A half-hip roof is a roof form that combines a hipped roof with a gable roof: the two short sides of the roof do not extend all the way to the ridge but end halfway as a hip. The upper part of the short gable walls remains visible as a small triangular section of brickwork.
How do you recognise a half-hip roof?
- The long sides have a normal pitched roof surface (like a gable roof)
- The short sides have a hip: a triangular roof surface that stops halfway
- Above the hip, a section of gable wall protrudes up to the ridge
- The roof therefore has more roof surfaces than a gable roof, but fewer than a fully hipped roof
Comparison of roof forms
| Roof form | Short side | Gable wall visible? |
|---|---|---|
| **Gable roof** | Vertical wall up to the ridge | Yes, fully |
| **Hipped roof** | Hip extends to the ridge | No |
| **Half-hip roof** | Hip to halfway, gable wall above | Yes, partially |
Advantages
- Wind-resistant — the hip catches less wind than a flat gable wall
- More loft space — the gable wall above the hip provides more usable height than a fully hipped roof
- Distinctive appearance — popular on farmhouses and dwellings in traditional style
Construction
A half-hip roof requires hip rafters in addition to standard trusses where the hipped section begins. The construction is more complex than a gable roof, but simpler than a fully hipped roof.
Related terms
- Hipped roof
- Gable roof
- Jerkinhead
- Hip rafter
- Ridge
- Truss