Mansard Roof

A mansard roof is defined as a four-sided roof design with two slopes on each side, where the lower slope is nearly vertical and the upper slope is nearly flat, creating maximum usable space under the roof. Unlike a gambrel roof which has only two sides, a mansard roof wraps around all four sides of the building. Mansard roofs require specialized installation techniques and typically cost 20% to 40% more to replace than a standard gable or hip roof due to the steep lower slope and increased material requirements.