Flat Roof Details Uk

Just enough slope to drain water but also flat enough to be a problem if not constructed properly.

Flat roof details uk.

A flat roof must be strong durable and stable throughout its lifetime. Flat roof construction for residential. Of course flat roofs are not flat but have a very slight roof pitch of between 1 4 to 1 2 per foot. We love the flexibility of a flat roof for certain design limitations but they have a bit of reputation for leaks and repairs.

A waterproof exterior layer is essential and there are a number of options including bitumen based felt or asphalt epdm rubber and pvc based systems as well as cold applied liquid systems bitumen coverings. The steels or rsj s rolled steel joists are often built into one or both walls to give added stability to the roof structure. Types of flat roof coverings other flat roof construction details often refer to the types of flat roof coverings. On a basic level flat roof construction comes in the form of roofing timbers or joists as they are more commonly known or steels that are laid across two uprights walls in most cases.

A roof is considered to be flat when it is of a slope of 1 5 o to the horizontal. In the traditional poor and roll process bitumen is supplied in blocks broken up and heated on site in a boiler until molten. A roof is defined in bs 6229 as a flat roof if it has a pitch of 10 degrees or less. Although flat roofs are cheaper to build than pitched roofs they have a shorter life span.

What pitch is a flat roof. As a mass rebuild of housing got underway it was discovered to be a cheaper alternative to the traditional pitched roof style. It must provide adequate protection against the elements keeping the buildings structure and interior dry. A flat roof usually consists of the following.

For additional stability you can also use steel joists that are built into one or both of the walls. The basic construction of a flat roof starts with roofing timber that is laid across two upright items usually two walls. There is also the scope to incorporate a green roof onto the flat structure. Bitumen felt flat roofs are affordable in price and provide a great waterproofing result.

Flat roofs were uncommon in the uk until after the second world war. Underneath the basics flat roofs are usually constructed with a ceiling nailed to joists which support a deck usually wood in residential construction a vapor barrier insulation and a roof board. Waterproof membrane to prevent water penetrating the structure and interior of the building. Flat roof options help to free up internal space and are often cheaper that pitched roof options as they require fewer materials to cover the same roof span.

The longevity of the roof depends on the quality of the materials used.