Flat vs Pitched Roof Design

Regardless of the type of commercial building or property, a common stumbling block shared by most property owners is what type of roof design is most suitable for your building, budget and demands. In the UK, there are two main types of roofing options; flat and pitched roofs. So, before you make your final decision it’s extremely beneficial to know differences, advantages and limitations between these two roof designs.

Flat Roof Design

Firstly, it’s important to understand that a flat roof isn’t 100% level. In order for rain water to successfully drain away, they must be constructed with a slight pitch of a few degrees. For small commercial properties or if you’re planning on building a extension or even an outbuilding like a garage, then a flat roof deign may be more suited to your property.

Once designed, this type of roof is often easier to erect than a pitched roof design as the horizontal structure is securely fastened to the ceiling joints underneath. A single ply membrane or a layer of weatherproof roofing felt is then applied over the top.

Tip: It’s important to understand that the type of roof covering can have a huge impact on the overall lifespan of your flat, so it’s important to understand the different types of single ply roofing, felt materials and adhesive.

In relation to cost and efficiency, a flat roof design is certainly more cost effective as the manual labour process and price of the materials used are often much less when compared to the construction of a pitched roof. However, it’s also worth being reminded that a commercial flat roof usually has a shorter lifespan and requires a greater amount of maintenance.

Pitched Roof Design

Formed from at least two slopes that rise up in the centre to create a peak, a commercial pitched roof design is renowned for its longevity, flexibility and natural characteristics. Although, pitched roofs are a common feature on most domestic properties, they’re still an extremely popular option for industrial and commercial roof management.

As a result of their construction, a pitched roof design does provide additional living and storage space, which can certainly benefit smaller commercial properties. Through the addition of a bespoke roof design, industrial roofing contractors can provide you with a tailor made and cost effective solution that also encapsulates storage and living space.

Due to their waterproofing qualities, durability and the additional insulation that they can provide to the rooms below, a pitched roof design often has a greater lifespan when compared to its flat roof counterpart.

The final advantage of choosing this type of roof is that they’re likely to be more welcoming to the local environment as the natural looking sloped roof is certain to blend in with surrounding buildings and architecture. On the other hand, their design and construction does incur extra expense due to the often complex design negotiations, labour intensity and the range of materials used.

Knowing the differences, limitations and advantages between the two most popular commercial roofing types is certainly going to be advantageous during the designing and construction phases of your own roof.