Roofs – What do you call a roof that slopes in four directions? Identify the correct term for a roof form in which all sides slope downwards from a ridge or apex, providing slopes in four directions.

Introduction / Context:
Roof geometry affects drainage, wind response, and architectural character. Different common forms include shed, gable, hip, gambrel, and butterfly. The question asks for the name of the form with slopes on all four sides of the plan footprint, typical in many residential buildings.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Roof has four sloping faces meeting at a ridge or a point.
• No vertical gable walls at the ends.
• Conventional timber or truss framing context.

Concept / Approach:

A hipped roof replaces gable end walls with sloping hip ends, creating four roof planes that shed water on all sides. This contrasts with a gable roof, which has two sloping faces and vertical gable walls. A gambrel roof has two slopes on each of two opposite sides (barn roof). A shed roof has a single slope; a butterfly roof has two inward slopes meeting in the middle.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Architectural standards and codes define hip roofs with four sloping planes; typical details show hips and valleys formed by rafters or trusses.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

They describe different geometries with fewer or differently arranged slopes.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing gambrel with hip; using “gable-end” to describe any pitched roof; overlooking the absence of gable walls in a true hip.

Final Answer:

Hipped roof