Having your own home is a milestone achievement that deserves to be celebrated. It is not an easy task to accomplish, after all. It takes immense determination to be able to put together a dwelling not only for yourself but also for your future generations to come.
It becomes even more difficult when you have to do it from scratch. From selecting a floor plan to deciding on building materials. From finalizing your landscaping to managing your exterior, everything takes its own time and needs the utmost care from you.
Even selecting the type of residential roof or roofing company could be a very important decision. With the trend of flat roofs getting traction as of late, it is only natural for new homeowners to now have to decide whether they want their house to have this kind of roof or not.
What is a Flat Roof?
As suggested by its name, a flat roof is surface-leveled roofing that is laid on top of the roof, much like regular flooring. It differs from the traditional elevated roofing, which has high slopes and usually has materials that are laid on top of each other.
Unlike its sloped counterpart, a flat roof doesn’t have arches. Instead, it as a completely flat surface. With that being said, this flat panel could sometimes be settled as a low slope.
There are several types of flat roofs, but membrane roofing is perhaps the most popular. Now, out of this roofing type, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) seems to be the most popular.
What are the Pros and Cons of a Flat Roof?
Flat roofs mainly started to gain popularity due to their aesthetics. But they also have other properties. Thus, they come with their own pros and cons and have mostly been used in commercial properties.
If you have been asking yourself whether you need a flat roof as a residential roof, assess your options carefully.
To help you make a decision about your new roof, here are the most popular advantages and disadvantages of flat roofing.
Advantages:
- Most membrane roofing materials such as EPDM are very durable. EPDM, in particular, could last for approximately 50 years. Other membrane materials show similar, if not greater lifespans.
- The roofing is minimalistic. This provides it with amazing aesthetics and makes it go well with modern buildings.
- The roofing material is lightweight and easy to be carried around, lowering labor costs.
- The roofing is water resistant and prevents water leaks for the most part.
Disadvantages:
- Most flat and membrane roofing is difficult to set up. You need a professional roofing company to install it properly.
- Your HVAC and plumbing systems are mostly exposed, which may also leak more frequently than they would while being covered under a traditional residential roof.
- Modern roofing types such as EPDM do not take well to high foot traffic. The roofing could get damaged with higher activity in the area.
- Flat roofing such as EPDM can withstand water, but it does not react well to external materials such as branches or debris. This could damage its lifespan.
Should I Select A Flat Roof As My Residential Roof?
If your home already has a modern design, then going with a modern flat roof material such as EPDM would be a great choice.
However, if your home’s design doesn’t match the aesthetics of a flat roof or if you don’t think that preventing foot traffic would be possible, then going with a traditional roof would be a better option.
At American Roofing & Construction, we ensure to understand our customers’ requirements in order to provide them with personalized suggestions. This ensures that each roof we install doesn’t provide a short-term solution, but proves itself to be a long-term roofing system. This allows our clients to enjoy their roofing solutions for decades to come.
If you need to discuss these options in further detail and want to understand what roof type is the ideal fit for you, then contact us today!