The mansard roof is a cross between hip roofs which have angles on all 4 sides and gambrel roofs which have two angled roof sections on two sides. A mansard roof has a definite and old-world high quality.
The mansard roof has two slopes on each aspect, the underside slope pitched at a sharper angle than the higher slope. Just like the hip roof, the mansard roof is 4 sided.
Execs:
- Aesthetic attraction – Mansard roofs have a sublime fashion that’s paying homage to French structure. Additionally, they’re distinctive in right this moment’s world of gable roofs.
- Additional area – This roofing fashion lets you develop your inside area within the attic areas. You should utilize this attic area for normal sized rooms due to the flatter higher slope higher than with gable roofs.
- Heating prices – There may be higher warmth distribution with rooms constructed into the attic area than with gable roofs. These roofs lower down heating prices by distributing warmth evenly all through the room.
- Pure gentle – With the addition of dormer home windows there’s extra pure gentle and higher air flow in attic areas. Massive home windows are a lot simpler to put in in a mansard roof than a gable roof.
Cons:
- Climate resistance – The higher panel of the mansard roof has a really low pitch which makes it much less climate resistant than different roofs. For instance heavy rainfall or snow can accumulate on the flatter portion of the roof creating future issues like leakages and the dislodging of shingles. As well as, most of those roofs have a poor drainage system.
- Excessive set up price – These roofs are out of the extraordinary and may have excessive set up prices in comparison with different sorts of roofing kinds.
- Excessive restore prices – These roofs require excessive upkeep and the restore prices are extra in contrast with different roof varieties.
- Allowing problem – Many places require particular permits to assemble one of these roof. Not all areas will grant one.
Mansard Roof vs. Gambrel Roof
Form | Two slopes on both sides (decrease steep, higher shallow) | Two slopes on both sides (each steep) |
---|---|---|
Historical past | Originated in Seventeenth-century France | Widespread in European and American structure |
Roof Profile | Characterised by an almost flat high and steep sides | Options two slopes on both sides with a break within the center |
Usable House | Supplies extra usable area within the attic as a result of steep slopes | Presents ample area within the attic, appropriate for storage or residing areas |
Aesthetics | Usually thought of elegant and conventional | Can have a captivating, barn-like look |
Supplies and Building | Might require extra complicated building and supplies | Easier building in comparison with Mansard |
Reputation | Widespread in historic buildings, particularly in city areas | Usually utilized in barns, farmhouses, and colonial-style houses |
Drainage | Good drainage as a result of steep slopes | Sufficient drainage, however water might pool within the central break |
Enjoyable Truth | The time period “Mansard” is derived from the French architect François Mansart, who popularized the fashion | The Gambrel Roof is commonly related to conventional American barns and Dutch Colonial structure |
Gambrel roof structure is much like a gable roof in that it has an angled roof on two sides of the home, however the gambrel roof has two slopes on both sides somewhat than one.
Whereas this roofing fashion is just not frequent, you possibly can see a gambrel roof on barn homes. A mansard roof has the identical two angles on both sides of the roof, nevertheless it has a roof on 4 sides of the home somewhat than two sides like a gambrel roof.
Mansard Roof: A Transient Historical past and Clarification of Phrases

The mansard roof fashion is an instance of how architectural design is vital for each type and performance. This roof fashion, additionally referred to as a curb roof or a French roof, takes its title after Francois Mansart, a well-known French architect. Nevertheless, he popularized the fashion somewhat than invented it.
The primary documented use of the mansard roof was in 1546 by Pierre Lescot on the south-west wing of the Louvre museum. This roof construction grew to become extra common within the Seventeenth century after which once more through the Second Empire beneath the rule of Napoleon III in France.
Mansard roofs grew to become an vital signifier of French structure.

This roof fashion gained recognition in Canada and the USA and lots of different western international locations all through the years.
A very powerful motive that this roof fashion was so valued was due to the additional attic area that it added. The mansard-style roof permits extra head area within the attic. It was roof possibility in each rural and concrete areas; nonetheless, in city settings it was valued as a result of it allowed vertical enlargement of area with out the necessity to enhance land use.
Whereas many acknowledge that it really works nicely in lots of architectural designs, one of these roof has waned within the present day.
Kinds of Mansard Roofs

There are 4 sorts of the most typical mansard roof designs.
- Straight – This mansard roof sort has a protracted, nearly vertical decrease slope and a small high slope. This higher slope can’t all the time be seen from the bottom stage. Many roofs on this fashion have the addition of dormer home windows to permit pure gentle and air flow into the higher ground.
- Convex – With this fashion mansard roof, the decrease slope curves outward. This fashion resembles the curve of a bell form. This provides quite a lot of further area within the attic rooms.
- Concave – This roof has a flat higher slope and a steep decrease slope that curves inward. This fashion doesn’t lend as a lot area as the opposite mansard kinds, nevertheless it has a protracted architectural heritage because it was utilized in historic mansions and buildings.
- S-shape – This can be a mixture of the convex and concave fashion roof strains. The roof begins by curving inward and finishes by curving outward.
Houses with Mansard Roofs
The mansard roof sort is exclusive amongst roofing kinds. It has a stately magnificence and design that set it aside. As well as, it permits the better growth of inside area. We’ve got rounded up some superb photos of mansard roofs, each the outside and inside areas.
Concave mansard roof

This huge historic dwelling has a sublime and basic fashion. Many architects mix mansard roofs with different roof options like this one with the lower out for the window. This roof has a number of giant home windows to extend gentle within the loft space.
Straight mansard roof

The straight mansard fashion featured on this cottage has a small higher slope that isn’t seen from the road stage. Whereas this form may not have the inherent class of the extra rounded mansard kinds, it’s a sensible approach to enhance the room in your further ground.
Convex mansard roof

This fashion roof gives the additional area of a straight mansard fashion roof and the class of the rounded type.
Trendy mansard roofs

When you could be justified in contemplating the mansard roof a historic fashion that isn’t used a lot right this moment, there are nonetheless fashionable renditions of the fashion. Contemplate this transform of a Georgetown residence. The straight mansard roof permits the addition of huge home windows that add extra symmetry and extra area to the house.
Mansard Interiors
Enlargement of the inside areas are top-of-the-line causes for a mansard roof. Whenever you add a mansard roof, you aren’t restricted in what you possibly can put within the extra residing area from a master suite to shiny artists studios.
Mountain chalet


On this chalet from design alpino, they’ve expanded the residing area beneath the mansard roof. They completed the ceiling with uncovered beams and used natural parts like stone partitions to create continuity with the surface world.
Workplace in an higher loft

As well as, folks use the additional sq. footage area for an workplace. Discover the massive skylights on the flat roof. This area is so shiny and lightweight, additionally it is good for an artist’s studio or bed room.
Cozy hangout

In case you don’t want extra bedrooms or workplace area, use the realm beneath the mansard as a comfortable haunt for the entire household. The sectional suits nicely beneath the uncovered beams to provide the entire design an built-in look. Bo-design created this area.
Trendy loft condominium


The large home windows on this fashionable loft area set the tone of the beautiful fashion of this area. The designers used glass dividers to separate the realm whereas nonetheless permitting it to really feel open.
Dwelling suite



This contemporary loft residing area options all the things you want in a private residing space. This design, created by raca-architekc, incorporates a bed room space, workplace, seating space and toilet. The tall home windows give the entire space a way of area and lightweight. The nice and cozy wooden ceiling provides texture to the general impartial colour scheme.
Multi-faceted ceiling

The geometric angles of the ceiling paired with the minimalist fashion furnishings and colour palette make this area hanging. The numerous home windows and skylights imply that this area won’t ever really feel darkish and dreary like many attic areas.