A mono-pitch house (also called a pent-roof house or shed-roof house) is a dwelling with a single sloping roof surface. One side of the building has a tall facade and the other a low facade, with one continuous slope as the roof between them.
Features
A mono-pitch house is characterised by:
- One roof surface — as opposed to a gable roof (two surfaces) or a hipped roof (four surfaces)
- Asymmetric profile — one facade is taller than the other
- Simple roof structure — fewer rafters, no ridge or valley connections
- Modern appearance — popular in contemporary architecture
Application
Mono-pitch houses are found in various settings:
- Terraced houses — as a variation on the traditional gable roof
- Detached houses — as an architectural choice for a modern design
- Extensions — a building extension often receives a mono-pitch roof leaning against the main building
- Tiny houses — the simple roof form saves materials and construction time
Advantages
- Ideal for solar panels — the roof surface can be oriented optimally towards the sun
- Natural light — the tall facade allows space for large windows or a rooflight
- Simple construction — fewer timber connections than a gable roof
- Good drainage — water runs off to one side
Considerations
- The low side must provide sufficient internal headroom
- Wind loading may be higher on the tall facade
Related terms
- Mono-pitch roof
- Lean-to
- Roof construction
- Gable roof
- Hipped roof
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.