In my first stint on amateur radio I have used inverted V and horizontal dipole antennas at my parents' home and worked a lot of DX on CW, including a few stations from the United States, on 40 m. At my present location, there is not enough space for a horizontal dipole or even a true inverted V antenna. So I am going to try out a compromise setup with partial inverted V and partial zig-zag mounting. Moreover the spacing from parts of the roof will be minimal or none at some places. I have bought a 3 m long CPVC hotwater pipe to keep as a non-conducting mast on the first floor balcony. It is a bit stiffer than the usual PVC pipes used for cold water, still nowhere near a galvanized iron pipe!
