Flat roofs are mostly associated with commercial buildings. Fortunately, they can also make a great alternative to traditional residential pitched roofs. If you are not sure about installing a flat roof for your residential house in Santa Monica, here are a few pointers to help you make the decision.
Table of Contents
The Good
Affordability
Flat roofs are cheaper to install compared to pitched roofs. They eliminate the cost of extra materials such as roofing shingles that have to be installed with precision to ensure water resistance, says Angie’s List.
Party at the roof top?
Flat roofs provide you with a ‘floor’ that you can use as a garden, a rooftop pool, a rooftop patio or a green roof. This is ideal for home owners with limited compound space. Alternatively, the space on a flat roof is perfect for installing solar panels and keeping them hidden. Designing the use of the roof-top space requires expertise. Hire a roofing contractor in Santa Monica to explain any modifications you would have to make.
Why be like everyone else?
There are building codes to consider when choosing the design of your home. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area that allows flat roofs, they provide superior modern aesthetics compared to the common pitched roofing structures found in most neighborhoods.
The Bad
Drainage issues
A flat roof is not entirely flat. It is slightly sloped to provide drainage for rain water. However, its drainage capability is not as good as pitched roofs. Which is why it is important to have it built by a seasoned roofing contractor.
More frequent inspection
The inferior drainage capability of a flat roof coupled up with its use as a rooftop patio calls for more regular inspection by roofing professionals. While a pitched roof requires inspection at least once annually during spring, flat roofs require inspection twice a year; during spring and during fall.
Verdict:
A flat roof is totally ideal for your residential home in Santa Monica as long as it is constructed by a qualified professional.