It’s often the small details that determine how well a building will serve your needs. If you are adding a new metal building to your property, you’ll want to take time to consider the little elements of the design and layout that will make it work effectively for you for years to come. One of those elements, the gable end roof overhang, is going to be the focus of this blog. 

Did you know that you can get started designing your new building right away? It’s possible by using the Build & Price tool here on our site. This tool allows you to try out different dimensions and building styles until you come up with something that you love. Should you have trouble with this tool, or should you need any extra assistance, just take a moment to contact us and we’ll be happy to assist.   

What is a Gable, Anyway?  

When you look at the side of a building that has a triangular shape with the roof lines sloping down to the right and left, you are looking at a gable. This is the type of thing you’ve seen a million times, even if you never quite knew what it was called. Technically, the gable itself is just the triangle at the top, but you can refer to the entire side of the building on that end as the “gable end”. A building with a gable roof will often have multiple gable ends, depending on the design of the structure.  

The topic at hand in this article is whether or not it is useful to have the roof overhand on the gable ends of your building. Often, the roof line will stop even with the wall in this part of the building, leaving all of the wall exposed to the elements. If you opt to overhang the roof by a certain distance, some protection will be provided. Gable end overhangs are certainly not necessary in all situations, they can be helpful, as we will discuss above.   

Overhang Gables: A Notable Advantage  

If you add an overhang to the gable end roof line, you will be adding extra protection for the structure from the elements. That means when it is raining, for example, less of that rain will be pelting against the side of the building. And, when it is snowing, less of the snow will pile up right at the foot of the wall.   

This is a benefit that can also be enjoyed in hot weather, as well. With the sun beating down, extended gable end roof lines will provide additional shade and help to keep your building a little cooler. This feature probably isn’t as important in sunny, hot climates as it is in cold and wet ones, but that extra bit of shade is nice.   

There is also the matter of aesthetics to consider. Some people just like how the building looks with extended roof overhangs on the gable ends. Take a look at some pictures of buildings with and without this feature so you can more easily decide for yourself if it is something that you would like to include.   

Are Extended Gable End Overhangs Necessary?  

Simply put, no – extended gable end overhangs are not necessary. Would they be a good addition to your building? That’s for you to decide. As mentioned above, you can look at other buildings to see what you think of their styling, and you can spend some time thinking about how this feature may benefit you from a practical perspective. For example, if the gable end is going to have a door at the bottom of the wall, the overhang might be nice to keep some of the precipitation away from the door when coming and going.   

Of course, since adding this feature means adding more overall material to the design, it is going to increase the cost of your building project. However, that increase might be a modest one, so it may still be worth it to you when comparing the cost to the benefits that you will enjoy.   

Build a Custom Building with a Gable End Roof Overhang 

Whether or not this particular feature is something you want to add to your new building is yet to be seen. The important thing is that you pay attention to these details during the design process, so you love the finished product right from day one. Turn to the team here at American Steel Carports, Inc. for support and let’s work together to create the ideal building on your property.