The benefits of flat roofing
While sloped roofs remain the most popular choice for residential buildings, flat roofs are still a common option for many commercial properties. They are also widely used on domestic extensions and outbuildings, while architects are increasingly incorporating flat roofing on modern homes as an attractive and eco-friendly design feature.
Flat roofs may have had something of a bad reputation in the past, but you may be surprised to discover that they can actually offer substantial benefits. Meanwhile, modern design and materials mean you don’t need to worry about rainwater pooling and leaking as you may have done previously.
Here are our top four flat roofing benefits that make it so popular with homes and businesses across the UK.
Low cost
Flat roofing is much quicker and easier to install than pitched roofing, and with a smaller overall surface area, it also requires fewer materials. Those factors mean that it’s generally considerably cheaper to install as well.
Of course, just because it’s a cheaper roofing option, don’t make the mistake of thinking that it is necessarily going to be lower quality as well. Modern types of flat roofing use strong and durable materials in their construction, such as EPDM rubber roofs that come with a guarantee of 20 years or more to give you real peace of mind that you’re getting both reliability and value for money.
Easy maintenance
As well as being cheaper and easier to install, flat roofing is nearly always easier to maintain as well. After all, when you need to work on it, you don’t need to worry about putting up scaffolding to do the job safely – most of the time, you can just get a ladder and climb up to get access.
That could also mean that you’re likely to save money on costly repairs in the long run, as it should be easier to keep a close eye on its condition. That will give you a better chance of spotting developing issues and dealing with them before they deteriorate to the point that more substantial work is required.
Versatility
They may not have the internal storage you get when you have a loft, but flat roofs still offer possibilities that you don’t get with pitched roofs. For commercial buildings, that could mean providing somewhere out of the way to place air-conditioning units or other large items that would otherwise take up valuable space inside. It’s also relatively easy to install solar panels that could significantly reduce your running costs by generating your own clean electricity. In residential buildings, a flat roof could be somewhere to put in a roof garden that both provides an outside space for owners to relax in and improves the insulation of your home.
Energy efficiency
With so many options for materials that can be used on flat roofs, it’s sensible to use those that give you the most thermally efficient results. That can mean you’re hopefully going to be saving money on both heating your premises in winter and cooling them during a hot summer. Of course, you need to make sure that you’re using an experienced flat roofing company that knows how to carry out the work so that you’re getting the best results out of the materials and construction at hand.
Here at Highline Design & Build, we offer professional flat roofing and EPDM rubber roof services to customers in and around Egham, Twickenham and Weybridge. Whether you’re looking for repair or replacement, we can offer informed, expert and professional advice and workmanship.
Get in touch now to find out more or to ask for a free site visit and cost-effective quotation.