Flat Roof Vs Slope Roof: A Detailed Comparision
In this article, we offer a complete showdown between flat and slope roof.
21/05/2020
Flat roof vs slope roof, the two most common roofing types that homeowners prefer. When it comes to replacing your old roof, many people often find it difficult to decide as to which type to go for. In this article, we have laid out a complete comparison based on the 5 metrics.
So here are the complete showdown between flat and slope roof:
1. Maintenance
Before considering the cost, you should be aware of how difficult or easy it is to maintain your roof. Without knowing the difficulty of maintenance, you might end up spending more later. In general, both roofing types require regular maintenance and consistent care.
Slope roofs or pitched roofs are more difficult to clean, due to its sloped structure. Flat roofs, on the other hand, have an inefficient drainage system, in which the gutters often get clogged and lead to a roof leak, one of the most common roofing problems.
So for this point, we can easily conclude that slope roofs, overall, are easier to maintain.
2. Cost
In short, flat roofs are cheaper than slope roofs. True, when you install flat roofs, you need to install an extra layer of insulation as well, which requires additional cost. But in the long term, you need extra materials for the pitched roofs to function well.
Besides, as mentioned above, the walks in for the flat roofing system is much easier, due to its flat nature. Although slope roofs are easier to maintain, if anything goes wrong with the roofs, the only way out is to hire a professional contractor who will come equipped with special equipment to repair the slope roofs.
So in the long term, flat roofs are much cheaper.
3. Size
Coming to the size factor, this depends on what type of building you want to install the roofs on. If you need commercial roofs, then flat roofs are probably the best choice for you, taking into consideration, the cost of materials and maintenance.
This is because, with slope roofs, you would need a series of additional peaks and valleys, due to the nature of tall buildings. Therefore small buildings are a better candidate for slope roofs in this case.
4. Longevity
This is often a debate among many roofers, but according to us, slope roofs tend to have a longer life span than flat roofs. Flat roofs are easier to crack due to sensitivity against the temperature. With slope roofs, you can utilize their versatile nature to increase their lifespan even further.
What we mean by versatile nature here is that with slope roofs, there is a wider range of materials that can be used for sloped roofing, including shingles, concrete, and wood shingles. Plus, the slanted nature allows the roofs to stand up better against the water, ice, and snow, which are the 3 main culprits behind a roof leak.
So another point to slope roofs here.
5. Efficiency
Although at this point, you will see that slope roofs have a longer lifespan than flat roofs, but when it comes to the efficiency factor, flat roofs are the clear winner here.
With flat roofs, it’s much easier to install solar panels. Because of their flat nature, the panels can be easily placed and received direct sunlight. Plus, there are more spaces under flat roofs than slope roofs, where you can place large appliances like air conditioners or heavy machines. This makes your house much quieter and space-free.
Conclusion
And that’s all for the detailed comparison between flat roofs and slope roofs. Hopefully, you can now decide which type of roof to choose for your building. If you’re looking for a simple roofing type with affordable prices, then flat roofs are your best choice. But if you’re looking for a long term investment and more stability, then slope or pitch roofs are your best bet.
If you need any help in hiring a roofing company, check out this guide here.