What To Look For When Maintaining Your Flat Roof
Daniel Bracewell • 1 July 2021
Homes and extensions that are constructed with a flat roof have a unique, practical look that avoids the wasted space you often get with sloped roofs.
When constructed to exacting standards by flat roof specialists, as well as properly maintained, your roof will not have any problems, but it is important to know what telltale signs to look for to ensure your roof lasts for years.
Water Pools
Contrary to the name, flat roofs technically are not flat; legally they have to have a small imperceptible incline
to allow water to efficiently flow into a drain or gutter, Your roof’s waterproofing will also help with this to keep water moving.
However, if water begins to puddle or pool on your roof, that can be a sign that the roof has either shifted or there is a problem with the waterproof surface. Drain the water as soon as possible to avoid it seeping into your room.
Drainage
To ensure a flat roof is as flat as possible, the drainage system is often designed to fairly precise specifications. As a result, it is vital that the drains and gutters are clean, clear and well-maintained to avoid potential pooling issues on the edges of your roof.
Blistering
An issue that is sometimes seen with certain times of roof membrane is when moisture or air gets trapped between the layers, which creates blisters that stretch over the summer as the sun heats the roof up.
Keep an eye on the blisters and make sure they stay intact. If they do break, cut away the blistered material and reapply new membrane material, extended to over six inches past the edge of the blister.
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.
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