What is a gable roof?

A gable roof is the classic triangular shape: two sloped sides that meet at a central ridge, leaving a flat triangular wall (the gable) at each end. It is the most common residential roof form because it is simple to build, sheds water and snow well, and gives good attic space and ventilation.

The main trade-off is wind. In hurricane-prone areas like Florida, the flat gable-end wall can catch wind, so bracing and proper connections matter; hip roofs (sloped on all four sides) handle high wind better but cost more.

Gable variations include cross-gabled, Dutch-gable, and front-gabled, each changing the look and the roofline without changing the basic two-slope principle.