Skip to main content

Mansard Roof - Definition and Purpose

Mansard floor and roof
Mansard roof

A mansard or mansard roof (also known as a French roof or curb roof) is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof with two slopes on each side, the lower of which is punctured by dormer windows and is steeper than the upper. The steep roof with windows adds an extra floor of habitable space (a garret) and lowers the roof's overall height for a given number of habitable storeys. When viewed from close proximity to the building, the upper slope of the roof may not be visible from street level.

There are a few other characteristics that distinguish a mansard roof. Dormers, or windows that protrude from the roof, are a common feature. This allows architects to convert the attic space into a bedroom or other livable space by bringing light into the space. One of the greatest advantages of the mansard roof is the ability to convert the attic into living space. It's also worth noting that the lower part of the mansard roof can be straight, convex (curving or flaring outward), or concave after the bend (curving or flaring inwards).

On two opposite sides, the Mansard roof has a similar slope design. The Mansard roof, on the other hand, has the same sloping style on both sides. On the remaining faces of the gambrel roof, there are no slopes. Aside from the additional slopes, Mansard roofs have a distinct design element that sets them apart from traditional gambrel roofs.

The Benefits of a Mansard Roof 

1. More Attic Space

Due to the almost vertical bottom slope, Mansard roofs offer significantly more attic space than a standard Gable or Hip roof. A Mansard roof's loft area does not have to sacrifice space and can easily accommodate a master bedroom if necessary.

Furthermore, the use of dormer windows along the entire length of the bottom slope allows for more natural light to enter the building, increasing the sense of space even more.

2. Expandability is easier

The almost vertical nature of the bottom slope makes adding more floors on top easier. In comparison to more popular roofing styles like Gable or Hip roofs, the bottom slope allows for more flexibility.

Using a Mansard roof makes perfect sense if you currently do not have the budget to add more floors to your house but want or need the flexibility to expand your house in the future.

3. Aesthetic Worth

Although appearances are subjective, there is no denying that Mansard roofs have an elegant design, owing to their prominence in Renaissance French architecture. Furthermore, in areas where they are not commonly found, this roofing style will look more sophisticated and, if properly executed, may even be a head turner.

Labels:
Location: 143 Franciscan Rd, London SW17 8DS, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Things You Must Do Before Refurbishing Your Property

10 Things You Must Do Before Refurbishing Your Property Introduction Home is the place where you wish to be with all your heart. We love to retain the home in all its old glory. But, sometimes it becomes necessary to renovate and refurbish it. The existing structure of the house can be upgraded in a way to match the current trends and provide the best of facilities. It improves the usability and the efficiency of all the available resources. This can be done in the best way through property refurbishment in South London. Things You Must Do Before Property Refurbishment Property refurbishment is a technique which is adopted by most of the people who want to modernize and upgrade their houses without buying a new one. Some of the essential things to be done before refurbishing your property are: Know what exactly you want: Define your requirements according to your needs. Plan a budget: It is essential to know your finances and not get burdened by the property refurbish...
7 comments
Read more

5 Smart Tips for Adding Style to Your Loft Conversion

It might be tucked away in the roof, but your loft conversion in Southwest London doesn’t have to settle on an outdated style. Yes, you will have practical consideration such as reduced headroom, sloping ceilings, and access points to consider, but with the smart tips below you can also build a beautiful space. 1. Make Your Loft a Feature Room Your loft space can be remodelled up to a point. However, you will have to work with specific features like sloping ceilings, roof beams and other structural elements. Rather trying to hide all these features and build a square box, use them to offer some character to your loft room. 2. Go for An Open Plan En-Suite Adding even a small bathroom to your loft conversion will enhance the value of your property. The answer is to go for an open plan en-suite, making the bathroom a feature of your bedroom. Of course, you’ll want to hide away the toilet, but this can be done with clever use of opaque glazed walls or partitions. ...
2 comments
Read more

Property Refurbishment and Its Benefits

Property Refurbishment South London There is a lot that lingers in the mind of homeowners when the topic is all about property refurbishment . While it takes time, effort, and money to pull through any project as far as enhancing the value and appearance of a home is concerned, the rewards are worth it. So whether you want to renovate your house to increase its market value pending a sale or you simply want to add an alluring glamour, the results of the process come with timeless  benefits. Although at times many people are compelled to side with the thought "why revamp while it's not a must?" there is no question on both the subtle and visible advantages of refurbishing a property. That stated, here are some of the benefits of property refurbishment:- ·          Enhanced comfort and functionality Renovation not only gives you the chance to improve the overall appeal and usefulness of the house but it also allows hom...
Post a Comment
Read more