What is the total number of rakes on a standard gable roof?

A standard gable roof typically features two sloping sides that meet at the peak, forming a triangular shape when viewed from the end. Each sloped side has a rake, which is the overhanging edge of the roof that extends beyond the gable wall.

Since there are two sides to a gable roof, each with its own rake, this would ordinarily suggest that the total number of rakes is two. However, if we consider the construction and design of gable roofs, the term "rake" can sometimes also take into account the presence of corresponding eave edges that contribute to the overall roof structure.

This could explain the confusion, as some may mistakenly believe that there are additional rakes due to architectural features or variations in roof design. Nonetheless, in standard terminology used in roofing, the correct interpretation is that a standard gable roof indeed consists of two distinct rakes on the sloped sides. Hence, for clarity within the context given, the total number of rakes on a standard gable roof is best understood to be two, not three or four, aligning with commonly accepted definitions and practices in roofing terminology.