Roof Shapes for a Ground Floor Extension

At Home Tales, we offer an exceptional service for producing wonderful home extensions in London. We are an architectural firm with extensive experience in home renovations projects, providing unique packages tailored to each of our clients.

So you’ve decided to add a ground floor extension to your property because you’d like to add volume, character, or create a better connection to your garden. Something that will greatly define the final look of your extension is the roof you install, which can be difficult to choose as they come in all types of shapes and sizes. You may be tempted to opt for a simple flat roof or lean-to if you have no idea what else is available to you. Well, in today’s post, we’d like to clear up the confusion by exploring the different types of roof shape suitable for a ground floor extension in London.

Flat roof

The quickest and simplest roof to install on your ground floor extension is a flat roof. This is usually a straightforward task for any contractor, making it the most affordable option in our list. Therefore, if you are working with a smaller budget, this might be suitable for your project. When constructed properly with high quality materials, a flat roof can last between 20 to 30 years before the need for any extensive repairs. It can enhance the overall design of a modern home and is an energy efficient feature that provides plenty of warmth within. The level surface is also the perfect space for a green roof or roof terrace for those considering installing one.

However, its simplicity does come with some flaws. If constructed and styled poorly, a flat roof can appear unfinished and unattractive. They have historically been associated with outdated exteriors with weak structures that are prone to cracks, but standards and materials are much better now.

Although it is called flat, this type of roof is never entirely level but has a slope of around 10 degrees to guide rainwater and debris off. As the slope on these roofs are so minor, sometimes rainwater is unable to run off the surface quickly, leading to sitting water that may cause leakage. When the build, is done the extension is not completely finished as settling can cause a structure to shift and crack. A responsible contractor should allow at least 6 months free repairs as it takes this long for a ground floor extension to settle. It’s also important to note that this type of roof cannot usually go higher than 2.8m as to prevent any impact on a neighbour’s lighting.

Pitched roof

A pitched roof is a popular choice for ground floor extensions in the UK. This is a roof that slopes downwards from a ridge, guiding rainwater into the gutters at the eaves. It fits in well with a period property as materials are widely available to match the existing roof of the main property exactly. When it comes to this type of roof, there is much more variety (compared to a flat roof) so you can choose a design and roof material that will best suit the look of your house. For this reason, a pitched roof typically will add more value to a property than a flat roof would.

The angle and increased roof area on a pitched roof means space for large roof lights and ample head height. This type of build will outlive a flat roof any day of the week, as it is less maintenance, structurally stronger, and has better materials available on the market for it. Its shape allows rainwater to immediately slip off it while remaining solid against strong winds. Compared to a flat roof, the shape is complex and will take longer to construct, therefore it can become very costly.

Apex/Gable

This classic, attractive roof design features an inverted V shape that is formed by the 2 surfaces sloping downwards from the highest point of the roof (the ridge). Structurally, this is an ideal shape as it can withstand weathering much better than a flat roof. In engineering, triangles are known as a strong shape due to the way it can support a load. You would get the most head height along the underside of the ridge, and depending on the height of the eaves, less useable space towards the apex of the roof. The rear facing wall spans the entire height from the ridge to the ground, leaving a large plane for you to install beautiful Crittall-style doors, full length windows, or bi-fold doors with a gable end window.

Mono-pitch

As you might be able to tell by its name, a mono-pitch roof is a roof with a single pitch, typically seen on a side return extension. They reap similar benefits to an apex roof but are more affordable. They can be used for a side extension or rear extension, though it is commonly seen in a side return or small extension. It gives you that extra height to your ground floor without appearing boxy or imposing and offers plenty of space to fit lots of glazing overhead. It is able to handle extreme weather. Construction should be straightforward as it is less complex than an apex roof.

Hipped

A hipped roof is far less common than any of the other style listed today. Its shape is sturdy and reliable, involving several sloped sides that extend downwards from the ridge, making it a more complicated roof to construct. This may prolong the build phase and rack up higher costs due to the several types of tiles needed. It is more common to see this charming feature atop a main house as it can deal with extreme weather conditions very well, whereas an extension may not need so much security. It will not obstruct light into a garden compared to gable or flat due to its shape, however, this also means less habitable space for the room within. Overall, a hipped roof creates the least amount of impact on neighbouring properties in terms of light and matches a period property well.

Pitched & flat

As you can imagine, this type of roof will give you the best of both worlds. Especially for a wraparound extension, a mono-pitch roof would fit the side extension well and a flat roof would work well on the main rear extension. The pitched roof can accommodate large skylights or a glass roof over a kitchen space, whilst the flat roof would allow ample head height, perfect for an entertainment space, dining room, or living area.

If you are considering extending your home, give our friendly team a call on 02070432378. Alternatively, email us at hello@hometales.co.uk or book a free telephone consultation with us here. You will be able to discuss your project in more detail with a design and planning professional, and we take the opportunity to explain more about how we work. Following the call, we will be able to issue you with a quote for the works.


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