Should You Fit A Heat Exchange Unit On A Flat Roof?

Daniel Bracewell • 10 October 2023

Should You Fit A Heat Exchange Unit On A Flat Roof?

Flat roofs are a popular option for extensions, industrial buildings and increasingly for new builds as well. Thanks to greater waterproofing and specialist knowledge, they can be fitted quickly, reliably and last for a very long time with no issues, as long as they are fitted by experts.

As well as improvements to flat roofs themselves since Mesopotamia, the benefits of having a flat roof rather than a pitched roof have become more obvious, particularly when it comes to the economical use of space.

With space becoming a premium for many homeowners, setting up an extension with a flat roof provides not only a new indoor space but also an elevated outdoor space to use, whether it ends up as a green roof, a dining area or simply storage space for HVACs, heat exchangers and other equipment.

When it comes to the latter, there are a lot of benefits to using a flat roof for storage, as well as a few extra considerations to keep in mind.

Having it on the roof can make it easier to maintain, removes the sound at ground level, reduces condensation leaking onto nearby footpaths and avoids potential structural issues of securing a heavy piece of equipment to a wall.

There are other considerations to keep in mind, however, and it is essential to do a survey on your flat roof first before making any major moves.

The first aspect to keep in mind is to ensure that your appliance fitted to the roof does not affect the natural gradual incline that your flat roof needs to ensure water is pooled away.

Typically this needs little more than either a raised platform to allow water to travel above it or slanted guides to ensure water moves around a unit and back into the standard stream.

However, in some cases, a roof may need additional support to ensure it does not create pools of water, which can damage roofing membranes, as can the foot traffic of maintenance personnel if there are multiple units that need managing.

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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.