While roof overhangs are a part of your home, they don’t have to be merely utilitarian. They can delight the eye as much as your front door, window frames or siding. Here are some ideas.
Materials to Consider
You not only can choose different types of roof overhangs, but you can use different materials. They include natural wood, fiber cement, aluminum or other metals, PVC and vinyl. Wood doesn’t last as long as the other materials though it may be just the thing for traditional styles such as craftsman or stick. On the other hand, PVC and fiber cement are versatile and can last for several decades.
An Overhang With a Porch
One way to use a roof overhang creatively is to pair it with a porch. Install the overhang over a door and connect it with posts or pillars to a small porch. The porch can be further decorated with potted plants and even seating if there’s room. The overhang can be electrified to provide welcoming light in the evenings.
An Overhang With Decorative Brackets
Instead of posts supporting the overhang as they would for a porch, the overhang can be supported by brackets. These brackets can be simple or beautifully carved such as the gingerbread brackets found in some Caribbean homes. Dentil blocks and corbels inspired by ancient Greece can also be used for your overhangs.
An Overhang With a Balcony
Besides an overhang with a porch beneath it, you can opt for an overhang that supports a balcony. The balcony and its overhang can stretch the length of the house and can be large and robust enough to host a party. It can also be a Juliet balcony made of lacy wrought iron and just wide enough for a planter of geraniums.
A Pergola
A pergola can be a standalone structure or can be connected to your home and thus serve as a roof overhang. The top of a pergola is usually made of slats of various materials, and some homeowners allow climbing vines to grow up and over it. But the structure can also be outfitted with louvers or sails to protect the area from the sun.
Retractable Awnings
An awning also makes a perfectly good roof overhang, and it’s even better when it’s retractable. Awnings are often found over patios, but they’re also seen over windows. They not only protect against too much sun and rain but are surprisingly affordable, can come in colors and patterns that complement your house and are easy to operate.
Your roof overhang spares your home the ravages of the weather, but it can also be a beautiful design feature in and of itself. If you live in Rochester, MN or a surrounding area and need roof replacement services, make your first call to Heyn Brothers Roofing.