But such a low slope holds snow and water much longer than a steeply pitched roof and therefore needs a very different material to stay watertight.
Why a flat roof.
Commercial roofs are flat roofs because they are much more cost effective compared to pitched roofs.
If you are using a flat concrete roof then you are using a roofing system that holds up against heavy winds.
To add a pitched roof to something as large as a mall or other similar sized edifice would be incredibly costly and it s just easier to stick with a flat roof in those cases.
Pros and cons for flat roof materials all three types of flat roofing cost 250 to 350 per square 100 square feet but prices vary according to region and size of the roof.
By far the biggest advantage of using a flat roof is the expense.
Flat roofs usually come with a 10 to 20 year warranty but can last 25 years if you build the roofs right and maintain them using commonsense rules.
Flat roofs require more maintenance to make sure seals remain watertight.
Have you ever wondered why contractors install gravel on flat roofs.
The national roofing contractors association defines a low slope roof as.
A flat roof offers more wind resistance than a sloped roof and that is important when high winds pick up and blow through your area.
On many flat roof low slope commercial buildings it s common to see gravel on top of the roof.
A flat roof is a roof which is almost level in contrast to the many types of sloped roofs.
Flat roofs or low slope roofs are also commonly found on commercial buildings throughout the world.
Gravel is used on flat roofs for two reasons.
The risk of a fallout decreases when you opt for a flat roof on your home.
Shingling these types of roofing systems is usually not a good idea.
From the initial building and installation to the materials most often used to cover the roof flat roofs are fairly cheap.
To weigh down or secure the roofing material as is the case with single ply flat roofs.
A flat roof is water resistant so you do not have to worry about water damage.
If durability is important to you then a flat roof is just the system for you.
Flat roofs are durable.
A flat roof generally requires more maintenance than a traditional pitched roof.
Flat roofs are an ancient form mostly used in arid climates and allow the roof space to be used as a living space or a living roof.
This is one of the chief reasons why large buildings like malls or warehouses tend to have flat roofs.
The symmetrical design of the flat roof also allows the flat roof to support heavy equipment like an air conditioning unit unlike sloped roofs.
While standard sloped roofs typically have shingles that are overlapped like fish scales so that water slides over them a flat roof is designed as a continuous or monolithic surface that can hold some standing water for a limited time.
Many flat roofs experience leaking problems because of poor drainage so ongoing maintenance is important.
A flat roof can provide space for a c vents and exhaust pipes.
These are more commonly seen on commercial buildings but occasionally a homeowner will have a flat roof.
There are different types and weights of gravel used on flat roofs for these purposes.
To protect the underlying layer of roofing materials as is the case with built up roofs burs.
With an angled roofing system shingles could be exposed to high winds that can cause shingles to lift and create repairs concerns.