Are Residential Flat Roofs Ok?

While you most often see flat roofs on commercial properties, residential flat roofs are rising in popularity. Most often seen with modern home design, residential flat roofs may not be the most common choice, but that does not mean that houses cannot have flat roofs. Many people prefer residential flat roofs over the more traditional pitched roofs for a variety of reasons, from convenience to multi-purpose usage and more. There are some factors that homeowners should be cautious of when deciding whether or not to have a residential flat roof installed on their property, though.

Here is what you need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of residential flat roofs so that you can better determine whether or not they are right for you and your property. Let’s dive in!

The Advantages Of Residential Flat Roofs

There are many reasons why someone would opt for a flat roof as opposed to the more traditional pitched roof. Some of the advantages of choosing a flat roof for your home include:

Modern aesthetic. If you have a modern home, a flat roof can be the perfect roofing system to fit with its style. Flat roofs are seen most often with modern and cubist home designs, as they suit the style very well.
Ease of construction. It’s fairly easy to construct a flat roof, so you’ll have less to worry about in regards to potential issues that could arise, such as with the pitch.
Cost-effectiveness. Residential flat roofs tend to cost less to install than their pitched counterparts. This can save you money because less materials are needed in order to construct them, and the labor time is less intensive too.
Easy maintenance. It can be difficult to clean and inspect a pitched roof, as they can be quite dangerous to try to walk on. Since a residential flat roof is flat, this means that you can easily walk on them and check for any potential damages and keep it clean.
Versatility. Another reason why residential flat roofs are rising in popularity is because they’re very versatile. You can use your residential flat roof as a rooftop garden, as a porch space, and more. As opposed to just being your roof, you can use a residential flat roof for many different purposes.

The Disadvantages Of Residential Flat Roofs

Nothing is perfect. While it’s perfectly ok to have a residential flat roof, there’s a reason why many homeowners prefer to have a pitched roof on their house. Some of the disadvantages of residential flat roofs include:

Lack of drainage. Contrary to what the name would have you believe, flat roofs are not actually flat. They have a slope to them, in order to allow for water to drain off of them. However, they are not as good as pitched roofs for drainage, which makes them less than ideal for climates that get a lot of rain or snow.
Buildup of dirt and debris. Since residential flat roofs are flat, this also makes it easier for debris to accumulate on them. You need to be careful to keep your residential flat roof clean, otherwise it could get damaged.
Higher chance of early replacement. Flat roofs generally do not last as long as pitched roofs do, which means that if you have a flat roof, you will likely need to have it replaced more frequently than if you had a pitched roof. This is another reason why most homeowners stick with pitched roofs over flat roofs for their homes.
Less curb appeal. Residential flat roofs can be stunning on a modern home, but if you have a different style of home, they could look out of place and lessen the curb appeal of your house.
Lessened insulation. Flat roofs are not as good at insulating as pitched roofs are. There are some options available to counteract this, such as having a roof coating installed.