Often, in the construction of private houses, preference is given to a pitched roof, but there are also buildings with a flat roof, and as a result, very curious architectural objects are obtained. If a decision is made to equip this structure, then you need to be prepared for some difficulties. There are pros and cons of a flat roof, the nuances of its installation.

Pros and cons of a flat roof

It is worth noting from the very beginning that a flat roof for a private house is not a perfectly horizontal surface. It also has a slope, only a small one (from 1 to 5 degrees). The following main advantages of the roof can be distinguished:

the overlap of the upper floor will serve as a supporting structure for the roof;
the same height of the space under the roof will allow it to be used as a full-fledged room;
gives the house an original look;
the possibility of using the roof surface (for example, you can equip a summer terrace there);
simplifies repairs and makes them safer.

The disadvantages include:

stringent requirements for the waterproofing layer of the roofing cake;
the need to install an internal drain;
high degree of snow load.

From the above, it follows that a flat roof is a good solution, provided that all roofing work is carried out to a high standard and the requirements are taken into account.

Basis for mounting a flat roof

What will be the overlap of the upper floor directly depends on the structural features of the ceiling throughout the house. As a rule, it is performed using the same material as the ceiling between floors.

The most common options are prefabricated or monolithic reinforced concrete floors, profiled sheet ceilings with metal support beams.

An option with a wooden floor is also possible. The fundamental difference from the overlap between floors is the presence of a laid insulation and high-quality waterproofing.

Roofing cake options

The type of roofing cake is determined by the nature of its location and purpose. It can be performed in the classic version or made inverted.

Classical roofing has the following composition: ceiling, concrete or expanded clay concrete slope, vapor barrier, heat-insulating material, roofing with a high degree of protection against moisture (mainly bituminous materials).

In the inversion structure, the arrangement is different: overlap, slope, multilayer waterproofing, heat-insulating material, vapor barrier and, finally, the pressure layer. The latter can be made from concrete slabs, gravel, ceramic tiles, etc.

The name of the inversion roof was due to the mirror arrangement of the layers of hydro and vapor barrier in relation to the insulation (unlike the classic version).

This type of roofing is ideal for exploited roofs. However, the complexity of the technology makes such roofs a rare exception in the field of private construction.

The technology itself is expensive, since the massiveness of the structure makes it necessary to create a solid floor of the upper floor.

Bearing structures require detailed calculations at the design stage, and the layering of the cake brings with it significant costs.

Below, only the classic version of the roofing pie will be considered, which is often equipped with modern houses with a flat roof.

roofing material

The material for the roof, namely vapor barrier, waterproofing, insulation and the coating itself, must be of high quality.

Vapor barrier is performed by special membranes, not perforated films. It is undesirable to use polyethylene as a waterproofing, since the material does not have the necessary reliability.

Insulation for mounting a flat roof is selected taking into account the snow load, as well as the load coming from people working on the roof during repairs.

The insulation must be durable and resistant to a humid environment. It can be polystyrene foam, high-density mineral wool, expanded clay.

The efficiency of the latter is not so high, therefore, when choosing it as a heater, it is necessary to achieve a large thickness of the layer being laid. This increases the load on the supporting structures.

The coating is made from rolled materials: roofing material, linochrome, hydroisol, etc., and bulk mastics are also used. Roll material is considered the most optimal for use in the arrangement of a flat roof.

Roofing technology

Flat roof construction involves the following workflow steps. The slope of the roof, albeit small, is achieved by creating a slope.

In this case, you can use bulk material (expanded clay), foam concrete (it is advisable to contact specialists), and a heater. From above, the slope is covered with a waterproofing layer, after which the process of laying the roofing begins.

The next step is laying the first layer. A roll is rolled out, then it is heated with a gas burner and glued to the base.

It is important to ensure that the sheets overlap each other and the material is applied to all vertical roof objects (parapets, pipes, etc.).

Three layers of lining and one finishing layer are laid on a flat roof.

The stage of laying the coating is a laborious process, especially if you want to use adhesive mastic.

Overhead gutters, an internal drainage system are used for the drainage device.

In the case when all the work related to the arrangement of the roof is done correctly, you will have an excellent opportunity to proudly declare the originality of your residential creation. And the photo taken of a house with a flat roof will join the ranks of original design solutions on the network.

Photo of houses with a flat roof

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Flat roof houses - options and projects

Recently, there has been a growing interest in low-rise flat roof projects. Architects and developers are attracted by these unusual buildings, where you can equip an observation platform or even set up a real hanging garden. Of course, in practice everything is more complicated than in theory.

The design of a flat roof raises many questions regarding its cost, the choice of materials for insulation and waterproofing, the organization of water flow, maintenance and operation of the roof. Finding answers to them is not easy. The fact is that domestic contractors working in the field of cottage and summer cottage construction are well aware of the most popular design - pitched, and, as a rule, they do not have experience in erecting flat roofs arranged in a completely different way.

Which roof will be cheaper?

Immediately noteworthy is the fact that the area of a flat roof is smaller than a pitched one, which means that fewer materials will be required, and the work will be cheaper. However, this statement is true only for regions with a warm climate and low snow load, moreover, if we are talking about an unexploited roof. In central Russia, to ensure the reliability and durability of a horizontal roof, rather expensive engineering solutions are required.

It turns out that 1 m 2 of a flat concrete or steel base, the bearing capacity of which will withstand the weight of the snow cover, costs 2-2.5 times more than the wooden beam structure of a pitched roof. The difference in the volumetric flow rate of the insulation is offset by the fact that a flat roof requires a more expensive high-density material. There is still hope to save on roofing, however, modern polymer membranes - optimal waterproofing for horizontal roofs - are no cheaper (and sometimes much more expensive) than flexible tiles.

You won’t need to install snow retainers, but you can’t do without a roof hatch and a drainage system. If you try to reduce the cost of the estimate, then later you will have to pay with the need to repair the roof every 10-15 years.

Finally, it should be noted that flat roofs are appropriate only on houses of modern architecture - with a large glazing area and sophisticated finishing with the latest facade materials. That and others won't be cheap.

Flat roof cover

As a rule, in low-rise housing construction, flat roofing is a prefabricated or monolithic reinforced concrete slab.

Reinforced concrete slabs (PB, hollow core PC, PV, etc.) are able to cover a span up to 9 m long and withstand a pressure of 8, 9 or 12.5 kPa (this value is indicated by the last digit in the product marking). They can serve as a "base" for any roofing pies, including those with a top layer of paving slabs or fertile soil. However, for the installation of the structure, it will be necessary to ensure the arrival of a truck crane site (while steel beams and decking are easy to lift with winches). The depth of support of the ceiling on the wall depends on the material of the latter - for example, for a brick, this parameter should be equal to the thickness of the slab. Before proceeding with the installation of the roof, it is important to seal the joints of the elements with mortar and additionally seal them with an elastic polymer tape. A monolithic w\6 floor is erected from heavy concrete using a removable (for example, from OSB boards on jack stands) or fixed (from corrugated board) formwork. It is reinforced with a two- or four-level welded frame made of bars with a diameter of 12 mm or more. The dimensions of a monolithic slab are not regulated (unlike a prefabricated one), which provides the architect with freedom in designing a building; other pluses are the absence of seams, the relative simplicity of the arrangement of passage units (chimney, ventilation ducts) and high bearing capacity (subject to the technological regulations).

beam ceiling

In principle, when erecting a ceiling, a combination of beams (wooden, steel) and a supporting corrugated board can be used. However, experts do not recommend the use of wooden beams (with the exception of those made of LVL beams with a cross section of 200 * 100 mm) in regions where the snow cover pressure exceeds 1.2 kPa (about 120 kgf / m 2) - that is, in most of the territory of the Russian Federation. Roofing made of steel I-beams and corrugated board with a wave height of 60 mm and a wall thickness of 0.7 mm makes it possible to cover a span of up to 12 m and withstands a pressure of at least 6 kPa. But in general, it is less durable than concrete, and is relatively rarely used in individual construction. It is wiser to use corrugated board as a fixed formwork, which, by the way, does not eliminate the need to build a reinforcing cage.

Types of flat roof

In the low-rise sector, mostly non-attic flat roofs are in demand, because the attic requires additional costs and violates the architectural proportions of the house. So, the roof should protect from the winter cold and summer heat. At the same time, a common feature of flat roofs is that the heat-insulating layer is located on top of the supporting structure (in pitched roofs, it is usually located between the rafters). If the room is insulated from below, the dew point may shift into the thickness of the ceiling, which will lead to a reduction in the service life of the latter.

There are special requirements for thermal insulation for a flat roof. The material should not only have a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, but also resist mechanical loads well - both distributed (pressure of the higher layers of the roofing cake, equipment, snow) and local ones that occur during installation. In addition, it is important that the material has hydrophobic properties and is non-combustible. At the moment, there are several ways to install thermal insulation: using mechanical fasteners, adhesive and free laying. In addition to the traditional two-layer insulation, one-layer laying is becoming an increasingly popular solution.

As for the options for the execution of the roof, there are dozens of them. Suffice it to say that only in SP 17.13330.2011 there are more than 40 "recipes". At the same time, manufacturers of coatings and insulation offer more and more new engineering solutions. However, they are always based on one of two fundamental schemes - traditional or inversion.

Traditional flat roof construction in general terms, it is as follows: a vapor barrier film (polypropylene, polyethylene, 6-tumo-polymer) is laid on top of the supporting base, then a heater follows, for example, mineral wool boards with a compressive strength at ten percent deformation of at least 30 kPa, in one or two layers of total thickness from 200 mm. Above is a separating layer (for example, from a polyethylene film), along which a reinforced slope-forming screed is poured (a flat roof must be given a slope of 2-3% to the center or edges to ensure water flow). The dried screed serves as the basis for a rolled or mastic waterproofing coating.

Other options are also possible.

For example, a slope-forming screed can be placed at the very bottom of the pie; in this case, the roof waterproofing is fixed with gravel ballast, paving slabs on supports or special dowels. Some materials, for example, the "RUF SLOPE" (Rockwool) or "TechnoNIKOL Slant" system, allow you to do without a screed at all: the plates have a variable thickness, and with their help it is easy to create smooth level drops to ensure water flow.

Flat roofs are classified into unexploited and exploited. The former are visited only for revision, prevention and repair; for this purpose, a roof hatch is equipped, to which an attic staircase leads. The operated roof in cottages most often serves as a terrace, that is, a durable wear-resistant coating must be laid on it, and the supporting base is designed for increased loads. A variety of exploited - a roof with landscaping, lined with a sod layer on top of the main heat-hydro-insulating cake; usually it is arranged with paths and a recreation area. A convenient exit should be provided for the operated roof, for example, from a vestibule superstructure.

inverted roof it is arranged differently: in it, a heater resistant to constant exposure to water (usually extruded polystyrene foam - EPS) is located on top of the waterproofing. At the same time, the latter is reliably protected from mechanical damage and is located in the zone of positive temperatures (freeze-thaw cycles are destructive for almost any material). It is easy to turn an inverted roof into an exploitable one, for example, by filling the insulation with a drainage layer of sand gravel and laying paving slabs. The disadvantages of the design include a more complex drainage system. However, drains need to be discussed separately.

For exploited roofs, as well as roofs arranged in regions with harsh climatic conditions, the inversion scheme is ideal. Since the waterproofing layer is located under the thermal insulation layer, it is protected from mechanical stress, as well as from temperature extremes and UV radiation, which significantly extends the life of the roofing system. Waterproofing materials based on modified bitumen must be laid in at least two layers - this technology is more common, and in addition, it allows you to level out possible errors during the deposition of the material. A single layer is sufficient for a polymer membrane, and automatic welding equipment ensures reliability, which greatly increases the speed of work. In addition, an open flame is not used when installing a polymer membrane, so the technology is considered safer.

Roll materials based on modified bitumen, as a rule, are fused with a gas burner (a), while it is difficult to prevent small flaws that can cause leakage (if there is no second layer). The quality of welding of PVC coating strips (6) is much easier to control

Drainage and water protection system of a flat roof

A flat roof is equipped with a parapet (attic) 30-90 cm high, which helps to ensure organized water drainage; on the operated roof, it also serves as a safety fence. At the same time, the design of gutters should be approached very responsibly, because in the event of an error, a huge puddle can form above your head, which threatens to leak and damage the supporting structures.

As a rule, the choice is made in favor of an internal drain. Such a system is less exposed to the atmosphere and therefore more durable and reliable than the outdoor one. Let's talk more about its main elements. Drainage funnels are installed on low sections of the roof. As a rule, two funnels are mounted on roofs up to 150 m 2 - the main one, connected to the riser, and the emergency one, with water discharge through a hole in the parapet. With an increase in the number of funnels and risers, the reliability of the system increases, but its cost also increases.

Flat roofs are in demand in modular construction. Among the advantages of this method are the affordable cost and high speed of housing construction, as well as the possibility of a phased increase in its area.

For inverted and green roofs, special funnels with drainage rings have been developed to collect moisture from the intermediate layers. Water receivers must be equipped with electric heating based on a self-regulating cable - then they will properly perform their function during alternating thaws and frosts.

In systems of a new type, the so-called siphon-vacuum systems, special funnels are used to prevent air from being sucked into the water flow. Thanks to them, the speed of fluid movement in the pipe (and hence the throughput of the latter) increases, which makes it possible to reduce the diameter of the system elements. However, for low-rise buildings, the savings turn out to be insignificant, moreover, such systems require more accurate calculations than gravitational ones.

The drainpipe is made of sewer pipes - polypropylene, PVC, and it makes sense to use noise-absorbing products, such as RAUPIANO Plus (REHAU), or to soundproof the riser, otherwise you will hear the murmur of water for hours. The riser is attached to the funnel using an elastic coupling. When laying pipes, minimize the number of elbows and the length of horizontal sections that reduce the throughput of the system. A drainage pipe laid in the basement or insulated underground connects the riser to the rain sewer or provides water discharge into the linear drainage tray.

In the second case, there is a risk of clogging the outlet with ice, so the riser should be equipped with a “winter” outlet to the domestic sewer (the latter should be equipped with a water seal). The outlet pipe is cleaned through a collapsible connection or revision module.

When choosing the standard size of elements of a traditional gravity system, they proceed from the intensity of rains in a given area, focusing on SP 32.13330.2012.

The external drainage system is more vulnerable than the internal one, and also affects the appearance of the facades, but it does not require holes in the roof and ceilings and does not eat up the usable area of the house. Water is discharged through parapet funnels or branch pipes embedded in the parapet, under which classic funnels are installed (as on a pitched roof) and downpipes attached to the walls with brackets. When calculating, it is assumed that for every square meter of roof area there should be 1-1.5 cm of the cross section of drainpipes. Elements of the external system can be made of PVC, steel, copper, zinc-titanium.

flat roof landscaping

Turf-covered roofs have been used since ancient times in countries with a moderately cold and humid climate, and the green carpet performed the main moisture-protective function in them.

As part of the modern concept of a green roof, a layer of fertile soil with plants is needed to give unusual features to the appearance of the building, decorate the terrace roof and extend the life of the coating by covering it from ultraviolet rays. In addition, it absorbs rainwater, unloading gutters, dampens the sound of rain, protects the upper floor from overheating in summer and reduces heat loss in winter. It is believed that landscaping almost doubles the life of a roof. Its disadvantages include an increase in the load on the supporting structures of the building and an increase in the cost of construction.

In addition, the green carpet needs care, the intensity of which depends on the selected plant species. If you do not pay due attention to plantings, they will freeze and die from drought.

To green the roof, it is necessary to lay on top of the main waterproofing layer (in the case of an inversion scheme - on top of the insulation) an additional cake of materials that will protect the waterproofing layer from roots, filter and drain rainwater. For these purposes, special films are used, dense geotextiles, gravel bedding or drainage and moisture-accumulating membranes made of high density polyethylene, such as PLANTER GEO or Delta-Floraxx.

Then a mixture of minerals and fertilizers is poured - the so-called soil substrate. It can be prepared independently by adding fine expanded clay (5-15%), sand (about 20 96) and fertilizers to a light soil mixture from neutral peat. As for plants, it is easiest to limit yourself to meadow forbs and drought-resistant ground covers - sedum, carnation-herbal, thyme.

For them, it is not necessary to organize an irrigation system, and the thickness of the soil layer can be only 6-12 cm (the roof of this type is called extensive). If you plan to walk on the roof among ornamental shrubs, you will have to provide watering and increase the thickness of the soil to 20-40 cm. Such a roof is called intensive, it creates a significant additional load on the floor, so it should be provided at the design stage of the building.

What is the best coating for a flat roof

Sheet and piece coatings are unsuitable for a flat roof: water will inevitably seep through the joints of the elements. Therefore, roll materials and mastics are used. Let's give a brief description of them.

ROLL REINFORCED POLYMERIC-BITUMEN ROOFING.

The mechanical strength of these materials is several times higher than that of roofing paper (roofing material, roofing felt). And modifying additives increase resistance to moisture, air and ultraviolet. The material is glued to the base with mastic, fixed mechanically or (most often) welded. There are coatings for the lower layers of the roof ("Technoelast EPP", "Uniflex EPP", "Bireplast TPP", etc.) and for the upper ones ("Technoelast EKP", "Uniflex EKP", "Hydrostekloizol TKP", etc.). The latter are sprinkled with mineral chips, which reduce the risk of fire and additionally protect against mechanical damage and UV exposure. The cost of waterproofing of both types is low - from 65 and from 150 rubles, respectively. per 1 m 2 and the average service life of a roofing carpet is 15-30 years.

ROLL PVC MEMBRANES, for example Sikaplan WP, Logicroof, Ecoplast are strong and durable (up to 30 years without repair) and do not support combustion. However, they require a professional approach to installation (the joints of the strips must be carefully welded with hot air) and are relatively expensive - from 320 rubles. for 1 m 2. It is important to consider that this material does not tolerate contact with bitumen.

ROOF COVERING OPTIONS

Traditional with external drain
1 - overlap; 2 - slope-forming screed; 3 - vapor barrier; D, 5 - mineral wool insulation; 6 - waterproofing; 7 - drain
inversion
with internal drainage
1 - coupler; 2 - PVC membrane; 3 - EPPS; 4 - funnel with a drainage ring; 5 - drainage membrane; 6 - sand; 7 - paving slabs

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

In European countries, flat-roofed houses, which can be seen in the photo, are not uncommon; they are often built in the resort towns of the Mediterranean, since precipitation is infrequent there. In domestic open spaces, buildings with such a roof are still rare, they mainly have an industrial or economic purpose - workshops, garages, repair shops, etc. The reason lies in the fact that property owners prefer classic projects for the construction of private cottages.

flat roof houses

The most common form of their construction is considered to be square houses with a flat roof, they are luxurious penthouses that attract the views of passers-by with their appearance.

Disadvantages and advantages of flat roofs

The advantages of flat roofs are obvious:

it is possible to use the roof surface for your own needs, there you can arrange a place for recreation or sports, plant an ornamental garden, green lawn;
it is profitable to build a house with a flat roof, since a significant amount is saved, which is necessary to create a truss structure;
snow that accumulates on the roof surface in winter acts as an additional insulating layer (experts call this circumstance controversial);
for the operation of the top coating in winter, you can install a heating system;
if inexpensive roofing materials were used to create the roof, then a significant amount will not be required for the repair and it will be possible to do it on your own. In addition, repair work, if the roof is made, for example, of roofing felt, is not done on the entire surface, but only partially in case of overlapping defects.

The disadvantages include the following points:

in case of negligence or unprofessional construction work when creating a house with a flat roof, it may be necessary to repair the interior of the building, which will cost a lot of money. To reduce the likelihood of leaks, you must not forget about observing a slight slope of the roof, otherwise the precipitation will not drain, but will remain on it.

Taking into account the disadvantages and advantages of choosing flat roofs, we can conclude that this type of roofing is currently relevant and is a promising and reasonable solution, since it becomes possible not only to build an original building, but also save a significant amount of money.

Features of a flat roof device

The construction of houses with a flat roof has a number of nuances that should not be forgotten at the design stage. Most often, the basis for are corrugated board and reinforced concrete slabs, less often lumber is used.

The installation of corrugated board is considered the most economical and financially beneficial, but it can be used when the upper surface of the roof is not in use, in addition, additional insulation is required. Concrete is considered reliable and durable, since on top of it it is possible to install not only a gazebo for relaxation, but also a small swimming pool, which is used in summer.

A natural wood base is usually constructed when building frame houses with a flat roof.

Flat roof decking

If a house with a flat roof is being built using corrugated board, then after installing the support, a vapor barrier layer is laid on top of it. It is necessary to prevent heat loss from the interior of the building. Vapor barrier material is produced in rolls having a certain width and length. Places of overlapping vapor barrier, which can be used as a polyethylene film, must be carefully connected.

Then a heat-insulating layer is mounted using plates for insulation, which are joined together. For reliability, a two-layer laying system is often used. There are bulges on the sheets of corrugated board, which must be tightly filled with heat-insulating material.

After that comes the stage of creation using a polymer film. When all the insulating layers are laid, reinforced concrete slabs are mounted or a sand-concrete screed is poured.

When a country house with a flat roof is being built, regardless of what the base is made of, it is always necessary to make a slight slope - at least 5 degrees, otherwise water will remain on its surface.

Even a minor oversight made during the construction of a house with a flat roof can cause a major overhaul in the very near future.

Flat roof waterproofing and insulation

Brick or wooden houses with a flat roof require high-quality waterproofing of the roof, which is performed using:

films to create a protective waterproofing barrier against moisture;
EPDM membranes, PVC membranes;
hydrophilic rubber;
liquid rubber - sprayed waterproofing;
injection materials (silicone resins);
lubricating compounds that are used to connect waterproofing sheets;
penetrating materials.

Membrane insulation. It is considered an advanced technology that allows for high-quality waterproofing when a frame house with a flat roof is being built.

Diffusion membranes are in the greatest demand, they are:

with microperforation;
superdiffusion;
anti-condensate.

Environmentally friendly and fireproof superdiffusion materials are especially in demand, since during their installation it is not necessary to leave a gap between the layers of waterproofing and thermal insulation, they repel moisture, preventing its penetration into the thermal insulation layer. The service life of such membranes is about 25 years. They are often used when building a wooden house with a flat roof.

There is another way - old and well-tested - this is adhesive waterproofing. It involves the use of roofing material, which is glued to the surface by heating.

flat roof insulation

Insulation of flat roofs is one of the very important types of work associated with. You can do it from the outside or from the inside in one or two layers. The easiest and cheapest way is to insulate the roof from the outside. The two-layer thermal insulation system makes it possible to reduce the load on the floors. The first layer is a heat insulator. The second layer is denser; the distribution function is assigned to it.

It is not difficult to create a flat roof with your own hands - the main thing is to follow the technology.

Many people are used to thinking that it is customary to build flat roofs only on multi-storey buildings and industrial buildings. However, recently this type of roofing has been increasingly used in the construction of private houses. A flat roof in a private house is built without difficulty, given modern technology and a variety of building materials.

There are 4 types of them:

Exploited. The main feature of this type is a fairly powerful base, otherwise there is a possibility of damage to the waterproofing layer. Decking or concrete screed, acting as a base, allow you to create the necessary slope for arranging a drain. Thermal insulation on such a roof must be resistant to serious loads. All this is done in order to use the roof of the house in any capacity, whether it be a work site or a recreation area.
Unexploited. Here, the rigidity of the base of the flat roof structure is not as important as in the above embodiment. And the strength of the insulation also does not play a significant role. This roof is cheaper than the exploited one, but it will also last a shorter period.
Traditional. A feature of their device is the periodicity of the layers - waterproofing goes above thermal insulation. Here, there is a reinforced concrete slab at the base, and an inclined expanded clay concrete screed is used for the drain.
Inversion. The device of a flat roof in this embodiment has practically no problems with water leaks. Here, the thermal insulation is above the waterproofing, which gives the latter protection from ultraviolet rays and the effects of temperature fluctuations. Such a roofing device turns out to be the most durable and functional, which opens up a lot of opportunities for using the roof space.

Important! Angles in the range of 3 to 5 degrees are considered optimal for the slope of the inversion type of a flat roof.

Advantages and disadvantages of this design

A flat roof in a private house, like other types of roofs, has a number of pros and cons. It is worth considering the advantages that determine its popularity in modern construction:

Smaller area than other types of roofing - and this saves effort and money;
Convenience and safety of work - it is quite difficult to fall from a straight horizontal surface, and all the necessary tools are at hand;
Rapid construction - as a consequence of the first two advantages, such work is done much faster;
Ease of maintenance and replacement of roofing - the dismantling of worn parts is usually not carried out, but a new cake is laid directly on the old one;
The use of additional territory - the arrangement of an exploited roof opens up great prospects;
It is possible to install transparent roof elements - the view of the open sky on the ceiling is extremely tempting for many;
Giving your home clear geometric shapes - if the drawing of the house allows, then you can give it a unique look with the help of such a design, especially considering that minimalism is now extremely popular.

It is also worth mentioning the disadvantages of this design:

Snow and leaves accumulate periodically - sometimes mechanical cleaning of the roof is required;
A more complex structure - the presence of gutters suggests their inevitable blockages, especially in bad weather;
Regular control - the humidity of the insulation and the general condition of the roof must be constantly checked;

Not surprisingly, some people may have doubts about the reliability of this type of structure. But judging by the experience of the owners of private houses with a similar roof both in Russia and abroad, this type of roof functions successfully and pleases its owners.

Do-it-yourself flat roof installation

Now on the Internet you can find a lot of photos of houses with flat roofs of a wide variety of designs. Interested in the question of how to make a flat roof with your own hands? Before you build a roof, you must first familiarize yourself with the drawing of the house and make sure of its technical characteristics.

The design features of a flat roof depend on many factors. If this is an unheated room and the roof is being built with your own hands, then it is enough to install support beams, on which the base is then laid from uncut boards fastened with screws or nails. When installing a flat roof on a garage, roofing material often acts as a waterproofing due to its cheapness. Strips of roofing material are applied in the direction of the slope of the roof, fixing them with wooden or steel slats. A do-it-yourself flat roof for an unheated room is created quite easily - here all the work can be done by one person without anyone's help.

When installing a flat roof on a private house that is planned to be heated, the following procedure is usual:

Installation of floor beams. Strict observance of the horizontal is required. Here and in subsequent stages, the participation of several workers will be required.
Flooring installation. Usually an uncut board with a thickness of no more than 5 cm is taken.

Important! The size of the lumber section increases in proportion to the distance between the support beams.

Waterproofing installation.
Thermal insulation laying. In this case, the filling insulation is reinforced with a concrete screed, which dries for a couple of days.
After the screed dries, a bitumen-based primer is applied to it, then roofing material is laid and glued.

The structure of the roofing pie

In order to make the roof reliably protected from moisture, it is necessary to place materials in layers one above the other - this arrangement is extremely important. The standard base is made of concrete slabs or profiled metal. It is able to support the weight of the entire structure above, transferring it to the load-bearing partitions, which, in turn, transfer it to the foundation of the house.

Important! The operated roof should have the most solid foundation.

Then come the standard layers: vapor barrier, thermal insulation and waterproofing. When choosing a flat roof, you should be guided by the preferences of the owner and the capabilities of the building itself. From a huge cottage to a small cozy house built many years ago, flat-roofed houses will be reliably protected from various environmental influences for many years to come.