The Maybe Forever – Roof Details
Gutter Gutter Fascia Fascia Box End Box End Eaves Eaves Roof Material Downpipe Barge Board Gable

Gutter

Definition:

A trough that runs along the roof's edge to catch and direct rainwater.

Care Factor:

Low to Mid—You want to understand the style and be able to specify the colour. Usually, your gutter will be the same as your roof colour unless you want to feature it, like in heritage-style homes.

Gutter

Definition:

A trough that runs along the roof's edge to catch and direct rainwater.

Care Factor:

Low to Mid—You want to understand the style and be able to specify the colour. Usually, your gutter will be the same as your roof colour unless you want to feature it, like in heritage-style homes.

Fascia

Definition:

The horizontal board along the edge of the roof that supports the gutter.

Care Factor:

Low — It is more about what colour you want; this is something that will need to be specified for your painter.

Fascia

Definition:

The horizontal board along the edge of the roof that supports the gutter.

Care Factor:

Low — It is more about what colour you want; this is something that will need to be specified for your painter.

Box End

Definition:

A closed-off section at the end of a roof, where the barge board meets the fascia.

Care Factor:

Very Low—There is no real care factor as an owner; it is just about understanding what it is and where it is on the roof if you hear your builder or tradies talking about it.

Box End

Definition:

A closed-off section at the end of a roof, where the barge board meets the fascia.

Care Factor:

Very Low—There is no real care factor as an owner; it is just about understanding what it is and where it is on the roof if you hear your builder or tradies talking about it.

Eaves

Definition:

The part of the roof that hangs over the walls, providing shade and protection.

Care Factor:

Mid to High—You will want to know what style you are after. This is where you may want to use lining boards to add more character, or your builder may want to use sheets, which would mean you have joint strips (not the biggest fan of this). So it pays to understand what is happening here, as you will see this.

Eaves

Definition:

The part of the roof that hangs over the walls, providing shade and protection.

Care Factor:

Mid to High—You will want to know what style you are after. This is where you may want to use lining boards to add more character, or your builder may want to use sheets, which would mean you have joint strips (not the biggest fan of this). So it pays to understand what is happening here, as you will see this.

Roof Material

Definition:

The stuff your roof is made of, like tiles, metal, or shingles.

Care Factor:

High - as the roof material and colour will have a big impact on the facade of your home (most of the time).

Downpipe

Definition:

A pipe that carries rainwater from the gutter down to the ground.

Care Factor:

Mid to High—Understand what your downpipes will be made from. In Australia, downpipes can be made from materials like PVC, which can be painted to blend in with the house (very common), metal, stainless steel, copper, and chains. Each offers different benefits in terms of durability, cost, and appearance. Like lots of things in building, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Barge Board

Definition:

A decorative board that hides the roof’s edge on the side of a sloped roof.

Not all roofs require a barge board. Barge boards are typically used on gable roofs (like in the drawing), but roofs with different designs, like hip roofs, often don’t have barge boards. Instead, the roof edge is usually finished with fascia or other trim.

Care Factor:

Mid—If your roof has a barge board, your main concern is understanding your colours. Do you want to feature the barge board or blend it in? Both have a place; it just depends on the style of your home.

Gable

Definition:

The triangular part of a wall at the end of a sloped roof.

Gables are most associated with a gable roof (which is pretty self-explanatory), but they can also appear in other roof styles, like hip and valley roofs or dormer windows, where a gable is included as part of the design.

Care Factor:

Mid to high—Think about whether you want any detail on the gable. Often, vertical battens are used to create more of a feature. You need to think about your colours. Do you want it the one colour? If using trims, are they to contrast? You will need these details for your painter.