Roof Shapes (Gable vs Hip vs Flat)

The Big 3

1. The Gable (Triangle) Classic house shape. Pros: Easy to build. Good ventilation (Gable vents). Cons: The flat wall of the triangle catches the wind. Typhoon hits it -> Wall shakes.

2. The Hip (Pyramid) Slopes on all 4 sides. Pros: The king of Typhoon resistance. Wind flows over it like water. Cons: Harder to build. More “cutting” of sheets (waste). Harder to ventilate (Need ridge vents).

3. The Flat (Deck) Pros: You can party on it. Cons: It leaks. (See my other article). It also gets HOT. Concrete absorbs heat all day and releases it into your bedroom at night.

My Advice

If you are in a typhoon path (Samar, Leyte, Bicol)… Build a Hip Roof. It’s more expensive (more trusses, more cuts). But it stays attached to your house.

If you are in a “safe” area… Gable is fine. Just make sure the eaves aren’t too wide.