be Y^ pitch. Shingle roofs should generally be l /z pitch. Paper covered 

 roofs can be flatter. 



Each form of roof has advantages and disadvantages. The single- 

 span roof is the easiest to build (Fig. 40-^). It gives the highest front 

 exposed to the sun's rays, which are T ^ 

 reflected back, drying the ground and 

 making a warm shelter. It throws all 

 the rain water to the rear, lessening 

 the length of eaves-trough one-half 

 and keeping the front of the house dry 

 where no eaves-troughs are used. It 

 allows the windows to be placed high. 

 t \ tarred paper roof will last many 

 years longer if the slope is toward the 

 north. The one-span roof is cooler 



FIG. 37. Which is cheaper? 



Total Roof 



ISA ft 

 ift. 

 it* ft 



Total Sides 



IZtt. 



FIG - 



in summer if not exposed to the vertical rays of the sun. It is especially 

 recommended for houses not over 16 feet deep. The gable roof 



provides for a large garret 

 space which can be stuffed 

 with straw, making the house 

 warmer and dryer. (Figs. 35 

 and 4O-C.) The combina- 

 tion house shares in the ad- 



vantage and d^^ * 



the others. (Fig. 40-8.) It 

 furnishes the best head room with the least cost for building material -and 

 the least air space for a given height in front. 



To provide the necessary height 

 for sunlight in front and working 

 room in the rear, the combination type 

 saves siding material on the north 

 wall when compared with the gable 

 type, as will be seen by the distance 

 between plates in Fig. 37, and on the 

 front over the shed-roof type, as rep- 

 resented by the distance between 

 plates, Fig. 37. For houses 20 feet wide or more the gable (Fig. 4O-C), 

 half monitor (Fig. 4O-), monitor (Fig. 4O-D), or combination roof 

 (Fig. 40-8), is preferable. The half-monitor is desirable on very wide 

 houses that face the south, and especially when a central alleyway is 

 necessary. The upper window throws the light far toward the rear. The 



FIG. 39. These three houses require 

 the same amount of material 



