Is Tiny House Roof Overhang Good? (Your Questions Answered)

Roof overhangs are a stylish and simple way to increase your tiny home’s appeal and overall functionality. Tiny house roof overhang refers to how much of the roof’s edging hangs over your tiny house’s exterior frame.

While roof overhangs definitely add an extra layer of weather protection and wind resistance, you’ll need to think of the lifestyle you plan on having while living in your tiny house before making the jump to install one.

Below, I’ll help explain the do’s and don’t of including tiny house roof overhang on your property and why it might just be the perfect addition to your tiny house. 

Do tiny house roofs overhang?

Tiny house roofs usually don’t overhang, but that doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t.

Actually, having an overhang to your roof on a tiny house may even offer more protection than a regular fit-to-size roofing option.

Similar to a tiny house awning, a roof overhang can help shade windows during hot weather, and direct rain and snow further away from your house, and can even provide wind resistance.

However, there are some cases when an overhang just isn’t right for a tiny house roof.

For instance, if you plan on having a tiny house on wheels, having a roof overhang may not work because your roofing structure may hang over traffic lines into other lanes or interfere with obstacles in the road.  

Is overhang necessary for tiny house roofs?

While it’s not necessary for tiny houses, a roof overhang is definitely a welcomed addition to a tiny house.

Roof overhangs are highly recommended for tiny houses that are in wetter climates.

The roof overhang keeps the exterior and foundation of your tiny house dry, or at least drier than without an overhang, which can help extend the lifetime of your tiny house.

With a tiny house roof overhang, you can even open your windows on a rainy day to let some fresh air in without worrying about the consequences of the wet weather. 

Roof overhangs also help regulate the temperature of your tiny house.

During warmer days, a roof overhang helps block out direct sunlight, helping to keep your tiny house cool. In the winter, the roof overhang won’t block the sun.

Another advangage to tiny house roof overhangs is that they faciliate decorations and ornaments that can be hung from them.

Types of tiny house roofs with overhang

There are many tiny roof styles and pitches, but not all of them are suited to host overhangs.

Below are examples of three of the most typical roof types for tiny houses that overhangs can be built on, as well as one that isn’t so ideal.

Gable

Gable roofs are the most typical type of roof that has an overhang for tiny houses.

Gable roofs are classic and sophisticated looking, while also providing a perfect pitch level to allow a roof overhang.

Below is a video that depicts how to build and install a tiny house gable roof overhang. 

Gambrel

Tiny house gambrel roofs have two symmetrical sides, with each slide having two slopes and one slow being steeper while the other is more shallow. 

While gambrels aren’t the usual first thought when thinking about roof styles that can support an overhang, they’re a pretty solid choice.

Saltbox

Saltbox roofs have a slightly off-peak center and provide more room for lofting and storage.

However, saltbox roofing usually requires more reinforcement than other roofs, since the weight is off-center.

This can affect how far your saltbox roof overhangs can extend, so if you do decide to go with a saltbox roof with an overhang it may be best to have a professional install it. 

Shed

Shed roofs are very common in the tiny house community, providing plenty of lofting space due to their signature slant.

These are single-sloped roofs, however, so typically only three sides of your tiny house’s roof will be able to have an overhang. 

How much your tiny house roof overhang should be

Regardless of the roof pitch, a tiny house overhang generally should not surpass 2 feet, as materials begin to lose their structural integrity and start to require forms of external support.

There are cases where you can extend your tiny house roof overhang further than 2 feet, but this will also require more expensive materials.

The biggest notable difference between the previously mentioned roofing styles and their overhang capabilities is that if you do decide to go with a shed roof, one side of your house won’t have an overhang due to the roof’s design.