Are there risks with having a flat roof?

09 Aug Are there risks with having a flat roof?

When you walk down the street, chances are that if you look around you will see many a sloped roof.

Flat roofs aren’t especially common, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be found.

For those in super windy areas, it can prove a boon as the roof tiles are less likely to be picked up and tossed asunder, but for those of us who live in more temperate climates it can be a bit different.

Heavy rain

In case you weren’t aware, a roof is not meant to actually be 100% completely flat. If it was, where would the rainwater go?

It turns out that in fact there ought to be a gradient of 1 to 80 for a flat roof to stop too much rainwater building up on the surface of the roof. Rain is relentless after all, and will always look for a way through. If the roof is completely flat, the water will tend to collect in the middle, which will place an additional burden on the area and potentially cause the roof to sag. Once this happens, it can be prone to leaks again and again.

The materials required to put in a flat roof also tend to be more rare and expensive, so you’ll have to make sure that it gets fitted right the first time as you don’t want to be calling out a refit just a year later. Contractors well versed in the installation of flat roofing should help calm your fears about getting it right.

Higher insurance

Getting a flat roof insured also comes with issues. Due to the simple fact that rain and snow will always build up and converge in the middle, many insurers will not deem the outlay worth the potential risk they will involve themselves in.

Which is where the important question comes in for those considering it: how much is the house worth compared to the hefty monthly fees that go straight to your insurers?

There are always ways to work out a deal though, and many insurers will assess any flat roofs on a case by case basis.

One last thing to remember is insulation. To stop any leakage in the future permeating straight through the ceiling and to the floors, installing an extra cavity-filling layer in the roof can help to play a big part in keeping your flat roof fresh for longer.