What to Avoid When Choosing a Flat Roof

May 9, 2019 | General
What to Avoid When Choosing a Flat Roof

Choosing materials for your flat roof? There is plenty to take into consideration when choosing a roofing material since it affects so much once it is installed.  From how much of your time it will take to how much money you can save, this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly.

To help you make an informed choice about your flat roof, we have put together a list of things to avoid. This should help you to choose the right materials for your project so that you are happy with the finished job.

Paying More

There is a multitude of flat roofs available for you to choose from including felt, torch-on felt, asphalt, PVC, GRP/fibreglass and EPDM membrane. All of these come at different prices, so when you’re choosing your flat roof, you need to avoid paying more than you need to.

When you’re exploring prices of different flat roofing materials, it is important to take the life span of each type into consideration. This is because although some flat roofing may seem inexpensive, it may have a short lifespan which means it isn’t very cost effective.

Difficult Repairs

When you select a roof, you expect it to be durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. But, nothing is indestructible, and damage can occur. If it does, you don’t want to have a flat roof installed that is difficult to repair.

Avoid flat roofing types which are tricky or expensive to repair. However, some of the strong rubber membranes are highly durable and extremely easy to repair, which will make your life easier in the long run. Weighing up how easily a flat roof will get damaged and how it can be repaired will save you having to shell out any time some damage occurs.

Tricky to Install

You’ll also want to avoid selecting a roofing material that is tricky to install. Some flat roofs can take longer to install than others. Some are also more difficult. For example, torch-on felt roof uses a torch-on technique which is more complex than some roofing types which only use adhesive to bond the material to the roofing deck.

Unattractive Design

The exterior of a home or any building should look neat and tidy. Some roofing materials have a more professional-looking finish than others, so you’ll want to avoid selecting something that you won’t be happy with in years to come.

Not only do you want your flat roof to look neat with a seamless application, but you’ll also want to avoid materials that are prone to growths of moss and algae, which can look unsightly.

High Maintenance

Looking after a roof can sometimes be time-consuming if your roofing type requires lots of maintenance. From clearing growths to repair work, roofs that need attention that extends beyond a roof inspection, may not be the best option.

Find something that takes care of itself, so that you can feel confident that your roof requires little maintenance other than an inspection every once or twice a year.

Choosing the Wrong Trim

This may sound like an obvious point, but it is no less important. When you’re installing a flat roof, you must avoid choosing the wrong trim in order to avoid drainage problems following installation.

Firestone EPDM RubberCover

Here at Avenir Roofing, you can avoid all of these things by choosing our highly-durable, easy-to-install Firestone EPDM RubberCover. Our flat roofing solution can be easily installed in one sheet and can be used for a variety of projects. Inexpensive and long-lasting, our EPDM membranes have a seamless application that can last for up to fifty years! What’s more, we also offer RubbaTrim so that you can complete your flat roof. Take a look at the rest of our blog to learn more about EPDM.


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