The Unexpected Versatility of Gable Roofs: Design Ideas You Won’t Want to Miss
By: Hannah Warne
A roof is a practical element of your home’s design that keeps you warm, dry, and protected from the elements. But it’s also an opportunity to infuse your exterior with a bit of your personal style. From the sleek, single slope of a shed roof to the four sloping sides and low-pitched middle of a mansard roof, roofing styles are nearly endless. There is no roof quite as classic, however, as gable roofs.
Though simple, this striking design works well on almost any home, making it a popular choice for any architectural style. Read on to discover our favorite gable roofs and collect design ideas for your own home transformation.
Looking to update your home’s gable roof? The brick&batten team is here to help! We’ll also help you select a color palette and exterior design finishes to tie the entire exterior together to create the home of your dreams. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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What are gable roofs?
Gable roofs are a quintessential style often used in traditional home design. A gable roof’s defining characteristic is two sloping sides that meet along a central midline to create a peak. This creates distinct triangle shapes on the sides of the roof, known as gables.
Some homes have a simple gable-style roof with just two gables (one on each side). Other homes have multiple slopes and peaks, creating additional gables that add depth and dimension to the home’s exterior.
Gable roof with dormers
Though there is something elegant about the simplicity of classic gable roofs with only two sloping sides, playing around with additions like dormers can enhance a home’s curb appeal.
A dormer — a roofed structure that projects vertically from the gable roof — is typically paired with a window, known as a dormer window. Originally used for ventilation in large buildings like cathedrals, this design feature can now be found on homes of all styles to add natural light on the topmost level. Not only are dormer windows practical, but they also offer the opportunity to play with the color, texture, and style of your exterior.
The home above, for example, incorporates lap siding along the dormers in a warm gray hue that contrasts beautifully with the roof and red brick. This draws the eye upward to emphasize the home’s height and allows for a more multi-dimensional color palette.
Gable accented with stone siding
While gables sometimes are on the sides of the home, there are also many homes with front-facing gables. This design detail is the perfect way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. And adding a stone accent wall to the centermost gable is one of the best ways to make a bold statement.
Not only is a stone wall the ideal way to pull together a neutral color palette filled with earth tones, but it also draws the eye to the entryway. In the example above, the gable and front facade are finished with beautiful natural stone siding with navy, gray, and brown tones that bring together the dark and moody color palette.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
Decorative gable brackets
Accentuate a gable roof with wooden gable brackets. These decorative pieces can be added to side or front-facing gables to enhance the shape and complement the rest of the home’s exterior. The classic feel of the brackets best complements traditional home styles, like Tudors or Victorians.
Though they can be painted to match any color palette, the gable accents are most often white or stained wood. Consider adding other wooden accents to your home exterior, like in the example above, for a cohesive look.
Gable entryway
A gable entryway is another way to incorporate this timeless design element. This feature has the same characteristics as a gabled roof, with two sloped sides that meet to form a triangular shape. Gable entryways are a flexible addition that can be added to your home whether or not you have an existing gable roof. While the style pairs perfectly with existing gables, it also can provide nice structural contrast when paired with other roof styles like a hip or shed roof.
A gable entryway immediately draws the eye toward the front door to create a clear focal point. Like gable roofs, the gable entryway can also have design accents. The example above features a beautifully curved wood bracket that matches the porch support columns.
Gable corbels
If you’re looking for something a little more dramatic than a simple decorative gable bracket, gable corbels may be the perfect fit. While corbels are also structural brackets that can support the weight of the roof, they are typically fashioned in a more intricate, ornate style.
Adding these to a gable infuses any exterior with extra charm. The curved, elegant slopes of the corbels add a softness that can be otherwise hard to achieve. They are also the ideal way to introduce another finish or contrasting color to the exterior. In the example above, the home features white painted brick and siding with dark wood corbels to complement the wooden columns and front door, creating a cohesive palette.
Gable cross beams
Gabled roofs and entryways need structural support to allow for the sloped shape. So why not integrate the cross beams into your exterior design? Leaving these beams exposed accentuates the roof’s shape and adds to a home’s character and curb appeal.
The example above features a gable roof covering a large front porch. The exposed cross beams draw the eye, emphasizing the home’s beautiful picture windows. These beams also add a mid-century modern feel to the exterior. The final result is a look that is both retro and modern.
Gables with contrasting siding
When designing your exterior, there are no hard and fast rules. So why not mix and match different siding styles and colors to highlight a home’s gables? Choose stone, wood, or lap siding to contrast with the rest of the home. A blend of plank and shake siding, for example, adds depth and texture to the home above. All of the siding is finished in Sherwin Williams’ Urbane Bronze for a rich, earth-toned hue that complements both styles. It’s also the perfect mid-toned shade to tie together the home’s wood accents and black roof.
Gable roofs that will transform your home
Gable roofs are intentionally simple — but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Incorporating these interesting and unexpected design elements can level up your exterior and make your roof stand out. These upgrades allow you to infuse your own style into the exterior, setting your home apart and amping up your curb appeal with just a few small tweaks.
Ready to upgrade your roof? brick&batten virtual exterior design services are the perfect solution! Our team will help bring your vision to life and incorporate all of your favorite elements to transform your exterior. Start your project today!
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