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What Are The Advantages Of Flat Roofs

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  • 23-03-2022
What Are The Advantages Of Flat Roofs

What are the advantages of flat roofs? If you are considering a new roof installation, it is worth thinking about the benefits of a flat roof. This article looks at the reasons that you might want to choose a flat roof.

Flat roofs are becoming popular roofing systems among residential buildings as more houses and homeowners choose to make the switch. If you're considering investing in flat roofing, keep reading this article.

What Exactly is a Flat Roof?

Before considering the advantages and disadvantages of a flat roof installation, let's define what they actually are. 

A flat roof is an almost completely horizontal roof, a level platform installed to the ceiling joists. 

There is typically an incline of 10°-15°, allowing for water run-off and proper drainage. 

The roofing material is typically topped with a waterproof membrane to ensure the roof structure remains intact. 

What Are The Advantages Of Flat Roofs?

Advantages of Flat Roofs    

In heavy contrast to traditional sloped roofs, flat roofing solutions have unique advantages. Despite being installed on garages, outbuildings and extensions more commonly, flat roofs can give homeowners many benefits. Here are some flat roof advantages you will experience if you switch from pitched roofs: 

Sloped roofs can easily trap air in the cold weather, meaning your home isn't as energy efficient as you would like. 

The slight pitch of the flat roof means there is less overhead space, meaning fewer opportunities for air to stagnate and you to lose heat and energy. 

Of course, this slight pitch is needed, or it'll prevent proper drainage, and you shall have standing water on your rooftop. 

Sloped roofs have a limited lifespan, and flat roofs do too, but generally last much longer. 

The waterproof membranes are fire-resistant and are incredibly durable against the winter snow and hot winds, protecting the roof at all costs. 

The rolled rubber roofing materials are environmentally friendly, with the entire roof covered, ensuring quality with no sacrifice to stylish looks. This means that the room will remain in good condition for longer, against all the elements.

As flat roofs are easier to repair and maintain, you can also find yourself completing a lot of the work yourself. 

Cleaning away leaves, debris and ensuring the gutters and clean and not blocked can be done by you, saving money on a roofing specialist. Obviously, a specialist will be able to give more attention to the problems, but the maintenance is inexpensive. 

The lower cost of installing a flat roof means you can spend more money converting it into a liveable space. Unlike pitched roofs, the space is flat and allows for homeowners to convert them into rooftop gardens, sitting areas and other compact design spaces, adding to their dream homes. 

However, as flat roofs are constantly exposed to the weather and temperature changes, many homeowners also make a space for weather protection to gain maximum use of the area. 

As we mentioned above, many homeowners are converting their flat roofs into rooftop gardens. 

This is especially true in cities and other built-up areas where traditional gardens are not an option, and it gives people the opportunity to grow plants and bring some greenery into their lives. 

People can also convert their flat roofs into office spaces, accommodating for meetings and company activities - all while never leaving the building. 

A relaxation area is becoming a popular space also, with companies and businesses choosing to invest time and money into a zone dedicated to meditation and relaxation. This can be used on lunch breaks or just to relax in the fresh air. 

When it comes to hiring a roofing specialist or contractor to clean or repair tiles, they will be glad to work on a flat roof. 

Cleaning gutters and repairing drains is much more challenging to complete on a sloped roof, especially when trying to navigate the sometimes slippery tiles. 

Roofs with slopes can pose a serious health risk to builders and contractors, and navigating the tiles can sometimes affect the roof's lifespan. 

Along with being cheaper, the overall installation process of a flat roof is much less. Pitched roofs, in comparison, take a lot longer to source rubber shingles and other materials, while flat roofs require very little time. 

Of course, proper maintenance will still have to occur, but you are saving on the price and the installation time with a flat roof. 

A flat roof means less space, which requires less materials. This makes the construction costs of installing a flat roof much lower in comparison to traditional pitched roofs. 

In turn, all repairs costs will drop as the horizontal base is easier to maintain and navigate by professional roofers. 

The additional room for solar panels is another advantage of flat roofing, as you can achieve the best angle for the panels. 

Solar panels are ideal for saving money and generating energy in an environmentally-friendly manner. 

Flat roofs, especially on industrial buildings, are also being used as a place for HVAC air conditioning units. It's not uncommon for HVAC units to be damaged by debris, animals or people or even stolen. 

You should enlist a roofing specialist or contractor to ensure your roof is structurally sound for an air conditioning unit. 

Failure to do so can result in leaks across the roof, so get your roof regularly inspected. There is less to worry about across the property when they are installed correctly on the roof. 

What are the Disadvantages of a Flat Roof?

What are the Disadvantages of a Flat Roof?   

However, there are some disadvantages of flat roofing that you should consider to make an informed decision. 

The slight slope to a flat roof is not comparable to sloped roofs, and therefore the drainage isn't as efficient as you may hope. 

Stagnant water can easily form as the rainwater collects into puddles, which can eventually lead to material damage or flooding of the interior. 

Ensuring you use the best materials and they are waterproof when installing will help you avoid this biggest disadvantage. 

There's a reason why flat roofs are generally installed on garages or outhouses - people don't spend large amounts of time there. Flat roofs will absorb more heat from the sun during the summer, and in the winter, you will feel colder. 

This is just because there is not as much insulation protecting the property. Attic space is lost due to this, too, but you can install skylights and the like to bring in more light and warmth. 

Sloped and pitched roofs can last you decades when well-kept. Flat roofing is generally made of inexpensive material, therefore only lasting around ten years. 

Of course, you can use more expensive material, which will extend the roof's lifespan. Poly-carbonate roofing can be installed under EPDM rolled rubber and increase the lifespan and durability of the overall structure. 

Once this has been installed, you can expect the roof to easily last around 50 years. 

As we said earlier, you can find yourself maintaining the roof because it is easier to access. 

However, if you choose to hire a professional, you may find that the repair costs are higher overall as flat roofs will require more maintenance in the long run. Inspecting the roof regularly will ensure no costly repairs arise and surprise you and help keep the costs down. 


Are you looking for a flat roof specialist in Andover, Basingstoke or Winchester? If you find yourself in need of a replacement flat roof, don't hesitate to contact Flat Roofers Basingstoke today! We have staff on hand to answer any questions you might have.