Flat roof or low pitch roof?

11 replies

donquixotedelamancha · 24/10/2018 20:16

We are looking at a roof for a single story 4m extension. Likely to be very low pitch, or flat. I would welcome any thoughts on advantages of different systems.

We are currently thinking of a low pitched tiled system with skylights.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

OP posts:

RangerLady · 24/10/2018 22:57

As far as I am aware there aren't many advantages to a flat roof. My parents have one and hate it. When it rains heavily it is deafening and it needs more maintenance than a normal roof

whitemarble · 24/10/2018 23:00

I have a low pitch (c13 degrees) tiled roof with skylights, so much better than the flat roof I had before. I had to get special flashing kits with the skylights so bring them up to minimum pitch but definitely worth it.

Gives loads more light and feeling of space inside as well as looks so much better from the outside.

ItsaPeppaPink · 24/10/2018 23:05

For insurance purposes go with the pitch!! I have a flat roof portion on my house and MOST companies won't even quote as over 25% of total area, have to go with specfic insurer so unable to shop around!

florenceheadache · 24/10/2018 23:10

as far as i'm concerned it's always better to drain the water away from the house so to me pitch would win over flat.

Buteo · 25/10/2018 09:07

Even low pitched roofs can be hard to insure if over 25% of total area - we have a low pitched roof but insurers treat it the same as a flat roof.

Homesunderthehammer27 · 25/10/2018 09:19

If going low pitch, try to go at least 15 degrees as there are a limited amount of tiling systems that are lower and Velux will work at that pitch.

We have a lower pitch so couldn't find a suitable tile system so have
gone with a GRP roof. You can also look at Sika Sarnafil.

wineymummy · 25/10/2018 11:00

Look at Marley Modern Roof Tiles. Tiling a low pitched roof is probably cheaper than a decent flat roof covering (SIKA or GRP) and will last longer - and I think looks nicer in most cases. We have a 17 deg. lean-to with the marley tiles and a rooflight.

averythinline · 25/10/2018 11:05

We couldnt get a pitch low enough at a price we could afford!

as have a bay window upstairs so ended up with flat - the upside was we could get bigger skylights (and DH can get up to clean them!)

they are guarenteed for x years - we paid a bit more for 'warm deck' ( i think taht was the term....but basically was an extra layer of insulation and I think it worked as we were nice and warm in all teh snow last year and not too hot in this hot summer - so as much insulation as you can get would be my advice...

Hnantonella612 · 25/10/2018 11:36

Hello! Since you’re all parents (or parents to-be) i would like to expose my current situation. I’m a young adult girl and I believe my own parents made a huge mistake when they bought this new house we’re living in now. Not only have they spent all of their money, but also it needs constant improvements. I also go to college, which was a bit far from my lovely old house and now it’s even worse (I have to take more transports). But I feel like I have to drop it and start working as soon as possible in order to help them. They treat me really bad, but the only thing I want is to return to my old ménage. We have become an exposed museum along with my brother, many people would come (and even they still do) and see our bedrooms and stuff. Most of their “friends”, who they were not in touch for years, appeared like out of the blue and are starting to frequent this house. But what makes me more desperate is the amount of money they are spending here, I’m 21 and I believe when they finish remodeling I will no longer live here, so they can not enjoy their lovely home with me. We never made a good trip all together, because they invested everything here. Besides, the economic crisis in our country isn’t helping at all. I’m desperate, I miss my old neighborhood, this one is horrible, the path is awful, the backyard is full of trash from the previous owners, and my family don’t even care. I miss living next to my best friends, whose families I consider they more mine than my real family and there we had everything near, the supermarket, the bus stop, the grocery, the mall, etc. Now I have to walk 15 blocks to get to the bus stop. I wish they hadn’t find this damn place.

Original poster

donquixotedelamancha · 27/10/2018 20:21

Thanks to all. The issue of shopping around for insurance hadn't occurred to me. Particularly superb advice from Hnantonella612

Does anyone think we will have an issue of the roof being treated as flat by insurers? Pitch is 12.5 degrees.

OP posts:

Buteo · 27/10/2018 20:35

I’d speak to a broker to check.

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