15 Top Sawtooth Roofs Advantages and Disadvantages | Benefits of Sawtooth Roof | Install Sawtooth Roof

What is Sawtooth Roof? |  Sawtooth Roofs Advantages and Disadvantages | Who Uses Sawtooth Roofs? | Benefits of Sawtooth Roof | How to Install a Sawtooth Roof | Sawtooth Design Pros and Cons

What are Sawtooth Roofs?

Sawtooth roofs are a style of roof with numerous, upward-sloping, outward-facing sloped roofs that form a sawtooth pattern. The name refers to the distinctive shape of the roof. The benefits of a sawtooth roofs are that they provide excellent ventilation and light penetration due to the roof’s shape.

Historically, it is said that the sawtooth roof was used to allow snow to slide off the roof more easily. These roofs are also popular because they provide shade while still allowing light in.

In some areas of the country, a sawtooth roof is considered one of the most creative and unique designs. These roofs are usually found on older, traditional houses.

The roof is designed to maintain the use of natural light and the benefits of the sun. Many of these homes have windows on the sides of the building, but the windows are typically on one side only.

They are designed to be a passive solar design with a better insulation for no air leaks. These roofs are also designed to be an efficient design for rain drainage, water collection and storm water flow management.

Sawtooth roofs were designed by the British architect, William Fairbairn. They are also known as “sloping roofs”. The idea is to use a pitched roof to maximize the amount of usable roof space while utilizing the natural slope of the roof.

Who Uses Sawtooth Roofs?

During the industrial revolution, sawtooth design was quickly adopted for the numerous new daylight factories where abundant natural lighting was important in the manufacturing process and large spans of enclosed space were required to house the machinery.

When artificial lighting became widespread, its use declined, but the design re-emerged in the last quarter of the twentieth century and early twenty-first century, as architects and designers placed greater emphasis and value on incorporating natural light into buildings for environmental efficiency.

The increasing expense of fossil fuels and the understanding that electrical sources have a limited lifespan are two of the reasons for the growing interest in daylighting. The less tangible parts of daylighting are primarily concerned with the human spirit and the quality of life.

The sawtooth shape, which is commonly seen on factory roofs, has received accolades for its renewable energy potential. The judges of the British Construction Industry’s prize highlighted that the unusual design allows for the installation of solar panels.

Sawtooth roofs, in which opaque modular parts are coupled with transparent surfaces, whether inclined or in a variety of shapes, have resurfaced.

The precise dimensioning of these roofs is critical, both in terms of energy savings  and visibility clarity.

How to Install a Sawtooth Roof

Sawtooth Roofs are steep, sloping roof with a long backward slope that resembles the teeth of a saw. Sawtooth roof configurations use sharply sloped triangular shaped planes which can add to the attractiveness of a house.

This type of roof was once made of wood, but these days it’s most often made from shingles or metal.

The sloping roof has to be installed before the lower panels can be fitted in place. This means that the roof angle needs to be designed first.

The angle of the sawtooth roof will always depend on how much load it has to carry. Each roof piece is built in sections, with a shallower slope pitch of 15-25 degrees will be preferred, while the translucent parts structure that is steeper has a pitch of 50-70 degrees.

Another significant factor to consider is the gutters on sawtooth roofs. When selecting gutters, ensure that they are tough enough to hold a high volume of water during heavy rain.

If you wish to install box gutters, you will need to maintain them on a regular basis to keep them from drooping and leaking. Box gutter drains are prone to gathering dirt and leaves, causing blockage within the gutters.

Sawtooth roofs are easy to install when done by a qualified roofer.

Benefits of Sawtooth Roof

The sawtooth shape was designed to facilitate in the provision of enough lighting in interior spaces prior to the popular use of electric lighting.

The design intended to harness ‘daylighting,’ which refers to certain building tactics and procedures that maximize the good impacts (primarily light and warmth) of enabling sunshine into a structure while minimizing concerns such as glare and warming.

Sawtooth roof buildings became less frequent as artificial lighting became more common – conversely, they remained but had the glass panels replaced with solid materials such as metal.

With renewed emphasis in energy conservation, the sawtooth style has attracted increasing attention in recent years.

To increase the passive cooling qualities of sawtooth roofed structures, innovations such as cool roofs and radiant barriers have been created.

Without these additional elements, buildings with sawtooth roofs tend to overheat; however, if well planned, a sawtooth roof can provide significant benefits in terms of natural light and passive heating and cooling.

Sawtooth Roofs Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of Sawtooth Roofs

1. Sawtooth Roofs can be functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The main reason for the popularity of sawtooth roofs in the 21st century is that they are undoubtedly highly functional. They convert roof space areas into usable spaces.

Sawtooth Roofs are a great option for architects to help convert beautiful roof space areas into usable spaces that offer minimal maintenance requirements.

This makes them one of the most recommended and cost-effective materials in commercial buildings.

2. Sawtooth Roofs are tried and tested

Sawtooth Roofs can be considered as a tried and tested roofing system that have been in use for more than 100 years now and technology has continued to improve, driven mainly by the need to maximize energy efficiency and allow for easier solar installations.

3. Sawtooth Roofs are versatile

Sawtooth Roofs can be considered as a versatile roofing. They have many applications and they can be easily altered in shape and size to accommodate the desired design.

Some builders refer to them as multi-purpose roofs since they can be used for other than building purposes like garage roofs, home commercial roofs and even industrial roofs.

4. Sawtooth Roofs are eco-friendly and they help in saving energy usage costs.

Most sawtooth roofs can be installed with solar panels. This means that they operate on solar power thus producing zero carbon footprint.

Additionally, they use thermal insulation which keeps the home cool during hot seasons and also blocks cold air during winter months.

5.Can be used for high-rise buildings

Traditional roofs of high-rise buildings are meant to bear the weight of the building and the load that is accumulated on them. But sawtooth roofs, unlike conventional roofs, can carry a limited load thus they are safer.

When used on high-rise buildings, they are an excellent economical solution to reduce energy consumption

6. Easily provides high ceilings

Sawtooth roofs allow for more headroom and a better use of floor space. Since the roof is slanted, it is easier to install beams, columns and make the room visually appealing.

Sawtooth roofs allow for maximum headroom as compared to flat roofing. This contrasts with the fact that traditional roofs are often limited by the depths of internal walls, thus leading to room height restrictions.

Sawtooth Roofs are mostly available in heights up to 18 meters. But they can be customized in heights above 20 meters with additional cost and it can be done within a single day thus making installation easy.

7. Unique roof design

Sawtooth Roofs are often beneficial in improving the appearance of any building structure

Some sawtooth roofs such as those used on rooftop solar panels can be fitted with glazing that allows for natural light to filter through and this greatly improves a building’s appearance.

Disadvantages of Sawtooth Roofs

1. Sawtooth Roofs are prone to leaks

Leakage is the leading cause of roof failures and for roof systems that are not constructed properly, it can lead to dangerous condition.

Sawtooth Roofs can be more susceptible to leaks especially on roofs that are slanted or that have a high pitch T-shape roof angle.

This can lead to a lower degree of visibility for those who have homes near sawtooth roofs.

2. It has a low rate of durability

Sawtooth Roofs have a low rate of durability since they are meant to reduce the weight of the roof which inherently makes them prone to damage and maintenance issues.

They also have a high potential for leaks and this greatly affects their lifespan.

3. Not for everybody

Sawtooth Roofs are not suitable for roofs that have high pitch T-shape roofs or slanted roof slopes. They also should never be used on buildings that are weak and in need of structural support.

4. Lower energy efficiency

Sawtooth roof has lower energy efficiency because the material used, with its sharp, protrusions, doesn’t allow the roof to trap as much heat, which means less insulation is needed.

5. High Maintenance

Sawtooth Roofs are also one of the most expensive roof systems around. Therefore, it is important to take them care to enhance their lifespan and performance.

6. Reduced views

The slanted shape of sawtooth roofs can obstruct the view of nearby homes and buildings. However, since the material used is transparent, there is more space and less obstruction for those living near sawtooth roofs.

7. Not all sawtooth roofs are equal

Sawtooth Roofs are not all equal in performance and quality. Some of them may have lower performance while others may be faulty and prone to leaking or may not be suitable for high-rise structures or buildings that could potentially need structural support.

7. Expensive to construct

The cost of constructing Sawtooth Roofs can be relatively high and this means that the materials used are expensive thus increasing the overall cost of construction.

8. Not ideal for places prone to strong rain or snowfall.

Sawtooth roofs are more susceptible to leak after heavy rain or snowfall because they have several valleys, slopes, and windows. As a result, you should only select this type of roof if you reside in a relatively dry area.

Sawtooth Roof FAQs

1. Can sawtooth roofs be used on a home that is close to the ocean?

Yes, they can. Technically, more corrosion resistant can be used in the sawtooth roofs as most of the material used in their manufacturing process is resistant to acid rain.

2. Why are sawtooth roofs not commonly used?

Sawtooth Roofs require more maintenance than standard roofing systems hence they are not always suitable for developers, home buyers or building owners who want a low-maintenance system.

4. Does sawtooth roofing provide better insulation value than conventional roofs?

No. Sawtooth Roofs do not provide better insulation value since they are built with a T-shaped roof that allows people to see through them.

5. Is there any problem with the slippery slope on sawtooth roofs?

There is no problem if the slope angle is at about 20-30 degrees, however, if the angle is steeper than this, the sloping roof can cause serious safety issues.

6. Will sawtooth roofs provide better insulation value than conventional roofs?

Sawtooth Roofs are not any more suitable for most homes since they do not provide better insulation value than conventional roofs.

7. Do sawtooth roofing benefits outweigh the disadvantages?

There are several advantages of Sawtooth Roofs, however, DIY installation is limited since the instructions in their manual may not be sufficient enough to install a sawtooth roof. Not all sawtooth roofs may be suitable for you,

8. What do sawtooth roofing materials look like?

The material used in their manufacturing process is translucent and has a transparent appearance. Its color ranges from light yellow to green.

In order to ensure that your home looks amazing, it is important for home buyers or building owners to consider the color of sawtooth roofs especially if you do not want your home to look like a giant-shaped eyesore.

9. Can sawtooth roofing materials withstand heavy wind?

Sawtooth Roofs can withstand heavy wind by having an aerodynamic design. However, this greatly depends on the type of roofing material used.

10. How do you install sawtooth roofing?

Sawtooth Roofs can be installed by hiring a specialized company or a skilled professional to carry out the installation process.

It is important to note that many sawtooth roofs require frames and installations which are not always easy to assemble.

11. Are sawtooth roofing materials easily available?

The plastic that is used in most of the roofing systems are available in a wide range of colors and can be customized to suit your residential or commercial needs.

12. Are sawtooth roofing materials expensive?

Sawtooth Roofs are comparatively expensive making it hard for home buyers to decide whether or not they are affordable.

13. How is Sawtooth roof maintenance like?

Sawtooth Roofs require regular cleaning to ensure that they always look their best. It is important to note that some types of sawtooth roofs are more susceptible to dirt and dust than others, so you should take extra care when cleaning them.

14. What are some Sawtooth design pros and cons?

Sawtooth design Pros

• Natural lighting is easily achieved through high windows
• Awesome looking roof!
• Easily provides high ceilings
• Has plenty of space for solar panels

Sawtooth design Cons

• Due to the valleys of a sawtooth roof, it is definitely known as a high maintenance roof. Water can easily leak where the valleys fall if there is a blockage.
• Much more complex than other roofs, reflected by the price

15. What is Saw Tooth Roof?

A saw-tooth roof is made up of ridges with multiple pitches on either side. To protect employees and machines from direct sunlight, the steeper surfaces are glazed and face away from the equator. This type of roof allows natural light into a large building or factory.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century, before electric light replaced daylight, good daylight techniques were important.

The sawtooth roof, with its glass panels oriented away from the equator, hides the direct sun’s light and heat while providing uniform, natural light over a vast area. It was very important in the design of enterprises and buildings.

Sawtooth buildings have vertical or angled glass openings set in a sloped roof plane. Sawtooth roofs are most effective when utilized in a sequence of three, and were previously employed as the dominant light source in industrial and manufacturing buildings.

16. What are the Purposes of Saw Tooth Roofs?

Sawtooth roofs are frequent in large industrial buildings such as factories, and some even seem like a sequence of skillion roofs.

The primary purpose of these roofs is to enhance the quantity of natural light entering the area while avoiding glare and preventing extra heat.

Sawtooth roofs gained prominence as the globe shifted toward more energy-efficient building materials. This roofing type is always being improved and innovated in order to be more adaptable to offices and houses.

In reality, high-tech radiation barriers are expected to be included onto sawtooth roofs in order to boost cooling efficiency.