| GAMBREL | GABLE |
| WALL GABLE | HIP ROOF | FLAT ROOF |
On top of these various-shaped blocks, which these plans will form, a roof must be erected. Here again one would think that the architectural motifs would be quite varied, and yet when the matter is studied it is not the case. There are only five fundamental shapes of roofs which can be placed upon these blocks, and two of these types are really the same, and another ought not to be employed, so that, after all, there are actually only three fundamental roof motifs to use. These are the gable roof, the gambrel roof, and the hip roof. The wall-gable roof is merely a type of end treatment for the gable roof, and the flat roof is not suited to the average small house in the country or suburbs, because of traditions.
AB
These two houses are ugly as sin, yet are considered very practical. All rooms on 2nd floor are square and cellars are high and dry.
C
This house is considered impractical, because rooms on 2ⁿᵈ floor are not square and are lighted with dormers, and the cellar is low and partly omitted. But architecturally something can be said of it.