![]() They allow more usable space for solar panels, passive lighting solutions such as skylights and tubes, and air conditioning components. Height for height, they allow more air-conditioned living space than pitched roofs. Prosįlat roofs are the most economical to build compared to other roofing. Yes, flat roofs are known for leaking, but all roofs can leak. With advancements in structural design in new home building or upgrading your roof to better materials, you can have a reliable flat roof in a sunny, rainy, or snowy climate. It’s a “pro” if you love the look, but a “con” again if drainage is not maintained and the roof collapses under the weight of pooling water. It’s a “con” if it’s leaking into your home. These days, modern architects still prefer flat roofs in home design and the majority of commercial buildings such as strip malls, stand-alone retail stores, and warehousing. ![]() This architectural trend grew increasingly into the mid-century. With structural advancements brought on by the Industrial Revolution and famed architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright choosing flat roofs in their designs, flat roof homes began popping up in many states, including states where rain and snow are frequent. While almost all roofs on homes appear to have been sloped in early America except in arid climates such as in New Mexico, in the mid-1800s flat roof construction on commercial buildings began using pine tar and gravel according to a Roofing For Historic Buildings composition. However, it did not really become popular in home-building until the Modern architecture movement beginning in the 1920s. They’re constructed from wood, steel or concrete and have some form of barrier to prevent water intrusion. Before this time period, archaic inhabitants made tipi-like shelters from sticks, brush, and mud.įlat roofs are found in both residential and commercial applications. The oldest structure in the U.S., Taos Pueblo, was built between 10 AD, has a flat roof and is still occupied today in New Mexico. It is likely that the first flat roofs in America can be dated back to the mid 8th century in Puebloan design. The discovery of the oldest flat roof construction dates back between 7100 BC to 5700 BC in the middle east in an ancient settlement called Çatalhöyük in modern-day Turkey. Here’s a comparison of the roof pitches above.Įarly flat roof construction is found predominantly in arid climates such as in Persian, Arabian, and Egyptian architecture. This is starting to get into “flat” roof territory now and this requires a different roofing system such as using a membrane to stop water intrusion. ![]() For example, Florida building code says these shingles cannot be used on roof slopes less than 17 percent, or 2 inches of vertical rise for every 12 inches horizontal. These shingles are great for shedding water, but only one way, and that is down a slope. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) defines a low-slope roof to have no greater a slope than 25 percent, or 3 inches of vertical rise for every 12 inches horizontal. The most popular roofing material these days is asphalt shingles. Some folks don’t like to use the term “flat” to describe roof type since all roofs should have some slope in order to drain water off or direct water to a scupper for drainage. Let’s look at what defines a flat roof, its history, the pros and cons, and both old and new options for roofing materials. There are reasons why flat roof construction began and why you may consider it for new home construction. So if humans learned early on that having a slope on your roof is important why did flat roofs come into the picture and why are they still in use today? I know some flat roof homeowners with neverending, leaky tar-and-gravel roofing that are asking the same question.īut let’s not look too poorly upon the flat roof design quite yet. While there are examples of very early flat roofs most of the earliest roofs constructed by man were thatched roofs that were made of straw, leaves, branches, or reeds they were usually set at a slope, or pitch, so that rainfall could drain off them. The flat roof is a fairly recent invention in construction only having come into mainstream use in the early 20th-century.
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