Flat roofs may not look as picturesque as pitched roofs, but there are benefits to using this on commercial or even residential buildings. In fact, the design has become quite trendy – flip through Architectural Digest and other design magazines, and you’ll see plenty of flat-roof designs in modern or “edgy industrial” homes. What’s causing this sudden interest in flat roofs?
Flat roofs are cheaper to install because you need less materials. It can often be constructed within one to two days, because they don’t need rafters, trusses and other design details found in pitched roofs. Lastly, it’s also a lot safer for construction workers too since there’s less risk for falls or injury.
All these factors affects what the roofing company will charge you for the job, and carries over into any costs you may have to carry when you repair or renovate a roof.
All roofs need regular maintenance and repair. However, since flat roofs don’t have much of a slope, they will collect more water than sloped or pitched roofs. That can lead drains to get clogged and then lead to leaks and damage.
However, this problem is easily avoided if you check the roofs more often. And that’s very easy with a flat roof! You can look at them with a ladder or elevator – even you or your maintenance crew can make regular inspections without having to call in a roofing expert.
Through regular inspection and contacting a quality roofing company that uses the right materials for flat roofs, leaking and damage won’t be much of a problem.
In crowded cities, space is indeed a luxury! A flat roof gives bonus space to create a deck, grow an urban garden, or even give you a private place to hang your laundry or sunbathe. Businesses can also use it for storing heavy equipment, or to install solar panels or rainwater barrels – energy saving methods that will lower operational costs and help the environment too!
Flat roofs use what professional roofers call “a membrane system” layers with protective coating. These layers have “continuous insulation” or basically consistent and even insulation with no breaks or gaps.
This makes it easier for flat roofs to be turned into cool roofs. Cool roofs use special materials that reflect heat so they aren’t absorbed into the building. It is more difficult to use these materials on pitched roofs.
If you get a good roofing company that specializes in flat roofs than you will have a quality flat roof that can last you for years. They will also be able to put insulation materials that can make your home or office temperatures more comfortable, without needing heavy use of air-conditioners or heaters.
Pitched roofs will affect your property’s footings and require a deeper building foundation. That’s why you can’t install or extend a pitched roof without consulting an engineer and investing in pre-construction work to strengthen the footings. Flat roofs, on the other hand, have less construction requirements.
These are some of the benefits of flat roofs, but these should be weighed against your budget, needs and even your climate. To get a better idea of whether you should have flat roofs or pitched roofs, consult a roofing expert.
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