Custom Home Builders Raleigh NC
Cost Effective Options When Building Your New Home
Roof Style, Pitch, and Lines
Looking to build or buy a new home?
Knowing a little about roof styles, pitches and lines can help you make a cost effective choice when deciding on your dream floor plan!
Roof Pitch - Definition
The pitch of a roof is the steepness.
An 8/12 roof climbs 8 inches in height for every 12 inches in width.
The shallower the roof pitch, the lower the cost. Lower cost homes often have a simpler 4/12 or 5/12 roof pitch. However, this can really limit the attic space available, particularly on a smaller home.
There are several ways this saves cost - there is less roofing, less labor required to put the roof on the home, and also, less framing materials and framing labor required to build the support system for the roof.
However, the shallow roof pitches are usually not as visually appealing as a steeper roof pitch.
Roof Lines, Hips, Gables, and Valleys
The number of gables, hips, and valleys in a roof can affect aesthetic appeal as well as cost.
A hip is where two rooflines meet at the top.
A gable is a triangular section of wall formed by the intersection of two sections of roof.
A valley is where two sections of roof meet and connect on the downward slope.
This example shows nine different hips on the front of the home, counting the small dormer window.
The more complex the roof, the higher the cost. But the roofline and architectural design is also something that is chosen once and extremely difficult to change over the years, so think carefully about your selection. On the other hand, additional trimwork or upgraded flooring and countertops can be added later as budgets allow.
Roof Styles and Lines for Every Budget
There are plenty of roof styles that can work for any budget. Ask your builder for suggestions.
A style with a mid-level pitch and several gables and valleys can add a lot of sophistication, but still be at the mid to lower end of the cost spectrum.
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Wake County NC Property Tax Rates 2011
Wake County New Home Communities
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