Drive around Las Vegas and you'll see plenty of modern American rooftops; moderate pitches covered with materials such as asphalt shingles or concrete tiles abounding in an array of natural colors. Yet have you ever wondered why the dramatically different rooftop designs seen in more distant locations are as they are? From the beautiful and dramatic curved roofs of China to traditional Irish thatch, different types of roofs from around the world each serve a unique purpose.

Ideal Pitch and Material Depends on Locale

    Regardless of the material from which they are made, steep rooftops are typically associated with snowy climates, such as New England. Although many countries have switched from traditional roofing materials to more modern choices, materials such as thatch were used for centuries. Traditional Irish thatched roofs, for example, could be crafted with the ideal pitch and support structures to best meet the needs of the specific location using materials gathered on site or nearby.

Traditional Curved Rooftop Styles

     More exotic locations, such as China, boast some of the most dramatically different types of roofs compared to those we see here. With their graceful, sloping architecture and detail oriented workmanship, these roof designs were traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits and were very symbolic in nature. 

Modern Sloped Designs

     Slopes are not only used in Chinese architecture. In the West, a "sprung" roofing design allows metal roofing sheets to follow the contours of the roofing frame, creating either a convex or concave shape. The slopes are highly functional and provide a particularly striking appearance.