ᐅ Which Roof Style Is Best for a Challenging Building Layout?
Created on: 21 Dec 2025 21:09
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Bauherrin2024
Hello everyone,
Our plot (Bavaria) has a very restrictive development plan from 1981. It allows a pitched roof with dormers (I+D), no knee wall, no dormers, gable or hip roof, with a pitch of 18-35°. We recently had a pre-consultation with the building authority and submitted a preliminary inquiry. The following was proposed:
Two full stories, maximum eaves height 6 m (20 feet), gable, hip, or flat roof.
BUT: maximum roof pitch 10 degrees. (I had requested 18 degrees, which would not have required a special exemption.)
Alternatively:
Still pitched roof with dormers (I+D), knee wall max. 1 m (3.3 feet), then the roof pitch can be increased to 42 degrees.
I understand that they want to limit the maximum building height. At first, I was very happy that they would actually approve two full stories, as I would prefer to avoid roof slopes. But the more I read, the more disappointed I become. A gable or hip roof with a 10-degree pitch doesn’t seem like such a great idea, both stylistically and because it would require an expensive, watertight subroof construction. We would least prefer a flat roof because we imagine a “nice, warm house with red tiles and yellow facade color.” At most, a flat roof with 10 degrees (which would be more like a single-pitch roof?) combined with tiles and roof overhang.
I am really confused. Could you share your thoughts on this? If anything is unclear, feel free to ask :-) Many thanks!!
Our plot (Bavaria) has a very restrictive development plan from 1981. It allows a pitched roof with dormers (I+D), no knee wall, no dormers, gable or hip roof, with a pitch of 18-35°. We recently had a pre-consultation with the building authority and submitted a preliminary inquiry. The following was proposed:
Two full stories, maximum eaves height 6 m (20 feet), gable, hip, or flat roof.
BUT: maximum roof pitch 10 degrees. (I had requested 18 degrees, which would not have required a special exemption.)
Alternatively:
Still pitched roof with dormers (I+D), knee wall max. 1 m (3.3 feet), then the roof pitch can be increased to 42 degrees.
I understand that they want to limit the maximum building height. At first, I was very happy that they would actually approve two full stories, as I would prefer to avoid roof slopes. But the more I read, the more disappointed I become. A gable or hip roof with a 10-degree pitch doesn’t seem like such a great idea, both stylistically and because it would require an expensive, watertight subroof construction. We would least prefer a flat roof because we imagine a “nice, warm house with red tiles and yellow facade color.” At most, a flat roof with 10 degrees (which would be more like a single-pitch roof?) combined with tiles and roof overhang.
I am really confused. Could you share your thoughts on this? If anything is unclear, feel free to ask :-) Many thanks!!
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nordanney22 Dec 2025 09:06Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
Would a shed roof with a 10-degree slope be possible using tiles and roof overhang? I want to avoid that shoebox look,Just speaking from a visual standpoint. Your preference is:Honestly? What’s the visual difference compared to a shoebox with a “real” flat roof?
Papierturm22 Dec 2025 09:26Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
Thank you all very much for your many helpful responses! When I mentioned one-and-a-half stories in the preliminary building inquiry, I had hoped for a higher knee wall (1.50 m (5 feet) was submitted), but it was reduced to a maximum of 1 m (3 feet 3 inches). Since the sloped ceilings then seem quite limiting to me, I would generally prefer two full stories. Briefly, because I’m on my phone:
Knee wall heights between 1–2.2 m (3 feet 3 inches–7 feet 3 inches) are a “zone” to avoid. Depending on height, decent windows aren’t possible there.
Either keep it up to 1 m (3 feet 3 inches) (preferably somewhat lower, which is why I previously said I would go for around 75 cm (30 inches) knee wall height), or start at 2.30 m (7 feet 7 inches).
In between, you won’t get nice windows.
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Bauherrin202422 Dec 2025 09:30nordanney schrieb:
Just for the look. Your wish is:
Honestly? Where is the visual difference compared to a simple box house with a "real" flat roof? Well, if I may be honest... I think the roof overhang and the tiles (which you can at least somewhat see) make it much nicer than a plain cube without a roof :'D
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Bauherrin202422 Dec 2025 09:32Papierturm schrieb:
Briefly, because I’m on my phone:
Knee walls between 1–2.2m (3 ft 3 in – 7 ft 3 in) are the “zone” to avoid. Depending on your height, you can’t fit proper windows there.
Either keep the knee wall up to a maximum of 1m (preferably a bit lower, which is why I suggested around 75cm (30 inches)), or start from 2.3m (7 ft 7 in).
In between, you won’t get good windows. I don’t quite understand. Are you referring to roof windows? On the non-roof side, you can usually have full-height windows in the center, and on the roof side there aren’t any windows in the wall anyway.
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nordanney22 Dec 2025 09:41Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
To be completely honest.. I think the roof overhang and the tiles (which you can at least catch a glimpse of)Oh, so you can’t see any tiles at all ;-) Then build a flat roof with an overhang. You can find hundreds of different options online. And as you’ve already said yourself, you can guess the "roof," but you can’t actually see it.
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wiltshire22 Dec 2025 10:10@Bauherrin2024: Your uncertainty is completely normal. To reassure you: almost any roof design can provide a good home in the end. To reach a clear decision, my recommendation is to create a collection of pictures of houses you like—exterior views, interior views, and so on. Describe what you like about each picture and what positive feelings it evokes in you. You will notice that different images highlight very different aspects, while some features will be recurring. With this collection and your descriptions, approach an architect—not to have them combine all aspects into one design, but so they get to know you and can offer targeted advice. If the architect enjoys engaging in this process, you are probably in the right place. Be open to surprises from their proposals.
Using this method, you lay the groundwork for a good decision.
What others here might find “beautiful” or “visible” doesn’t matter for your project. Functional concerns are different; here, you have plenty of experience to help you ask and answer the right questions.
Using this method, you lay the groundwork for a good decision.
What others here might find “beautiful” or “visible” doesn’t matter for your project. Functional concerns are different; here, you have plenty of experience to help you ask and answer the right questions.
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