Buying a house with a flat roof?
Discussion
Would you?
Looking at a house and it ticks almost all my other boxes, great location, good interior, nothing major looks wrong with it aside from the fact it has a flat roof? It's semi-detached,what we'd call a duplex back in Oz, only two houses attached to each other, if that helps.
EA said the roof was replaced back in 2017, which one would assume would come out in the survey if that were less than honest.
Seller seems motivated to sell, which is a plus.
Looking at a house and it ticks almost all my other boxes, great location, good interior, nothing major looks wrong with it aside from the fact it has a flat roof? It's semi-detached,what we'd call a duplex back in Oz, only two houses attached to each other, if that helps.
EA said the roof was replaced back in 2017, which one would assume would come out in the survey if that were less than honest.
Seller seems motivated to sell, which is a plus.
I'd think twice, especially if it's the entire roof - but obv factor in price / plans for house. I'd want to know if regs were obtained for the replacement (should have been if whole roof) as that will give you a sense if they did things properly. failing that I'd budget for new worst case.
I’d want to know exactly what the original roof was, why it failed, and what it was replaced with. I’d also want to understand what the roof substructure was, and that Building Regs compliance was obtained for the re-roofing.
There are some flat roof materials that have proven their viability for more than 70 years, but they aren’t particularly compatible with traditional domestic building structures (I’m thinking of concrete slab roofs with mastic asphalt covering).
There are some flat roof materials that have proven their viability for more than 70 years, but they aren’t particularly compatible with traditional domestic building structures (I’m thinking of concrete slab roofs with mastic asphalt covering).
My parents' house had 50% flat roof.
Insurance needs consideration, you can't just go on a comparison site and buy it in 5 minutes, but it wasn't silly expensive (like thatch...).
Not having much of a loft helps you not to collect so much tat.
Conventional felt, budget for replacement every 20 years. Other systems are available to suit varying tastes.
I've seen most flat roof systems have problems, but people have problems with tiled rooves too.
Insurance needs consideration, you can't just go on a comparison site and buy it in 5 minutes, but it wasn't silly expensive (like thatch...).
Not having much of a loft helps you not to collect so much tat.
Conventional felt, budget for replacement every 20 years. Other systems are available to suit varying tastes.
I've seen most flat roof systems have problems, but people have problems with tiled rooves too.
The problem with a flat roof is that it is flat and horizontal so water can pool which is where problems start.
So long as the roof can drain properly and there isn't standing water they can last well, my Mum's house had a massive flat roof due to height constraints on the extension. The standard felt lasted over 20 years as there was slight fall which allowed it to drain properly.
A horizontal flat roof is a problem in the making.
So long as the roof can drain properly and there isn't standing water they can last well, my Mum's house had a massive flat roof due to height constraints on the extension. The standard felt lasted over 20 years as there was slight fall which allowed it to drain properly.
A horizontal flat roof is a problem in the making.
Late 60s / early 70s local council built a housing estate in the village, very mixed designs, some pitched, some flat roofs.
Then along came the right to buy, all those that did buy with a flat roof regretted it a few years down the line when they started leaking, tried crying to the council for help, but none given, turns out hardly anyone had a survey done when buying.
And we've now got 2 or 3 schools with flat roof problems, and a hospital which has had millions thrown at the roof over 50 odd years.
Then along came the right to buy, all those that did buy with a flat roof regretted it a few years down the line when they started leaking, tried crying to the council for help, but none given, turns out hardly anyone had a survey done when buying.
And we've now got 2 or 3 schools with flat roof problems, and a hospital which has had millions thrown at the roof over 50 odd years.
Nothing wrong with flat roofs per se - there are lots of technically good systems around these days. The main question IME is whether due regard has been had to interstitial condensation risk - you really want to know whether it's a cold roof (high risk) or a warm roof (controlled risk).
Even though this cold roof was cross ventilated, it didn't work
Even though this cold roof was cross ventilated, it didn't work
Our bungalow extension is a flat roof and equates to about 40% of the total roof area.
There is a slight slope from the middle to each side for drainage.
It was built in 1992 and has been no problem from either leaks or insurance. Our insurance for this year is £220 and has never been anymore than £240 ish.
There is a slight slope from the middle to each side for drainage.
It was built in 1992 and has been no problem from either leaks or insurance. Our insurance for this year is £220 and has never been anymore than £240 ish.
There’s a lot of misunderstanding regarding flat roofs. The main issue is, domestic clients want a roof for peanuts. Blame the Rubber Roof boys for that.
This roof we have just completed cost £1200 m2.
Social Housing client, and the design scaffold was 40k alone. New fire regs means the tapered insulation cost us £320 m2.
Would a domestic client pay that ? No.
This roof we have just completed cost £1200 m2.
Social Housing client, and the design scaffold was 40k alone. New fire regs means the tapered insulation cost us £320 m2.
Would a domestic client pay that ? No.
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