Can You Fit Shingles To A Flat Roof?

Daniel Bracewell • 16 June 2023

There are many aspects of life, love and architecture where we want to have the best of all possible worlds. In most cases, we can at least have some form of compromise.

People compromise between minimalist and rustic interior design styles to create Modern Farmhouse, people enjoy fusion cuisine and crossover films are amongst the most popular in cinema history.

However, one compromise that flat roof specialists cannot possibly in good conscience recommend is combining the practical benefits of a flat or slightly-pitched roof with roof shingles and tiles more characteristic of a pitched roof.

The problem is that in practice, you do not get the best of both worlds but instead, you get the downsides of both flat roofs made with unsuitable roofing material and layered shingles that do not have the angled pitch they need to function properly.

Part of the problem is that shingles do not lie flush on the surface of your roof like a dedicated waterproof treatment such as EPDM rubber would, so instead of water flowing along the top of the layered squamous shingles, it instead pools underneath the singles, exactly where you do not want the water to be.

This is bad on its own, as it can cause water to seep underneath the waterproofing layers and cause a leak, but it is made far worse in wintery weather, where it can cause an ice dam and by extension a lot of damage to your roof.

Any roof material that relies on being fitted in a scalelike arrangement tends to require a much steeper pitch than dedicated flat roof treatments, making them unsuitable for a flat roof.

However, this is offset by the practical benefits of a flat roof, such as additional, practicality, the ability to fit solar panels and so much more besides.

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Can You Install Solar Panels On A Flat Roof?

by Daniel Bracewell • 10 December 2025

If you’re exploring how to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, you may be looking at the likes of solar panels for your home. But what if your property has a flat roof rather than a pitched roof? Can you still install solar panels on a flat roof? The short answer is yes, you can! In fact, it is often easier to install solar panels on a flat roof than it is to fit them to a sloped roof, which might make this an even more appealing avenue to explore when you’re looking at flat roof ideas . In many cases, you also don’t need planning permission to install solar panels on your flat roof. Of course, there are exceptions if you have a listed building or live in a conservation area, but if you own your house (different rules apply for flats too), you should be free to add solar panels to your home as you choose. There are different kinds of mounting systems for flat roof solar panels and which is most appropriate for your home will depend on the direction it faces. It is worth noting that the cost of installing solar panels is often higher on flat roofs because of the mounting system, but some of this can be offset by the lower labour costs because the installation process is usually more straightforward. One of the main reasons homeowners install solar panels is to reduce their energy bills. Many report savings of hundreds of pounds each year, which means these panels often pay for themselves relatively quickly. What’s more, under the Smart Export Guarantee , you can sell any energy you don’t use back to the National Grid, which can increase the rate at which your investment in solar panels pays for itself. So, if you are exploring ways to make the most of your flat roof, consider solar panels as an option to reduce your energy bills and do good for the environment.