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Our company is in demand wherever a developer wants to build a reliable and durable roof. This does not mean that such work has to be expensive: well-chosen materials and systems allow us to achieve the best possible result at a fair price.
Guarantee for private clients. Flat roofs require perfect waterproofing integrity due to the almost zero slopes and it becomes necessary to have a guarantee from the roofing company that the entire roof structure and interior spaces will be dry. The word guarantee sounds good, but for it to be more than just a word and really work, you need to consider that:
- Require a guarantee from a functioning company, not a one-day company (checked by financial statements, number of officially employed employees, year of foundation, etc.)
- The guarantee is provided by the Agreement, which correctly sets out the essence, responsibility and terms of the guarantees.
- A guarantee always implies certain conditions, so an Appendix with brief rules for the operation of the completed roof is required in addition to the Agreement.
Also, a detailed estimate (or Contract Price) with a full description of the parameters of each type of material used, and the maintenance of working documentation at the site by the foreman/forewoman (at least a work progress log, material accounting) are good signs of confirmation of the company's intentions to bear its guarantee obligations in the future.
Below are the answers to the main questions asked by developers who prefer a flat-roofed house.
1. Are there any flat-roofed house projects that should be avoided due to the unreliability of flat roofs?
Modern materials make it possible to implement almost any, even the most daring ideas related to the architecture of a flat-roofed building.
2. Multilayer flat roofs delay the construction period due to the technology of their installation.
Today, most of the processes are automated: preparation and delivery of lightweight mortars, delivery of ready-mixed concrete and mortars to the roof followed by laying, welding of waterproofing sheets into a monolithic layer using automatic and semi-automatic equipment; installation of the thermal insulation layer is also a fairly quick process, as board insulation is widely used, which is lightweight and easy to install.
3. Materials for flat roofs are not long-lasting.
This statement is true for the materials of the last century, which were used on multi-storey buildings and flat roofs of many industrial facilities in Ukraine. These were mostly bitumen materials. In the USA and Europe, they took a different path, relying on synthetic roofing membranes back in the early 1930s, and even back then, the quality of the materials showed a proven service life of more than 75 years! Today, the market is more diverse and allows you to choose the material of the desired quality with a service life of 25-30-40-75 years at the appropriate cost.
4. What roofing materials are used on large flat roofs, for example, roofs of airports, large shopping centers, large buildings?
The vast majority of them are synthetic membranes of various types: PVC, FPO, TPO, EPDM, PIB, EVA and other less common ones. A large roof area also implies high deformation and extreme wind loads, as well as constant direct exposure to UV. In this case, there is no better alternative with reasonable budget planning for the construction of such facilities.
5. What roofing materials are used on flat roofs of private houses?
Again, let's take a look at polymer membranes. This is a great option for a flat-roofed house, but the cost of installation is always higher compared to a large-area roof. Other common flat roofing technologies in Ukraine are polyurethane, polyurea, polyaspartic and acrylic mastics; bitumen-polymer roll materials and various emulsions. However, the use of any of these materials should be considered individually for a particular project, and should be approached professionally.
6. What are the best materials for flat roof insulation?
The most common materials used for flat roof insulation are insulation boards: mineral wool and extruded polystyrene foam (EPS) boards. Other materials used are sprayed polyurethane foam, foam glass board insulation, polyisocyanurate (PIR) board insulation, polystyrene (commonly called "foam") EPS-S, cast polystyrene concrete or foam concrete, various loose insulation materials, etc. There is no definite answer as to which is better, since materials should be individually selected for each project.
7. How can a flat roof be exploited? If the roof is not for exploitation, is it safe to walk on it?
The possibility of roof exploitation depends on the design solution and the materials used. If desired, the roof can be used as a full-fledged additional space for relaxation. The finishing coating can be various paving elements, ceramic tiles, decking, gravel, etc. A separate roofing trend for exploited roofs is the "green" roof: trees, bushes, flowers and other plants can grow on the roof. In the case of an unexploited roof, you can, of course, walk on it. But the coating for unexploited roofs is not designed for constant (daily) walking on it.
8. Is it cheaper to install a flat or sloped roof for a private house?
There is no clear answer to this question, because there is no point in comparing these two options. The cost of installing a flat or sloped roof for a private house can depend on many factors: roof configuration, project complexity, quality and service life of materials, and energy efficiency class of the roof. There are very budget-friendly options for both sloped and flat roofs.
All the components of the roofing pie must be properly selected and cost-effective so that the client gets the maximum result for the optimal investment. This is what we do together at the stage of design solution selection.
Here are the basic principles of a flat roof construction:
- A vapor barrier is a must for an insulated roof, this does not apply only to inversion roofs, where it is not needed.
- Vapor barrier cannot just be random, and the vapor resistance index must be taken into account when selecting materials.
- The type and thickness of thermal insulation is specified in the project, or a thermal engineering calculation is required to comply with the energy efficiency standards of the roof and not have problems with the formation of dew point in the roof.
- The optimal slope for a flat roof ranges from 1.5 to 2%.
- The waterproofing membrane (polymer, liquid or polymer-bitumen) is the fastest wearing layer in the roofing system, and it should be of the highest quality.
- When constructing an overlap with wooden load-bearing joists, special attention should be paid to vapor barrier and ventilation of the under-roof space.
- When constructing an overlap of metal bearing parts, special attention should be paid to metal insulation to prevent condensation in the roofing structure.
Choosing the perfect roof structure is half the battle. Quality materials are also a big part of it. But the devil, as always, lies in the details, and in flat roofs, it is the correct construction design and arrangement of various joints. This part is more specific and individual, so highly specialized companies and specialists are needed to develop a high-quality project. We carry out these works and are always ready to assist our clients!