Whether you are just curious about flat roofs,  interested in designing a new building or thinking about adding a completely new roof to your home or business, flat roofs have their positives and negatives. Traditionally, especially in the New England area, we see flat roofs used on commercial buildings. Here are some various pros & cons of installation a flat roof.

Flat Roof Pros

Costs: The installment of a flat roof is far less expensive then a sloped roof. It is much easier because you don’t have to worry about any dangerous pitch which makes it difficult for the installer to navigate. There are also many more extra parts and pieces that go into the installation process of a pitched roof.

Usable Space: Often times, pitched roofs leave extra space that doesn’t get used. With a flat roof, you can maximize the space in your building and you can often utilize the space on top of your building. A nice rooftop deck or patio is very popular for apartment buildings.

Flat Roof Cons

Maintenance: Both pitched and flat roofs require maintenance during their lifetime but flat roofs may require more. Especially living in New England, flat roofs require that snow gets shoveled off of them. In the event of a couple harsh storms, a flat roof could gain too much weight and could collapse.

Lifespan: The average lifespan of a flat roof is much shorter then other pitched roofing options. The abuse that flat roofs take, without any natural drainage leads to a shorter lifespan.

For more information on flat roofs, flat roof installation, or maintenance work please feel free to reach out. Rhode Island Slate Roofing can be contacted over the phone at 401-255-2003 or through our online contact form.