Flat Roof Construction Uk

The definition of a flat roof according to bs 6229 is having a pitch less than 10 o to the horizontal however some in the industry would consider up to 15 o as their definition of a flat roof.

Flat roof construction uk. Flat roofs were uncommon in the uk until after the second world war. The scottish technical handbook domestic describes flat roofs as roofs the slope of which does not exceed 10º from the horizontal. A flat roof usually consists of the following. Although flat roofs are cheaper to build than pitched roofs they have a shorter life span.

A pitched or sloping roof has a pitch of at least 15 but often much more. As a mass rebuild of housing got underway it was discovered to be a cheaper alternative to the traditional pitched roof style. A roof is defined in bs 6229 as a flat roof if it has a pitch of 10 degrees or less. The steels or rsj s rolled steel joists are often built into one or both walls to give added stability to the roof structure.

Flat roofs are exceedingly popular with those looking to create a cool modern home. A typical roof pitch in the uk for a traditional house will be 40 50 but at the extreme can go up to 70 above 70 would actually be called a wall. On a basic level flat roof construction comes in the form of roofing timbers or joists as they are more commonly known or steels that are laid across two uprights walls in most cases. Flat roof options help to free up internal space and are often cheaper that pitched roof options as they require fewer materials to cover the same roof span.

While very common in countries with warm climates flat roofs were only widely adopted in the uk after the second world war. It must provide adequate protection against the elements keeping the buildings structure and interior dry. What pitch is a flat roof. A flat roof must be strong durable and stable throughout its lifetime.

As with many industries there s a whole world of confusing jargon built up around flat roof construction. Getting the balance right here is crucial as too much weight will inevitably lead to an unstable roofing structure. They were seen as a cheaper alternative to traditional pitched roofs. Flat roofing under construction plywood decking is then used to cover the joists with the width in between also determined by the weight being placed upon them.

Flat roofs can be more difficult to insure but at homeprotect we offer quotes for any of flat roof get a quote here online in minutes. The reality is that flat roofs are relatively straightforward so we have written this simple guide to help you get to grips with flat roof lingo. Pitched roofs examples of pitched roofs. Flat roof construction for residential a roof is considered to be flat when it is of a slope of 1 5o to the horizontal.