Roofs have a powerful role in determining the style of a house.
Even without the signature details that will enrich these houses, their character is conveyed by their roofs. The steep, clipped-off roof in the center says Colonial saltbox. The steeper-yet roof on the right announces a Gothic Revival house. The diagrams above illustrate three different styles of house. Even without any detail to describe the character of these houses, your eye picks up the general style of each one.