Identifying Historic Roof Forms ~ The more you know about historic architectural styles, the easier it is to “read” a house to estimate its age and history of alterations. Among the most important character-defining features that help to identify a building’s period and style are roof forms.
While some roof forms, such as the Side-Gable roof, are common to many styles, others are closely identified with specific styles, like the Mansard roof that is the defining feature of the Second Empire style. Note that there are regional variations in the names for some forms. These are the most common names used.
This drawing from Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” is accompanied by a detailed chart identifying the architectural styles each roof form is found with, both commonly and less commonly.
This is one of the more than 2000 photos and drawings used to clearly illustrate the text in the book.
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© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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