≡× MENU

• Interior
• Window
• Walls
• Projects
• The buildings

DIY flat roof. Flat roof in a private house Cottages with a flat roof: pros and cons

For many, flat roofing is associated with urban multi-story buildings, faceless and monotonous. But we are ready to surprise you! A flat roof in a private house will be a pleasant discovery for you if there is not much snow in your area, but the winds are quite strong. The fact is that in winter all snow accumulations from such a roof will simply be blown away. And the main thing is that not a single strong hurricane can tear off a roof that simply does not exist! And a whole ocean of possibilities opens up before you, which you can now build above your head: a cafe, a dance floor, a mini-garden and even a whole greenhouse!

The main thing is to know about all the intricacies of arranging houses with flat roof, and everything will work out. And now we will reveal all the secrets.

• Such a roof is much smaller in area than the most gently sloping roof. And this means savings on materials.
• Such a roof is built much faster than a gable roof, and even more so a hip roof.
• Comfort and safety of all rafter work. You still have to manage to fall from such a roof!
• Convenient subsequent repairs and replacement of roofing.
• Unlike a gable roof, dismantling the old flat roofing is usually not necessary - this is additional waterproofing and protection. The new pie is made directly from the old one, which saves a lot of time and effort.
• Possibility to use the roof as an additional useful territory, where you can plant a flower garden, make open terrace and even build a greenhouse.
• The ability to install transparent roof elements (with careful waterproofing), and thus create a view of the night sky.
• Opportunity to build a house with a laconic architectural form. Minimalism is at the height of fashion!

And now – about the pros and cons:

• Such a roof generously accumulates snow. After all, he now has nowhere to slide, and the snow itself often becomes the cause of leaks.
• On especially generous days, the snow will have to be removed mechanically, which often damages the roofing.
• The structure of the roof becomes more complicated: now we need gutters, which also become clogged.
• The difference is that water drains from a pitched roof quite quickly (and sometimes it does get into the under-roof space). But on a flat one it actually stands!
  Monitoring the moisture content of the insulation and the general condition of the roof should be regular.
• But, despite the fact that for its arrangement building materials you need much less than for a pitched roof; a flat roof is much more complex in terms of installation. Let's just say a lot more various subtleties and nuances that are important to know about.

That is why many have fair doubts about the reliability of such a roof. But the European and overseas experience of private residential buildings with a flat roof is successful, and therefore you can safely get down to business.

Just consider these points:

1. There is much more snow in Russia than in warmer European countries.
2. The only thing worse than snow a big difference summer and winter temperature, for which not all foreign roofing materials are designed.

And here technology decides everything!

What is a flat roof?

So, what acts as the load-bearing base of a flat roof:

1. Iron concrete slab.
2. Roofing sandwich panels.
3. Reinforced steel corrugated sheet.

And thanks to the fact that they learned to make a flat roof “breathable”, i.e. With internal ventilation, it has now become possible to use completely non-breathable waterproofing - roofing felt similar to it.

Any roof that we call flat actually still has a slight slope: to one side or specifically towards the drainpipe.

Here is the simplest example of a flat roof for a private home:

Types of flat roofing: non-exploitable and inverted

Of course, unused roofs are cheaper. And the exploited ones, which are correctly called “inversion”, include additional materials.

A separate type of flat roof of a residential building is exploitable. Those. the one on which people will walk and what objects will stand. Is this the same garden, or sports ground, or summer cafe. All this creates considerable loads on the roof, and therefore its design is already different from that which is intended only to protect the house from precipitation.

So, the main difference in the design of traditional and inversion roofing is that in the first, the thermal insulation layer is located under the waterproofing, which is quite logical, and in the second, it is above it. But in the second option, the waterproofing is more protected from ultraviolet rays and temperature changes. This design is more durable and functional: you can safely build a lawn on it or lay paving slabs.

And now in more detail.

Unused roof: standard pie

But a person can also occasionally climb onto an unused roof - for the same repairs, for example.

Those. in traditional flat roof The top layer is waterproofing, and it is this layer that is exposed to all mechanical and temperature loads.

A separate type of it is a roof with a pressure layer, which is designed so that a person can walk on it from time to time:

Inversion roofing: reverse pie

The standard slope of an inversion roof is 5-7%. The inversion method assumes that the thermal insulation layer is already placed on top of the waterproofing, which now also serves as a vapor barrier.

Moreover, the pie of inversion flat roofs can be very different. It all depends on what you are going to arrange on the roof: a terrace, a mini-pool (and this is not uncommon) or a garden. But the base will still be common: a monolithic screed is made, which levels the entire surface, then waterproofing is laid and the whole thing is covered with insulation. And on top already - cement-sand mixture or rubber coating.

Note that active use of the roof means frequent damage to the insulating layer, which is why moisture makes its way to the insulation and freezes in winter. Over time everything deteriorates roofing pie, and therefore a flat roof cannot do without a ventilation system.

Cement-sand screed is capable of even better distributing the pressure layer on the heat insulator, but it must be additionally reinforced with a mesh to prevent cracking.

Subtleties of flat roof insulation

A layer of thermal insulation for a flat roof is mandatory. For comparison: a gable roof is insulated only when a residential attic is installed underneath it, and in all other cases, a maximum of mineral wool is laid on the attic floor. But for a flat roof, insulation is always necessary.

The fact is that without a heat-insulating layer in a flat roof, condensation will constantly appear on the ceiling in the house (such a roof will turn out to be the cold part on which water vapor will rush). And this is bad not only because repairs will have to be made, but also because the entire structure deteriorates.

You can insulate a flat roof both from the outside and from the inside - the difference is small. What is more important is how many layers of insulation a particular roof needs – one or two.

Thermal insulation materials need to be attached to the base of the roof mechanically, both screws or dowels, and glue. Sometimes the fastening is not used at all if the heat insulator is located from the outside, and paving slabs or pebbles press on it.

Why two layers? The fact is that the first layer of thermal insulation on a flat roof acts as insulation; it is from 70 to 200 mm thick. And the second, from 40 to 50 mm, is designed to distribute all the loads. And it is important to calculate the thickness of both layers accurately, based on the climatic characteristics of the area and the future use of the roof itself.

With double-layer insulation, all joints should be spaced apart, in a checkerboard pattern, so as not to overlap each other. Moreover, in the places where the slabs adjoin the walls and parapet, it is additionally necessary to make heat-insulating sides. A cement-sand screed can even better distribute the pressure layer on the heat insulator, but it must be additionally reinforced with a mesh to prevent cracking.

Proper drainage system

But this is already a difficult task. Flat roofs are just bad because they are completely open to rain. But everything can be solved! The main thing is to properly organize the drainage, and for convenience, we have explained this issue for you in the following schematic illustrations:

Internal ventilation device

Another important point when installing flat roofs - ventilation. The fact is that if moisture accidentally gets into the insulation, it no longer evaporates - it only accumulates. Eventually heat insulating material rots and the waterproofing swells. And there are many reasons for leaks: damaged waterproofing, mechanical damage to the top layer of the roof, cracks and damage from frozen water.

A wet thermal insulator is also bad because it causes bubbles and cracks to appear on a flat roof in the summer heat - all due to the active evaporation of water. As a result, the roof covering also collapses. And if moisture eventually gets under old screed, then the entire roof begins to peel off. This is why a flat roof must “breathe”.

For this purpose, so-called aerators are used. They look like simple plastic or metal pipes, covered with umbrella caps. They should be placed evenly over the entire roof area, preferably at its highest points. The essence of this mechanism is that different pressures are created inside the roof and the air begins to create currents, simultaneously taking with it all the excess moisture vapor.

In practice it looks like this:

In addition, in any living space, water vapor rises up to the ceiling. Moreover, they often successfully overcome this barrier (the water molecule is very small) and end up in the insulation, which is bad for it. This is why vapor barrier is required. And not the kind that is usually used for attic insulation, but a dense one, made of high-quality polypropylene or polyethylene. A bitumen membrane is even more reliable.

Choosing a suitable roofing covering

So, what is used as a covering for such roofs?

Option #1 – bitumen and polymer-bitumen materials

Such roofs are the least expensive for owners of private houses. We are mainly talking about roofing felt and euroroofing felt. These are rolled roofing sheets, the base of which is synthetic fabric, and the sides are bitumen. As an elastic and frost-resistant material, bitumen serves excellent protection and waterproofing.

Moreover, laying bitumen roofing on a flat roof is absolutely simple, you only need gas-burner. The rolls are easily fused together.

But such a roof has significant drawback– fragility. And another thing is that roofing felt does not breathe at all, i.e. It is vapor-tight, and therefore it is necessary to arrange ventilation for such a roof, unless you want the insulation to rot within a year:

Option #2 – liquid rubber

Such roofs have the great advantage that they do not contain any seams. As we have already said, the disadvantage of a flat roof is, first of all, that snow accumulates on it, which then causes leaks.

But there are some subtleties here. So, you need to take only two-component liquid rubber for a flat roof, preferably the highest quality one. And it is extremely important to apply this material correctly to a flat roof: evenly, avoiding unnecessary layers and saving in certain places. So, where the paint was applied unevenly, problems can be expected within 8-10 years.

Option #3 – PVC, TPO and EPDM membranes

Roofing membranes are valuable as a covering for flat roofs because they allow steam to escape. After all, no matter what kind of vapor barrier is used, moisture still, at least a little, gets into the insulation, not only from below, but also from above - after heavy rains, for example.

There are three types of membranes for installing such a roof: TPO, PVC and EPDM. The most popular is PVC membrane, which is also the most flammable. An EPDM membrane is more durable and affordable, but if mechanical damage occurs in it, nothing can fix it, whereas a PVC membrane can only be melted with a hairdryer. In addition, the joints of the EPDM membrane must be glued with a special tape, which is much less reliable than soldering PVC sheets.

But the cheapest membrane in its sector is PVC. But it has such significant disadvantages as low resistance to ultraviolet rays and fear of contact with bitumen, different oils and even polystyrene foam, otherwise the service life is significantly reduced.

Gluing EPDM membranes requires professional skills. TPO membrane, like PVC, is also welded with hot air. The best is not afraid of ultraviolet, is more chemically resistant and can be laid directly on polystyrene foam or old bitumen roof without geotextiles. But its service life is shorter than that of EPDM, so for installing a flat roof on a residential private house, we recommend using a PVC membrane.

So, a flat roof device with a PVC membrane is traditionally made like this:

• Step 1. We arrange a monolithic floor slab.
• Step 2. Place a tear-resistant vapor barrier film.
• Step 3. We make a bend from insulation or screed.
• Step 4. Place insulation. In private construction, this is usually 35-density foam, and on top is 50 mm XPS, which is even stronger.
• Step 5. Now geotextiles, 300-500 g per square meter.
• Step 6. Let's move on to waterproofing - this is a PVC membrane. The insulation density is enough to allow walking on such a roof. But, if you plan to make an open terrace on the roof, then you need to continue the pie further.
• Step 7. Lay the geotextile again - now directly on the membrane.
  We put rubber tiles or a reinforced screed 5-7 cm, on which we already lay paving slabs. To make a screed, you need ballast.

And such roofs are made of rubber, polymers or even foil. Unlike bitumen, they are durable, fire-resistant and adhere firmly to the base. A slight slope is achieved using expanded clay concrete or concrete screed.

How to achieve 100% waterproofing?

The main task when installing a flat roof is to make all joints and junctions as airtight as possible. After all, such a roof is most affected by moisture, hail, temperature changes and wind-blown debris. Therefore, the sealants used to seal such joints must be of high quality and resistant to any influences. This is also a kind of expense that has to be incurred.

For the same purpose of waterproofing, it is recommended to make the slope of a flat roof at least 2%. Few? In fact, this is quite enough so that all atmospheric moisture does not linger on the surface, but flows down into funnels and pipes, and from them into the septic tank, soil or sewerage system. Therefore, even at the design stage, you need to carefully think through the future drainage system.

Moreover, the drainage system itself is made both internal and external. Thus, the internal drainage system consists of fittings - funnels located throughout the roof that receive the flowing water and direct it into pipes that go through the buildings, but are isolated from the living quarters. The only disadvantage of such a system is that the pipes become clogged with small debris and leaves, for which it is advisable to equip them with special filters and periodically clean them.

External drainage systems are already attached to the outer walls of the building. These are, of course, easier to clean when they become clogged, but in cold weather they often freeze over. For this reason, it is customary to additionally supply them with electrical heating in the form of cables.

As for the material for the internal and external drainage system of a flat roof, PVC or metal is quite suitable. Both options have their pros and cons. Thus, polyvinyl chloride does not corrode, but is more brittle than metal.

To prevent gutters from freezing in winter, equip them with roofing thermal cables.

Green area on the roof: fashionable and environmentally friendly

Greenery and recreation areas are often lacking not only for residents of the “concrete jungle”, but even for owners of private houses. The whole point is that the same beautiful garden furniture It’s not always possible to leave it in the yard of the house, and beautiful rare flowers in the garden flower bed are often trampled by pets. Therefore, it is not surprising that the green area on the roof has become fashionable among cottage owners. Especially if the access to it comes directly from the bedroom and no one else can disturb your morning peace with a cup of coffee.

There has also become a fashion for some cafes to make the roof flat and place small greenhouse. All the greens go straight to the table! And it’s profitable, because it’s not so easy to bring fresh dill or onions to the kitchen, and it’s economically profitable - there’s somewhere to send kitchen waste. And it’s difficult to understand who borrowed this idea from whom: enterprising residents of private houses with a flat roof, or the best minds Catering. But the fact that such an arrangement of closed ground is beneficial is a fact: rodents will not dig under the beds, insects and pests will not reach (as well as pests in the form of neighbors), and the fact that it is always a little hotter on the roof is only a plus for the same tomatoes. But the main thing is to correctly calculate the loads on such a roof during construction!

And the roofing pie is often standard: waterproofing for the ceiling, thermal insulation, geotextiles, drainage and geotextiles again. And on top you can use both soil and beds:

Or in this version for more powerful floors:

A flat roof is a huge scope for any imagination. Designers and architects love to bring a variety of projects to life: a garden, a greenhouse, and treadmill, and a mini-beach with sun loungers, and much more. Some craftsmen even manage to make a parking lot on it!

Still an unusual decoration country cottages– flat roof. It is believed that flat roofs are intended only for urban development or industrial buildings. But that's not true. The roofs of houses in historical neighborhoods are often pitched. And a private house can have a flat roof.

Now we will look at what it is, what are the advantages/cons and how to make a flat roof with your own hands.

Types of flat roof

Structurally, flat roofs are divided into two main types: those on beams and those with a concrete slab at the base.

Flat roofs are never completely flat; there is still a slight angle (within a few degrees). This is necessary for water drainage. Otherwise it will stagnate on the roof.

Most often, internal gutters are installed on flat roofs: funnels are mounted in the roof, and risers from them pass through the interior. Funnels are placed on the lower part of the roof, at the rate of one riser per 150-200 square meters.

The waterproofing around the funnels is reinforced; cable heating is also recommended (so that the water in the riser does not freeze). If the roof is flat without a parapet, and the angle is decent (from 6 degrees) drainage system can be standard external, as for pitched roofs: gutter and pipes.

Roofs are divided according to functionality, roofing structure and type of coating. Here are a few main varieties:

• The unused roof is flat. It is erected solely for the sake of originality and economy of material. Does not require structural reinforcement.

• Operable flat roof. It can be used for any purpose, from placing an outdoor swimming pool to constructing a parking lot.

From intended purpose the type of floor depends: obviously, for high expected loads, the base should be a concrete slab. But this does not mean that the entire building must be brick or concrete. For example, a flat roof in a wooden house can also be used. Of course, it cannot be used as a helipad, but setting up a solarium, laying out a garden or putting up a gazebo for tea drinking is fine. Of course, you can’t make a sparse sheathing, only a continuous one.

• Traditional roofing. The classic design of the roofing pie: a waterproofing layer on top of the insulation, the base is concrete, for the outflow of water - expanded clay concrete (inclined screed).

• Inversion roofing. Here the insulation lies on top of the waterproofing and protects it from damage. The floor can be finished with paving or ceramic tiles, you can also plant a lawn here. A mandatory requirement for an inversion design is an angle of 3-5 degrees.

Roofs can be attic or non-attic. Both types have their advantages: the presence of an attic allows you to place all the necessary communications on it ( ventilation pipes, expansion tank heating, etc.), a roofless roof can be made usable.

One of the options for a roofless design is a flat combined roof: attic floor combined with the roof, the lower side is the ceiling in the living room.

note

The design of these roofs differs from simple attics; they cannot be used for use.

When the height of the house is ten meters or higher, as well as on roofs in use, a parapet must be installed. For those in use - no less than 1.2 meters.

If the roof is not in use and the cottage is not high, you can make a flat roof without a parapet or install fencing bars instead, or even do without them.

General structure of a flat roof

It is obvious that in exploited roofs for various purposes the device will be different:

When constructing a swimming pool, pay special attention to waterproofing;

“Green” roofing is also a thorough waterproofing plus soil filling, etc.

The most common covering is flat roofing. It is cheap, simple and fast to install, with excellent waterproofing. Most cheap material, which can be used to cover a flat roof - roofing felt.

Flaws roll materials(and roofing felt in particular) – low durability, low mechanical strength. For “high traffic” roofs in use, tiles are preferable.

A flat roof made of and a flat roof made of corrugated sheets can only be made in a non-operational version and with the required slope. When choosing a material, you need to read the instructions for the model: some types of corrugated sheets and metal tiles can be installed on roofs with a slope of less than 11 degrees.

Some brands of corrugated sheets can also be used as a base for an unused roof, instead of plywood or a concrete slab.

There are other coating materials for unused roofs:

• Polycarbonate;

Pros and cons of flat roofs

Advantages:

• Original look. Flat roofs on cottages are rare.
• Possibility of operation.
• Flat roof – easy installation and savings on materials. But it depends on how you plan to use the roof. Otherwise, construction will cost even more than the expensive pitched roof from ceramic tiles.
• Laying covering, maintenance, and repairs on a flat roof are easier to perform than on a slope.
• Flat roofs are wind-resistant, pitched roofs have windage.

Minuses:

• A flat roof leaks more often than a pitched roof. Constant monitoring of the condition of the waterproofing layer is necessary.
• The need to clear the roof of snow.
• Rolled flat roofing requires more frequent repairs and changing the coating than metal profiles, tiles and other pitched ones.

So which roof is better, flat or pitched? Purely a matter of taste.

Building a flat roof

Let's consider the option when a corrugated sheet is used as the base of the roof:

1. Sheets are laid on the beams (rafters). The pitch between the rafters depends on the profile. For example, for load-bearing profiles with a corrugation height of 6-7.5 centimeters (H60, H75), the step between the beams is 3-4 meters.

2. Laying a vapor barrier film. The film is laid with an overlap, the joints must be sealed with mounting tape.

3. Thermal insulation. Mineral wool slabs are usually used for this purpose. Please note that the depressions of the corrugation also need to be filled with insulation.

4. Waterproofing. Polymer film is suitable for this purpose. If the insulation is mineral wool, you can also use built-up waterproofing, because cotton wool is a non-flammable material.

5. Finish coating. You can also use a welded one. The roll is slowly rolled out on the roof, heating it with a burner along its entire length. The deposited coating is pressed against the roof and smoothed.

6. On flat roofs, a fused roofing can be laid in several layers.

In other cases, a flat roof wooden beams is arranged more traditionally: they nail it onto the beams continuous sheathing made of plywood or OSB, lay a roofing pie (vapor barrier + basalt wool), direct the waterproofing layer and roll roofing.

If you are interested in a flat roof with a more complex structure, contact us: we will complete roofing of any complexity quickly and at an affordable price.

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

In European countries, houses with a flat roof, such as can be seen in the photo, are not uncommon; they are often built in resort towns of the Mediterranean, since precipitation is an infrequent occurrence there. In our country, buildings with such a roof are still rare; they are mainly used for industrial or economic purposes - workshops, garages, repair shops, etc. The reason lies in the fact that property owners give preference classic projects construction of private cottages.

Houses with flat roofs

The most common form of their construction is considered square houses With a flat roof, they are luxurious penthouses that attract the attention 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 relaxation or sports, plant decorative garden, green lawn;
• building a house with a flat roof is profitable because it saves a significant amount of money required to create truss structure;
• the snow that accumulates on the roof surface in winter acts as an additional insulating layer (experts call this circumstance controversial);
• for use of the top coating in winter time you can install a heating system;
• if inexpensive roofing materials were used to create the roof, then repairs will not require a significant amount and can be completed on our own. Besides renovation work If the roof is made, for example, of roofing felt, it is not done on the entire surface, but only partially if defects in the ceiling are detected.

Disadvantages include following points:

• in case of negligence or unprofessional performance 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 remember to maintain a slight slope of the roof, otherwise 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 relevant at the present time and is a promising and reasonable solution, since it becomes possible not only to build an original building, but also to 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 base is corrugated sheeting and reinforced concrete slabs, less often lumber is used.

The installation of corrugated sheeting is considered the most economical and profitable from a financial point of view, but it can be used when the upper surface of the roof will not be used, in addition it will be necessary additional insulation. 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 the summer.

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

Flat roof made of corrugated sheets

If a house with a flat roof is being built using corrugated sheeting, 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 of a certain width and length. Places of overlap of vapor barrier, which can be used as polyethylene film, must be connected carefully.

Then a thermal insulation layer is installed using insulation slabs that are joined together. For reliability, a two-layer laying system is often used. There are bulges on the corrugated sheets that need to be tightly filled with heat-insulating material.

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

When is it being built Vacation home with a flat roof, 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 mistake made during the construction of a house with a flat roof can cause major repairs in the very near future.

Waterproofing and insulation of a flat roof

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

• films to create a protective waterproofing barrier from 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 to ensure high-quality waterproofing when building frame house with a flat roof.

Most in demand diffusion membranes, they are:

• with microperforation;
• superdiffusive;
• anti-condensation.

Environmentally friendly and fireproof superdiffusion materials are especially in demand, since when installing them there is no need to leave a gap between the layers of waterproofing and thermal insulation; they repel moisture, preventing it from penetrating into the thermal insulation layer. The service life of such membranes is about 25 years. They are often used when building wooden house with a flat roof.

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

Insulation of a flat roof

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

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

Flat roofs nowadays are undeservedly forgotten and not spoiled by the attention of developers. In private housing construction, they are found mainly in the southern regions, where heavy rains and snowfalls are rare. Hip roofs, on the contrary, have firmly established themselves in the projects and minds of homeowners.

This state of affairs can be explained simply: until recently, builders did not have reliable and durable waterproofing.

Standard roofing felt - cardboard impregnated with bitumen - cannot resist moisture and temperature changes for long. Even a thick 4-layer coating from it has to be changed after 6-8 years.

Today, interest in flat roofs is beginning to grow.

There are several reasons for this:

• Economic benefit. The cost of arrangement is lower than that of a tent structure (more simple design and smaller area);
• Additional effective area. There is a possibility of it rational use(flower garden, playground, recreation area, swimming pool);
• Availability of maintenance and operation (cleaning drains, installing air conditioners, antennas, inspecting coatings, ventilation and smoke ducts);
• A layer of snow acts as additional thermal insulation, reducing heating costs.
• Original appearance building.

Types of flat roofs

Strictly speaking, you will not see a completely flat roof on a building. Any of them has minimum slope from 1 to 4% required for precipitation runoff.

There are four types of flat roofs:

• unexploited;
• exploited;
• green (lawn);
• combined.

Unused roofs are found on industrial buildings.

Operated roofs have found application in public and private construction. They are equipped with recreation areas, cafes and restaurants, and used as parking lots and helipads.

Green (lawn) coverings are made to decorate buildings, as well as when there is not enough space on the site. In addition to the aesthetic function, they perform an important practical task. A layer of plant turf is an excellent heat and sound insulator.

Combined roofs with flat surface- the most common option. Comfortable relaxation in the fresh air surrounded by green grass and flowering plants everyone likes it.

According to the method of drainage, houses with a flat roof are divided into two types:

• With internal drain;
• With external water discharge (along the perimeter of the roof).

Internal drainage is cheaper than external drainage because it does not require a large number of gutters, pipes, funnels and high-rise work to install them. It is more difficult to execute. Errors in creating a slope and poor-quality sealing of joints lead to leaks and damage to the integrity of the protective layer of waterproofing.

In use flat coverings with internal drainage it is more profitable. In winter, icicles do not grow on the eaves of such a roof. Drainpipes pass inside the building and therefore do not freeze. Cleaning debris funnels is easier and easier than hanging gutters.

Device Features

According to the method of arrangement and arrangement of structural layers, experts distinguish two types of flat roofs:

• Classic;
• Inversion.

The classic roofing “pie” is equipped using the following technology:

• a slope is made from cement-sand mortar on reinforced concrete floor slabs;
• lay vapor barrier and insulation;
• lay out waterproofing membrane or roofing felt carpet;
• if the coating is to be used, the waterproofing is protected with ceramic tiles.

Classic flat roof structure

The main disadvantage of the traditional design is the vulnerability of the outer insulating layer from solar ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes.

Working to solve this problem, engineers came up with the idea of ​​an inversion coating. In it, the main structural elements (insulation and waterproof membrane) are swapped. The waterproofing is hidden under the foam, which is protected from external influences by a ballast layer of gravel or tile trim.

Inversion coating design

The technology of work is changing accordingly. A waterproof carpet made of roofing felt or EPDM membrane is glued to the slab or spread on it, fixing it in places adjacent to the parapet.

The slope in this case is created in one of two ways:

• Mortar screed on the slab;
• Insulation, changing the thickness of its installation.

Installing thermal insulation on a flat roof

Water intake funnels and pipes are installed at the lowest points of the slope. In addition to them, ventilation is installed to remove water vapor that accumulates in the area of ​​contact between the vapor barrier and the insulation.

When arranging a covering designed for planting plants, the structure is supplemented with a top layer of waterproofing. Drainage layers of gravel are poured over it, geotextiles are laid and fertile layer land.

Except roofing coverings, laid according to reinforced concrete slabs, designs of houses with a flat roof on wooden beams have been developed.

Construction technology in this case may include the following operations:

• Beams are mounted on the walls in increments of 50-100 cm, fixing them to the masonry with anchor pins. The cross-section of the beams depends on the span width, the design load and can range from 10x20 cm to 15x25 cm;
• Lay on beams OSB boards, tightly joining them together;
• Spread the waterproofing membrane in 2 layers, carefully gluing the joints of the sheets.
• Thermal insulation is made from durable (extruded) foam, gluing it to the membrane. A slope for water drainage is created by laying insulation in layers of different thicknesses;
• The heat insulator is protected from above with a cement screed, reinforced mesh or tiled.

Examples of private houses

There are many supporters of flat roofs among developers. They are attracted by the ease of construction, low cost of work and the possibility of placing a site for summer recreation.

A thick layer of snow on a flat roof is not a problem, but additional insulation

The design of buildings with such a roof fits perfectly into the style of minimalism, providing project developers with a wide field for creativity.

Spacious, comfortable and nothing superfluous is the motto of everyone who chooses a house with such a roof. Pitched roof visually makes the building heavier, while flat, on the contrary, makes it light and airy.

External view of the facade one-story house with a flat roof compares favorably with the rather boring variations of the “teremkovy” character.

On it, most often you will not see gutters and pipes, the water from which gets on the walls and spoils the appearance of the finish. Internal drainage is efficient, practical and invisible.