Flat, Skillion or Gable: Choosing a Carport Roof

Choosing between a flat roof, a skillion carport and a gable carport is mostly about how the carport will look with your house, how much headroom you need and how much you want to spend. Each style works in Adelaide conditions when it is designed and drained properly.

This guide explains the three common carport roof designs, their pros and cons, and how to match the roof to your home.

The three carport roof designs

Most carports in Adelaide use one of three roof shapes: flat, skillion or gable. Here is how they compare.

	Flat roof	Skillion	Gable
Shape	Single plane, very low fall	Single plane, noticeable slope	Two slopes meeting at a central ridge
Look	Low-profile, minimal	Modern, angular	Traditional, matches pitched roofs
Headroom	Lowest	More at the high side	Most, with an open roof space
Drainage	Relies on correct fall and gutters	Good, water runs to one side	Very good, sheds water both ways
Ventilation	Good	Good	Very good, heat rises into the gable
Build complexity	Simplest	Simple	Most involved
Relative cost	Generally lowest	Generally low	Generally higher
Suits	Modern homes, side setbacks, tight spaces	Contemporary homes, attached carports	Character homes, pitched-roof houses, front of property

Flat roof carport

A flat roof carport is the simplest and usually the most economical option. It is not truly flat: it has a gentle fall so rainwater runs to the gutter.

Pros

• Clean, low-profile look that suits modern homes
• Fewer components and a quicker build
• Works well in side setbacks and under eaves where height is limited
• Easy to attach to the fascia of a single-storey home

Cons

• Less headroom than other styles
• Can look plain against a pitched-roof house
• Needs the right fall and gutters to drain winter rain properly
• Leaves can collect on the roof under nearby trees

Skillion carport

A skillion carport has a single roof plane with a more noticeable slope. It is closely related to the flat roof, and the two terms are often used to mean the same thing.

Pros

• Sharp, contemporary look
• Good drainage, with water running to one side
• More headroom on the high side, useful for taller vehicles
• The slope can be angled away from the house or the boundary

Cons

• Can look out of place on a traditional home
• The high side needs to be planned so it does not block windows or views
• One side carries all the runoff, so gutter and downpipe sizing matters

Gable carport

A gable carport has two roof slopes meeting at a central ridge, like a traditional house roof. It is the most involved to build, but it often looks the most at home on a pitched-roof house.

Pros

• Matches traditional and pitched-roof homes
• More headroom and an open, airy feel underneath
• Hot air rises into the gable, keeping the space cooler in summer
• Sheds rain quickly in both directions
• Strong street appeal at the front of a property

Cons

• More framing, cutting and labour, so it costs more
• Taller overall, which can affect approval in some locations
• Needs enough width to look balanced

The gable end can be left open or finished with an infill panel, which adds to the look of the frontage.

Drainage, gutters and runoff

Every carport roof needs a plan for where the water goes. Adelaide’s winter rain and the occasional summer downpour can send a lot of water off a roof in a short time.

• Flat roof: relies on a consistent fall to the gutter. Too little fall and water can pond on the sheeting.
• Skillion: all runoff goes to the low side, so the gutter and downpipes need to be sized and positioned for it.
• Gable: water splits to both sides, which means gutters on two edges.

Think about where downpipes will discharge. Water running across the driveway or towards the house is a common annoyance that is easy to avoid at the design stage.

Headroom and clearance

Headroom matters more than many people expect. Measure the height of your tallest vehicle, including roof racks, and allow for a taller car in future.

A skillion roof gives more height on one side, which can be angled to suit the driveway. A gable gives the most open feel underneath. A flat roof is the lowest, which suits tight spaces under eaves but can limit taller vehicles, caravans or boats.

Matching the carport roof to your house

The best carport roof design is usually the one that looks like it belongs to the house. A few guidelines help.

• Pitched or hipped roof: a gable carport pitched to match often looks the most natural, especially at the front.
• Flat or skillion roof: a flat or skillion carport continues the modern lines.
• Character home: villas and bungalows in Adelaide’s inner suburbs often suit a gable with matching details. Heritage overlays can also affect design, so check with your council.
• Two-storey home: a flat or skillion roof can sit neatly under upper-floor windows.
• Carport out of sight: at the side or rear, a simpler roof may be all you need.

Matching the roof pitch, colour and trims to your house makes a big difference to how the carport looks from the street.

Colorbond roofing for carports

Colorbond steel is the most common roofing on Adelaide carports. It is durable, handles hot summers and winter rain well, and comes in a wide range of colours. Choosing a colour that matches or complements your house roof, gutters and trims helps the carport blend in.

Lighter colours reflect more heat, which helps keep the space underneath cooler in summer. Darker colours can look sharp, but absorb more heat. In coastal suburbs, ask about steel products suited to salt air, and check the manufacturer’s warranty conditions for your location.

For a carport you also use as an outdoor area, insulated roof panels are another option that keeps the space cooler and quieter in the rain.

How roof style affects the cost

Roof style is one of the clearer factors in carport price. In general terms, a flat roof is the most economical, a skillion is similar, and a gable costs more because of the extra framing and labour.

Size, attached or freestanding design, site conditions and extras matter too. Our guide to carport cost in Adelaide explains each factor and how to read a quote line by line.

Approvals and roof style

Most carports in South Australia need some form of approval, whatever the roof style. Height, position on the block and any heritage or bushfire overlays can all affect what is allowed, and a taller gable roof may need more consideration near a boundary.

Check with your council or PlanSA, and read our guide to carport and verandah council approval in South Australia. We help with approvals for the carports we build.

Still deciding?

If you are weighing up a carport against a garage, our carport vs garage guide compares protection, cost factors and flexibility. If you want a covered outdoor area at the back of the house too, a verandah can be designed in the same roof style so the two structures match.

Next step

The easiest way to choose a roof style is to see the options against your own house. Have a look at our carports in Adelaide page, then send us a few photos of your home and driveway through the quote form or call 0485 008 292. We get back to you within 24–48 hours to arrange an on-site measure, then provide a written, itemised quote.