Flat Roofing: Overcoming a Bad Reputation
25/03/2015
Flat roofing isn't a brand new concept; this type of roofing has been around for years, with Otto Wagner being one of the first architects to use it. One of his most famous buildings is the Post Office Bank in Vienna where he experimented with flat roofing during the early 1900s and essentially kicked off the Art Nouveau influence. Over time however, the beauty and precision of flat roofing became so debased during the 1950s and 60s due to poor materials and workmanship that they started to become universally suspect.
Dispelling the Bad Reputation
To this day there are still a few specialist companies in the UK that are dedicated to converting flat roofs into pitched ones to rectify the so-called evils of flat roofing. However, the flat roof is back and highly-regarded with designers and architects.
Chris Loyn, an award winning domestic architect explains why things have improved so much in this area of domestic architecture: "The critical difference between today and 50s and 60s technology centres on ventilation. The reason so many flat roofs failed in the past was not usually faulty membranes on the outside but rot and failure caused by condensation in the structure beneath.
He goes on to say: Today we know all about this and get round it by placing the outer roofing membrane on top of external insulation and leave a void beneath the timber decking and the ceiling beneath. This is not only ideal for containing services and recessed lighting but also vital for the ventilation of the roof."
Flat roofs offer major design advantages for the inside of your house, such as freeing up internal space. You have more freedom to plan interesting shapes beneath a flat roof without having to worry about the way the roof is held up.
So, there you have it, flat roofing has been and always will be an innovative and beneficial type of roofing, especially within the architecture and design world. If you are currently looking for a new roofing solution, give us a call on 01603 418818 and we will help you with your enquiry.
