This is Part 4 of our Guide To Roof Construction. It covers flat roof materials and flat roof construction of warm and cold roofs.
IKEA's vast particleboard empire is built on one prime directive: affordability. Each product in their 10,000-item catalog starts with a price point and then backs into materials, colors, ergonomics, structure, and fastening systems. A key part of the cost strategy involves flat-pack, ready-to-assemble designs that are up to seven times more space-efficient to ship than conventional furniture. All of this tweaking and tinkering is done by a crew of 16 in-house designers and about 100 freelancers (a crew that is always looking for pitches!). The process is intense, taking up to five years, and involves close coordination with sawmills, manufacturers, distribution warehouses, and focus groups. It would seem, then, that IKEA would be the authority on flat-pack design. Yet people hate putting together their furniture, generating memes in equal proportion to wobbly bookcases the world over. Frustration seems to cluster around two things: language-agnostic instructions made up of impenetrable diagrams, and fickle fasteners that never seem to equal the holes meant to accept them. That said, from an engineering view IKEA's hardware is ingenious, combining simple tools with self-registering systems that (hopefully) force pieces into alignment as they are assembled.
Fiberglass roof
This article gives you the low down on different types of flat roofing material. This should help you choose one when it is time to replace your flat roof.
Flat roof details and information relating to insulating a flat roof. Details both in 2d and 3d to give a clear understanding.
Best flat roofing materials – Flat roofs compared What is the best flat roof, or roof material for flat roof replacement? This is a question I get asked a lot, and to be honest there isn’t a right or wrong answer – But there is sometimes a type of flat roof that would suit a flat roof of a particular size, shape, detail level or budget. I have been fitting new flat roofs now for over 30 years, I have seen virtually every type of flat roof, from being installed on day one, to its final death. So if you want some impartial advice free from sales patter, read on. You can also find a link to average flat roof costs at the bottom of the page. What is the best flat roof? Well let’s take a look at the main contenders, Felt v Asphalt v Fibreglass v EPDM rubber v Single ply membranes, let the fight begin, click on more info for a shortcut to that roof covering, or read the article as a whole. Felt roof – Positives – low cost, proven results, suits roofs of any size – Negatives – not suitable for regular foot fall, requires heat to install, not DIY friendly, suffers from a poor reputation from older systems – More info here Asphalt roof – Positives – Competitively priced, hard wearing, suitable for most sizes, long lifespan – Negatives – relatively heavy and requires a strong roof structure, not flexible, not DIY friendly – More info here EPDM rubber roof – Positives – lightweight, flexible, hard wearing, no naked flames required, can be DIY installed – Negatives – not pretty and even ugly if overlooked, may shrink over the years, may not suit complex detailing, can attract poor installers – More info here GRP fibreglass roof – Positives – lightweight, hard wearing, no hot flame, resists vandalism, truly jointless, pretty, long lifespan, can be DIY installed – Negatives – not very flexible, does not suit large surface areas easily, slippy when new – More info here Single ply membrane like PVC, TPO, TPE, & PIB – Positives – lightweight, flexible, pleasant to look at, handles slopes and large areas, fairly durable, fire resistant – Negatives – Costs more to install than other flat roof systems in a domestic setting, may not suit regular footfall, or complex details – More info here Flat roof replacement Before we begin… Sometimes the mere mention of a flat roof sends a homeowner into a spin. I’ve had customers spend 15 times the cost of replacing an old flat roof converting it to a pitch roof to save the cost of replacing it in another 20 years time. I know you want your next roof to last forever, but take a deep breath and think clearly. How long does a flat roof last – Most modern flat roofs have a lifespan of 20 years or more, so that means if you were to live in a house for 60 years you would only have to replace it two or three times before you die of old age. So unless it’s for style, spending a disproportionate amount of money on a flat roof or pitched roof conversion rarely makes sense. Felt roof This type of flat roof still has a bad reputation with some people, but I’m going to tell you why that perception is out of date. Most people have in mind the old ‘pour and roll’ felts of yesteryear, and these were thin bitumen felts glued together with a hot liquid bitumen between each layer. They had minimum internal reinforcing, with some containing natural hessian fibres which were prone to rotting. This type of felt, sometimes known as felt paper or tar paper, would effectively dry out and crack with age or UV damage from the sun. 10 years was pretty much the life expectancy. Modern torch on felt roof Torch on felt roofing, in case you hadn’t guessed describes the method of application. Do not confuse these modern roofing felts with the older pour and roll system. Great strides continue to be made in bitumen and modified bitumen technology such as SBS or APP, resulting in much better resistance to UV damage and cracking. This type of felt roof comes on rolls and is laid with the aid of a very large blow torch that heats and melts the rear of the felt, melting it onto the roof structure below. Typically it’s applied as a 3 layer system usually consisting of a perforated underlay, a 2mm underlay layer, then thick 4-5mm felt. These layers are all laid in a half lap manner, so all the joints are the furthest away they can be from another joint. The thickest top layer is often a coloured mineral finish known as a cap sheet, and they are available in a variety of colours, as well as a plain felt finished with a silver solar reflective UV finish. All of these felt layers are also reinforced with strong polyester weave sandwiched in the middle of the felt, giving them incredible strength. In lifespan terms, I don’t know a single roofer that will not be happy to guarantee 10 years, because they know it will last 20, sometimes 30+. In fact we use a company that guarantees for 20 years. Not as bad as you thought is it? New green mineral felt Torchon mineral felt roof 10 years old Cost – By far the cheapest option see our flat roof costs page. Suitability – Can be laid to any size of roof, or detail level without problem. Has favourable expansion and contraction properties due to modern bitumen technologies. Not best for heavy and frequent foot fall, especially during the hottest weather in summer months. Damage resistance – During hot weather heavy or careless foot traffic may scuff the mineral surface. It is perfectly ok to walk on if you’re careful as long as you don’t have high heels, but no ... Read more
In contrast to other sloped roofs, a flat roof is generally not as durable or long lasting as sloped roofs. When a roof of a house is fla...
At 21 degrees, we are committed to using a whole house approach to provide better performing buildings from a comfort, cost and carbon perspective. We supply a range of specialist products and services, including triple glazed timber windows and doors, MVHR heat recovery ventilation, insulation and airtightness products.
park range - work in progress - loft conversion: box dormer installation #3 | RED
Thermal ply a composite insulation panel of Polyisocyanurate core with composite foil face, bonded to 6mm WBP grade plywood.
Download quality free BIM & Revit Components for the Dryseal GRP roofing system from Hambleside Danelaw Ltd for free.
Attics or roofs can be designed to be either vented or unvented in any hygro-thermal zone – learn more from Building Science expert Joseph Lstiburek.
If you are looking for long-lasting flat roof materials, discover the abilities of EPDM and what makes this type of flat roof material so special.
Learn about the different materials that are available for flat roofs including EPDM (rubber), built-up roof, and modified bitumen.
As a trusted supplier of EPDM membranes, we have a variety of case studies which help you see our products in action.
Are you looking for ways to elevate your small porch? Get inspired by these 24 functional and visually appealing small front porch ideas.
When you’re considering buying a new commercial roof for your building, you’re likely thinking of a new flat roof. There are a lot of optio...
It is often a VERY difficult task to choose the perfect material for your flat roof. Not anymore, read this post to check out the top 5 flat roof materials.
- Civil-Jungles
Lead roofing specialists TM Roofing & Building in Fleet Hampshire lead roofers - lead roofing and lead flashings, lead capping and lead gutters.
