angle.

Some pitched roofs have windows that stick out from the slope. These are called dormers. The lower edges of pitched roofs are called 'eaves'. Often, you'll find gutters and downspouts (called 'leaders') along the eaves. These collect rainwater and carry it away from the building.

Flat Roofs

Flat roofs are usually covered with materials like rubber or special types of plastic. You can usually walk on a flat roof. Sometimes, a low wall called a parapet is built around the edge of a flat roof. This helps stop people from falling off.

Roof Materials

Roofs can be made from many different materials, depending on the climate and the building style.

Shingles: Small, overlapping pieces of material like asphalt, wood, or slate.
Tiles: Made from clay or concrete, often seen in warmer climates.
Metal: Strong and long-lasting, often used on modern buildings.
Thatch: Made from dried plant materials like straw or reeds, common in older or traditional buildings.
Turf: A layer of grass and soil, often used in Norway for insulation.
Green roofs: These have plants growing on them, which helps with insulation and managing rainwater.