Hip Roof in Kirkland, WA

What a Hip Roof Is and How Its Parts Fit Together

A hip roof is a roof in which every side slopes down toward the walls, so the house has eaves all the way around and no vertical triangular gable walls. The outward angle where two of those slopes meet is called the hip, and the level line along the top is the ridge.

• Standard hip: four slopes with a ridge along the top.
• Pyramid hip: four triangular slopes that meet at a single peak, with no ridge line.
• Cross-hip: two or more hip sections joined together, which adds valleys where they meet.
• Dutch gable: a hip roof with a small gable at the top of each end.
• Half-hip (also called a clipped gable or jerkinhead): a gable roof whose peaks are cut back with short hip slopes.

Hip Roof vs. Gable Roof: Shape, Roofing and Upkeep Compared

A hip roof and a gable roof differ mainly at the ends of the house: the hip roof slopes down on every side, while the gable roof stops at a vertical triangular wall covered with siding. For a closer look at the other shape, see the King Roof Care guide to the gable end roof, and for a two-pitch design with steep lower slopes, the mansard roof guide.

Where a Hip Roof Needs the Closest Attention During a Roof Inspection

A hip roof inspection focuses on the joints, because a hip roof has more of them than a simple gable: a ridge, a hip line at every corner, and valleys wherever sections meet. A roof inspection from King Roof Care checks gutters along with shingles and flashing and comes with a report that offers insights and recommendations.

• Hip and ridge caps: loose, cracked, lifted or missing cap pieces along each diagonal hip and the ridge.
• Valleys on cross-hip roofs: debris buildup and worn roofing where two slopes drain together.
• Flashing at walls, chimneys, vents and skylights, where the roof meets anything that breaks through it.
• Gutters on every side: leaking seams, sagging runs and clogs along the full perimeter.
• The attic: signs of water and the condition of the ventilation, since a hip roof has no gable walls for wall vents.
• Moss on the slopes and caps, which can hold water against the roofing.

Roofing Materials for a Hip Roof: What King Roof Care Works With

Roofing materials on a hip roof have to be cut and finished at every hip, so the material choice also decides how the hips and ridge are capped. King Roof Care works with composition, asphalt shingle, wood shake, presidential shingle, PVC and metal roofing systems.

• Composition and asphalt shingles: cut along each hip and valley, then covered at the hips and ridge with cap shingles.
• Architectural shingles: a dimensional shingle style; the architectural roof shingles guide explains how they differ from basic shingles.
• Presidential shingles: a layered-look shingle style, with hips and ridge capped to match.
• Wood shake: hips and ridge finished with shake cap pieces cut to the roof lines.
• Metal: panels are cut at each hip and closed with trim; King Roof Care also repairs metal roofs for corrosion, damaged panels and sealing.
• PVC: a membrane for low-slope and flat sections, such as a porch or addition, rather than the sloped hip planes.

How King Roof Care Replaces a Hip Roof, Step by Step

A hip roof replacement with King Roof Care follows the documented sequence the company uses for every roof replacement; on a hip roof, the hips, ridge, valleys and perimeter are the places where each step shows.

• On-site inspection of the roof, the attic and the ventilation, noting anything that affects the work.
• Written estimate with the exact scope and materials before any work starts.
• Tear-off and haul-away of the existing roofing, then inspection of the roof deck, with damaged sheathing replaced as needed.
• New underlayment, plus ice-and-water protection where the roof requires it.
• Flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and other roof penetrations.
• Starter course, new roofing and ridge caps.
• Full cleanup once the work is done.

What to Compare in a Hip Roof Estimate

A hip roof estimate is easier to compare when every bid describes the same scope, because a hip roof has more cut lines, caps and edges than a plain two-slope roof. King Roof Care provides a written estimate with the exact scope and materials before any work starts, so each of these questions can be checked line by line:

• Is tear-off and haul-away included, and how is damaged decking handled?
• Which underlayment is used, and where does ice-and-water protection go?
• How are the hips and ridge capped, and with which cap product?
• Is flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys, vents and skylights replaced or reused?
• Did the attic inspection call for any ventilation changes?
• Are gutters on all sides part of the job, or quoted separately?
• Is the roofing named exactly, including product line and color?
• Is full cleanup included at the end?

Hip Roof Mistakes That Cause Rework

Hip roof rework usually traces back to the joints and edges rather than the open field of the roof. The points below are general guidance for homeowners planning repair or replacement, not a description of any single job.

• Reusing tired flashing at walls and chimneys under new roofing.
• Covering soft or damaged sheathing instead of replacing it.
• Treating hip and ridge caps as an afterthought, with mismatched or poorly seated pieces.
• Skipping the attic and ventilation check on a roof that has no gable walls for vents.
• Replacing the roof but leaving leaking or sagging gutters around the perimeter.
• Leaving moss in place on slopes and caps.
• Climbing onto a sloped roof to check it yourself; leave roof access to a professional.

Hip Roof Repair and Maintenance Across Kirkland, Bothell, Everett, Issaquah and Redmond

Hip roof problems that do not call for a full replacement, such as a lifted hip cap or a leak at a chimney, fall under roof repair. King Roof Care's repair work includes leak detection, shingle replacement, flashing repair, and structural repairs such as reinforcing trusses and fixing sagging areas.

Frequently asked questions