Depending on the climate your flat roof will only last between 15 and 30 years if well maintained.
Positive pitched flat roof.
Pitched roofs are anything 4 and 12 or above.
According to the international building code the typical built up flat roof that uses tar or asphalt goes by the guideline that for every foot 12 inches of a flat roof a minimum of inch must step up or down.
Pitched roof extensions afford a more traditional look and that means they blend in better with the style of many houses.
According to improve net s online roofing calculator a flat roof is significantly cheaper than a pitched roof.
It is a significant renovation if you are converting from flat to pitched.
While pitched roofs are more expensive cheaper and less frequent repairs compensates for this.
Flat roofs require constant maintenance of their drainage systems to avoid leaking.
The pitched roof makes it easier to reuse rainwater than flat roofs.
This is especially true is the roof is covered in high quality natural slate with a lifespan of over 100 years and no need for any maintenance.
This is a generalization that depends a great deal on the type of roofing material you install but is a good guiding principal.
One of the biggest factors when deciding between a pitched roof extension and a flat roof extension is cost.
This is a factor that planning departments tend to look on favourably.
A pitched roof is more expensive.
If you have a high rise building converting your flat roof to a pitched one may not be applicable.
However flat roofs require much more aggressive and consistent maintenance than a pitched roof.
This is the basis for calculating the angle which is approximately a 1 19 degree slope.
If a roof rises one inch over 12 inches it s called a 1 in 12 and it would be a low slope.
The materials used are generally more weather resistant and durable though with more robust materials being introduced into the flat roofing market this gap is starting to close.
A 900 square foot flat roof in the san francisco area made of concrete tiles costs.
Flat roofing systems come with benefits and drawbacks.
When it comes to the disadvantages some property owners are being pestered by leaks.
To get rid of ponding water problems.
This is because shingle systems are easier to install than membrane systems and shingles cost less.
Pitched roof extensions typically cost more simply because they involve more work and take longer to complete.
Unlike sloped roofs flat roofs are susceptible to ponding water.
Pros of a pitched roof.
Anything pitched 3 and 12 or less is considered a low sloped roof.
The longevity of a pitched roof is usually superior to that of a flat roof leading many homeowners to choose it for their properties.
When we roof a flat or low slope roof we use a membrane system to cover it.
It was all done by me and a carpenter friend who did the fram.
This shows how my flat asphalt roof was dug up and converted to a tiled pitched sloping roof.