Getting A Flat Roof? Your Questions Are Answered Here
Has a roofing company or contractor recommended a flat roof for all or part of a building you are having built? The premise may sound strange if you've only ever had sloped, shingled roofs before, and you likely have a few questions. Find the answers to some of those questions below.
What will the roof be made from?
You might be picturing shingles on the roof, but laid flat. This is not what a flat roof is. Shingles are designed for sloped roofs; water will seep underneath them if they are used on roofs without enough slope. For flat roofs, roofers instead tend to use continuous, membrane-style roofing. In other words, the entire roof will be made from one sheet of material.
This material could be a rubber substance called EPDM. It could also be asphalt, which is applied in a manner similar to how it would be applied on a driveway. Asphalt roofs are becoming less common, with many roofers preferring EPDM, but it is still used in some areas where high winds are an issue, as it does not have the potential of lifting and blowing off like EPDM.
How will the roof drain?
You're probably picturing water just pooling up on the flat roof, right? Thankfully, roofs are made in a way that prevents this from happening. Usually, a couple of drains are built into the roof. They collect water and direct it off the roof in a manner similar to gutters. The roof is sloped gently towards the drains to encourage water to flow in the right direction. This is one reason why it is so important to hire a knowledgeable roofer to install your flat roof. If the roof is not sloped properly, a lot of damage can occur.
Why is a flat roof better?
You might wonder why the builder is making this recommendation in the first place. Why can't they just put a sloped shingle roof on the structure? One reason has to do with costs. A flat roof is cheaper to install. If you're approaching your top budget for the building already, using a flat roof may be one way to keep the project on-budget. Maintaining a flat roof is also easier. The maintenance can be done quickly and without tearing off the old roof. This is a real advantage when you're running a business from a building. You don't want to have to close for a week while the roof is re-shingled.
If you have additional questions about flat roofing installation, feel free to ask your contractors. They can give you more specific information based on your unique project.
