When homeowners are in the market for a new roof, cost is often at the forefront of their minds. Many people assume that a steep roof will cost more, both in materials and installation. However, there are many advantages to steep-pitch roofs that can save you time and money in the long run. At Interstate Roofing, we want to share our experience with you to help you decide if a steep roof might be the right choice for your home.
What Is a Steep-Pitch Roof?
Contractors will typically refer to your roof’s pitch, or slope, with a set of numbers. The first number represents the vertical rise in inches, and the second refers to horizontal progression in inches. The most common slope is 6/12, which means that, for every foot, the roof rises 6 inches. An 8/12 roof is considered a steep roof, while something like a 4/12 roof is considered a low-pitch roof.
A roof with a steep pitch can make a home look elegant, but of course, as the pitch of the roof increases, material costs also increase. That’s why it’s important to consider the advantages of a steep-pitch roof beyond the initial outlay for extra material, such as whether it is likely to last longer.
Outdoor Grandeur and Indoor Options
From the outside, steep roofs are more visible. They can make a house stand out and look a bit grander and more singular. From the outside, too, there are more options for ornamentation on a steep roof. Roof caps, gables, and other artistic designs are available options on steep roofs but not typically low-pitch roofs. On the inside, the increased height of the roof will provide more attic space. Adding a closed storage area beneath the roof is an easy task for a contractor since the space is already available. The installation costs for this space are relatively inexpensive. If you’ve added enough space to the attic area with a steep roof, you could even convert that space into an office or an extra bedroom.
Energy Costs
You may be wondering, if the attic has more space—won’t the house cost more to heat? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Having a steep roof oftentimes allows for the installation of ventilation within the roofing system, which allows for easy airflow into the eaves and out of the ridge. By creating a constant flow of cooler air above the insulation but below the roofing material, air is allowed to circulate. The circulating air helps prevent ice from forming on the roof in the winter and keeps cooling costs lower in the warm months. Steeper-sloped roofs allow for more effective ventilation than a lower slope roof, due to the additional space.
Less Wear and Tear
Steep roofs offer a lot in terms of longevity. One of the worst roofing hazards is the pooling of water. On lower-slung roofs, water can sometimes collect instead of running directly into the gutters. This is simply the result of gravity. However, it can have devastating consequences over time. Standing water can erode roofing materials and cause decay. Those weak spots then turn into leaks. A leak in your roof is a no-nonsense emergency. A steep roof keeps any moisture moving quickly into the gutter and away from the foundation walls and roofing material.
This is true for snow as well. The well-ventilated roof system mentioned above prevents snow from melting and refreezing on your roofing tiles. Extreme cold and extreme heat are the two major causes of roofing wear and tear, and a well-ventilated roof system helps mitigate those extremes. The pitch of the roof also prevents snow from piling up too high. Have you ever wondered why so many mountain cabins use an A-frame design? The answer is that it’s better overall to have accumulated snow slide off your roof rather than collecting there until the weather changes.
As the increased slope of the steep roof uses gravity and increased airflow to keep your roof from experiencing temperature extremes, that same basic function can keep your roof looking tidy all year. Have you ever looked at your neighborhoods’ roofs after a fall or spring storm? It’s more likely than not that there are piles of debris caught on most of the medium- and low-pitch roofs. Wet leaves, sticks, and anything else caught in the wind can pile up for months if not attended to, making a home look unkempt. Steep-pitch roofs tend to stay cleaner and freer of debris. This is all to say that the increased pitch of a roof helps keep it cleaner, better looking, safer, and less likely to fail over time.
Cost and Maintenance
It’s true that steep-pitch roofs can cost more up front. The steeper the roof, the more material you’ll need. Steep roofs can also limit what material you may use due to weight considerations. Typically, tile and shingles work better than other materials on steep roofs. It’s important to consider, too, that steeper roofs are more difficult to maneuver around. Your contractors will have to work carefully, and the installation may take slightly longer.
Crucially, though, a large part of avoiding catastrophic failures in your roof—things like leaks, missing or torn shingles, cracks, and other dangers—is merely keeping an eye on your roof’s state of health. A steep roof provides a benefit here as well because it’s easier to frequently assess the state of your roof simply because you can see more of it from the ground. Noticing worn and weathered areas and addressing those minor repairs before they get worse can save you money and stress over time.
A steep-slope roof, once installed, provides a lot of self-regulating maintenance. For this reason alone, they tend to last longer than lower-pitch roofs. If you’d like to discuss the benefits of a steep roof, please contact us at any time or you can take a look through our portfolio of steep residential roofs. Interstate Roofing is here to answer any questions you may have.