What is a Clerestory Roof?

While clerestory roofs are a unique design feature, they also have practical advantages.
Cons:

What is a Clerestory Roof Design?

The rest of the roof features different designs that work together for a custom look.
The purpose of a clerestory roof is to maximize natural light and allow for ventilation. But, even though these roofs add to the looks and function of a home, they require a lot of maintenance.
If you’d like to see examples of a clerestory roof, here are some images to draw inspiration.

The Pros and Cons of Clerestory Roofs

A clerestory roof is a short vertical wall that sits on top of a roof. The design allows daylight to enter the home and can sometimes help with solar heat gain. But even though clerestory roofs add a unique detail to a roof line, they come with a fair share of potential problems.
The clerestory roof on this modern home spans from chimney to chimney, highlighting a row of short windows. The roof features a mix of materials – shingles and metal, which helps draw attention to clerestory design.

• Increased natural light while maintaining privacy – Since clerestory windows are on a roofline, they provide privacy while allowing natural light into the home.
• Ventilation – Some building designs incorporate these roofs to increase ventilation.
• Solar heat gains – If you live in a cold climate, clerestory roofs can help with solar heat gain when north-facing.
• Aesthetics – Clerestory roofs have a unique look.

Pros:

• Allow a place for heat to escape – Even though north-facing windows allow for solar gains, these windows also give heat a place to escape if the windows aren’t airtight.
• Obstructive light – If you live in an area with many streetlights, the light can enter your home at night through the windows.
• Hard-to-find window coverings – Finding window blinds or shades for clerestory windows can be challenging.
• Upkeep – With a row of windows in a clerestory roof comes the maintenance of keeping the windows in good condition, checking for air leaks, and replacing them when needed.

What’s the Difference Between a Roof Monitor and Clerestory Roof?

A clerestory roof is a vertical wall with a row of windows above the roof line. These roofs feature two sloping sides – one under the row of windows and one on top.

Examples of a Clerestory Roof

If you want a clerestory roof, purchase high-quality windows suitable for your climate. If you try to skimp on window quality, you can end up with a less energy-efficient home.

Rustic Mountain Home with Clerestory Roof

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A clerestory roof highlights a row of windows. Its design features a short vertical wall on top of a roof. The windows allow light to flood into a space while still providing privacy. And in some instances, clerestory roofs can increase the energy efficiency of homes.

Contemporary Home with a Clerestory Roof

You can customize your clerestory roof by choosing the type of windows you’d like. Many modern clerestory roofs feature fixed windows. These windows don’t open, which helps them keep an airtight seal.

Clerestory Roof on a Modern Farmhouse

A roof monitor is a raised structure built on a double-sloped roof. Roof monitors can be of various sizes and sometimes look like mini-buildings on top of a house. Clerestory roofs feature only one short vertical wall sitting between two slopes. Both designs are often filled with windows but look quite different.

Final Thoughts

You can pronounce clerestory as “clear-story.”
There are no minimum or maximum windows for a clerestory roof, as this number depends on how big the windows are. You can use one large, horizontal window to several small ones.
The row of windows on this modern farmhouse adds to the contemporary look while allowing natural light to enter the home. The clerestory roof adds height to this house, drawing the eye up.