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The different types of roofs you will see across Dorset are mostly gable, hip, half-hip, lean-to, mansard and flat, with thatch as a specialist heritage option. Each shape behaves differently in wind, rain and salt air, which matters on the coast. Here is how they compare, and which suit homes around Bournemouth, Southampton and Salisbury.
A roof type is its shape. A roofing material is what covers it. A hip roof can be tiled, slated or covered in asphalt, so the two choices are separate. Our guide to roofing materials used across Dorset covers the covering side, so this one sticks to shape.
Pitched roofs slope on one or more sides. There are more roof shapes out there, but these pitched roof types cover most homes:
Two slopes meet at a ridge, with a triangular wall at each end.
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Slopes run down on all four sides, so there is no flat end for the wind to push against.
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This blends the two. The top of the gable end is cut back with a small sloping section.
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A single slope leans against a wall. It suits porches, side extensions and conservatories.
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Each side has two slopes, and the lower one is almost vertical.
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Whatever the shape, our full roof installation and replacement in Dorset starts with checking the timbers underneath before we add any new covering.
This is about how a pitched roof is built, not its shape. A cut roof is assembled on site from individual timbers. A truss roof uses factory-made triangular frames lifted into place. Trusses are usually quicker and cheaper, but their timber web fills the loft. A cut roof leaves it clear, making a later loft conversion much easier.
A flat roof is not truly flat. It is laid to a slight fall so water runs to the outlets. You will mostly find flat roofs on extensions, garages and some modern homes.
The main flat roof systems are felt, fibreglass, rubber and liquid plastic, and each has its own lifespan and cost. Near the sea, a flat roof’s lifespan depends heavily on the system and the detailing. For flat roof installation and repair, the weak points are usually the joints, upstands, and outlets, so a good survey focuses there.
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Thatch is part of Dorset’s character, but it is a specialist trade for a master thatcher, not a general roofer. Thatched homes have their own fire-safety rules, and extensions near a boundary may need to follow Dorset Council’s guidance on thatched buildings. For thatch, we would always point you to a specialist so you get the right advice.
The best roof for coastal areas is usually a well-built pitched roof with a hip or half-hip shape, since fewer exposed gable ends mean less for the wind to grab. Shape is only half the story, though. Salt air and wind find weak points, so ridge and verge fixings, flashings and edges matter just as much. A modern flat roof also performs well when it is detailed properly and checked regularly.
If your home sits exposed near Bournemouth or Southampton, ask for the fixings and edge details to be explained, not just the covering.
These are starting points. Exposure, the condition of the timbers and your plans for the loft all change the answer, and none of that shows from the street. If you are choosing a shape for a new roof or extension, get a free quote and a roofer can assess your roof in person.
Often you do, if the change makes the roof higher than its existing highest point or projects more than 150mm from the roof slope. Many re-roofing jobs fall under permitted development, but listed buildings, conservation areas and flats follow different rules. Check the Planning Portal roof rules and your local council. Structural changes also need building control approval.
Yes, but it means building a new roof structure, so you will need structural advice and building regulations approval. Planning permission is often needed too if the new roof rises above the existing highest point.
Gable and hip roofs are the two most common pitched shapes on UK houses. Flat roofs are mostly found on extensions and garages.
A well-kept pitched roof usually lasts longer than a flat one. Pitched roofs are often quoted at 40 to 60 years and flat roofs at 20 to 30, though the covering and upkeep matter as much as the shape.
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Extreme Pro Roofing are roofers in Dorset providing professional roofing services including roof installation, roof repairs, roof maintenance, flat roofing, chimney repairs, leadwork, fascia, soffits and guttering, dry verge and ridge installation, conservatory roof replacement, loft conversions, Velux window installation and 24/7 emergency roofing across Dorset, Bournemouth, Southampton and Salisbury.
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