A hipped gable (also called a hip end or half-hip) means that a gable roof has a sloping roof surface at one or both short ends instead of a vertical gable wall. This sloped section is called a hip. A roof that is hipped at both ends is known as a hipped roof.
What does a hipped gable look like?
On a standard gable roof, the end walls (short sides) are vertical. On a hipped gable, the upper triangle of the end wall is replaced by a sloping roof surface:
- Half-hip (jerkinhead) — only the upper part of the gable is sloped; the wall still rises vertically for part of its height
- Full hip — the entire end wall is a sloping roof surface from eaves to ridge
Application
Hipped gables are common in:
- Farmhouses — traditional Dutch and Flemish farmhouses often have hipped gables
- Villas — the hip end lends a stately, classic appearance
- Listed buildings — many historic buildings feature hipped roofs
- New builds — as a reference to traditional building styles in rural settings
Advantages
- Wind resistance — the sloping surface catches less wind than a vertical gable
- Weather protection — the roof surface shields the end wall from driving rain
- Aesthetics — a hipped roof looks calmer and more balanced
Disadvantages
- Less internal space — the slope limits usable loft area
- More complex structure — more timber joints than a simple gable roof
Related terms
- Hipped roof
- Gable roof
- Roof construction
- Roof form
- Rafter
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