How to Build and Manage Roofs in RimWorld – A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re new to RimWorld, one of the first confusing elements you might encounter is the roofing system. While it may seem like a minor detail compared to fighting off raiders or taming a thrumbo, understanding how to properly build and manage roofs can mean the difference between a thriving colony and a sudden cave-in. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how roofs work in RimWorld, how to build and remove them safely, and how to use roofing to your strategic advantage. Whether you want to keep your colonists dry during a thunderstorm or avoid disasters caused by collapsed mountain ceilings, this guide covers everything beginners need in simple, easy-to-follow language.

Why Roofing Matters in RimWorld

Roofs are more than just cosmetic. They protect your colonists, animals, and items from the environment. A proper roof:

• Keeps out rain and snow that can damage items.
• Prevents temperature loss, which is critical in hot or cold biomes.
• Blocks sunlight, allowing for proper control of lighting and moods.
• Adds realism and depth to gameplay by introducing hazards like collapses.

If you don’t understand roofing, your food could spoil, colonists might get mood penalties, or worse, you could lose them to collapsing rock roofs.

Understanding the Different Types of Roofs

RimWorld includes two main types of roofs:

Constructed Roofs

• Made by your colonists.
• Lightweight and safe.
• Used when you build enclosed rooms.

Thick Rock Roofs

• Found naturally in mountains and caves.
• Very heavy—if unsupported, these can kill colonists in a collapse.
• They block all light and require significant effort to remove.

Thin Rock Roofs

• Also natural, but lighter than thick roofs.
• It can be removed with tools or through construction.
• Still dangerous if not managed properly.

Each roof type affects gameplay differently, and understanding which one you’re dealing with can save your colony.

How to Build Roofs: Step-by-Step

To create a roof, you don’t need to place a roof manually in most cases. Colonists will automatically build one when a room is enclosed by walls. But if you want more control, follow this process:

Step 1: Build Walls or Support Structures

Roofs are automatically created when you build four connected walls or place enough support pillars.

• Walls or columns must be no more than 6 tiles apart to support a roof.
• Larger gaps will result in unsupported tiles, which can cause collapses.

Step 2: Watch Roof Construction

Colonists with Construction skill will automatically start building a roof if the area qualifies.

• You can view the roofed area by pressing the “Toggle Roof” button (bottom right toolbar).
• Roofs appear as a faint green overlay when toggled on.

You may need to learn: commercial roofing systems

Step 3: Add Manual Roof Areas (Optional)

Go to Zones > Build Roof Area to manually assign roofing. This is useful when you want to roof over areas without walls (e.g., farming shelters, storage zones).

How to Remove or Control Roofs

Sometimes you don’t want a roof. Maybe you want open sky for solar panels, or need to prevent a collapse while mining. Here’s how to control them:

Removing Roofs

Use “Remove Roof Area” under Zones. This tells colonists to tear down roofs in selected areas.

• Colonists will only remove safe, constructed roofs by default.
• For dangerous natural roofs, you must first ensure proper supports or accept the risk.

Preventing Roof Construction

If you don’t want a roof in a specific area (like for crops or solar panels):

1. Use “Remove Roof Area” first.
2. Then place a “No Roof Area” to block future roofing.

Avoiding Roof Collapses

Roof collapses can kill your colonists instantly. Here’s how to avoid them:

1. Know the 6-Tile Rule

• A roof must be supported by walls or columns no more than 6 tiles apart.
• Any tile beyond this range is marked “Roof cannot be supported here.”

2. Use Support Pillars

• For large buildings or mines, add stone columns or pillars.
• These count as support and prevent deadly cave-ins.

3. Be Careful When Mining

• Mining under thick rock roofs is risky. Always leave support walls or install columns as you dig.

4. Use the “Roof Overlay” Frequently

• Press the roof toggle to constantly check coverage and potential risk zones.

Using Roof Zones Strategically

Roofs can help you solve specific in-game problems:

Outdoor Storage Protection

Use roof zones without walls to protect items from rain. This helps prevent resource decay while still keeping the area accessible.

Cooling and Heating Efficiency

Roofed areas help maintain temperatures. Great for freezer rooms, greenhouses, and heated bedrooms.

Controlled Lighting

Roofs block sunlight, useful for setting moods, improving sleep quality, or making bedrooms dark and cozy.

Advanced Roof Management Tips

As you get more experienced in RimWorld, you can use roofing in clever ways:

Create Greenhouses

• Build a sun lamp inside a roofed growing area.
• Enclose it with walls and a roof to make indoor farming possible, even in frozen biomes.

Control Wildfires

• Roofing over grass or trees prevents fire spread.
• This is useful in fire-prone maps, like dry shrublands or deserts.

Prepare Trap Rooms

• Add roofing in areas where you want to ambush raiders.
• Use overhead mountain roofs to create a dark ambush zone (but make sure it’s supported).

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even seasoned players make mistakes with roofing. Watch out for:

Accidentally Removing Critical Roofs

Removing a roof that supports lighting or temperature control can cause colonists to lose comfort or storage areas to degrade.

Mining Without Supports

Digging into mountains without supports almost always results in a collapse. Always keep an eye on roof types when you mine.

Over-Roofing

Auto-roofing can cover areas you don’t want, like solar farms. Always manually check and set No Roof Areas where necessary.

Roofing for Mountain Bases

Building a mountain base has unique challenges:

• Most of your roof is “Overhead Mountain.”
• These cannot be removed and can spawn insects.
• To prevent infestations, use “Smoothed Stone” flooring and temperature control.
• For safety, install columns every 6 tiles or build hallways with reinforced walls.

If you want to remove mountain roofs, you’ll need deep drilling and careful deconstruction, which is more advanced.

Final Tips for Beginners

Here’s a quick list of do’s and don’ts to summarize everything:

Do:

• Use walls and columns wisely to support your roof.
• Toggle roof visibility often to monitor your structures.
• Use roof zones to protect resources and colonists from weather.
• Always check roof type before mining.

Don’t:

• Remove thick roofs without installing supports.
• Forget to set No Roof Areas for solar panels or farms.
• Leave mined-out areas without checking for potential collapses.

Roofing may seem minor, but once you master it, you’ll gain better control of your base’s safety, efficiency, and survivability.

Conclusion

Building and managing roofs in RimWorld doesn’t have to be confusing or dangerous. With a few simple rules and strategic decisions, even beginners can take full control of their colony’s shelter. From preventing collapses to optimizing indoor farming, roofs are a powerful part of your colony’s infrastructure. Keep these tips in mind, and your colonists will stay dry, safe, and happy—no matter what RimWorld throws at them.

If you found this guide helpful, try exploring more beginner RimWorld guides to master temperature control, food production, and colonist mood management. Your colony’s success depends on it!

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