Question

Describe, with the aid of sketches, TWO pitched-roof structures that are found in a traditional Victorian house.

Answer 1

Roof is topmost structural element of the house that always acts as barrier to heat, rain, wind, and snow. A roof can be made of concrete, wood, asbestos or other elements. Roof consists of wooden rafters construction, hydro, thermo isolation, ventilation system, rain water drainage system, sealing elements and, of course, the roof covering itself. Rafters constructions create sloping surfaces that are called roof slopes.

There are several types of roof design available with us since times immemorial and amongst them, one of the most familiar design is the Two- Pitched roof structures.

The photographs shown below is an example of two pitched roof.Two pitched roof - Generally, we can describe the double pitched roof as a triangle that consists of two surfaces which are connected with ridge on the top. Two surfaces of the roof are supported by load-bearing walls and in the end the triangles are formed which are named as gables. Gables often have windows installed for the natural light to come inside. The main advantage of this roof is that you can install various types of roof covering with the lowest outcrop and is very suitable for drainage of water or snow .Hence it does not allow the extra load of water or snow to remain in the roof for a longer period of time leading to increase in longevity of roofs.

Double pitched roof can be symmetrical or asymmetrical depending upon the requirements. Generally symmetrical roof is preferred but if the ridge of the roof is not at the centre then symmetrical structures are not possible and we go for unsymmetrical ones.

From the aesthetic point of view – it is very interesting design but it negatively affects the usage of building area below the roof. This is because the roof is of varying height and the height decreases towards the edge of the house. Therefore a tall object cannot be placed at the edge or corner of the house which is generally desired to make proper utilisation of space which can be considered as one of the biggest disadvantages of two pitched roof structures. Two pitched roofs are also not feasible with multiple levels or complex plans which is the need of the hour due to shortage of spaces for construction and growing demands because of the ever increasing population. The photographs below is a diagram with various labelled parts of a two pitched roof truss.Two pitched roof structures which was very famous during the Victorian Period is obsolete now a days and single pitched roof structures are more preffered by architectures recently.

Thank you.