Flat-Roof Extensions Can Have a Contemporary Style

Flat-roof extensions have had a lot of bad press over the years, and homeowners tend to shy away from them in favour of pitched roofs. However, the style and practical aspects of flat roofs have come a long way from those 1960s and 1970s buildings that were prone to leaks and not to everyone's taste.

Today's flat roofs are much more practical and aesthetically pleasing, bringing additional benefits to your extension. They can create a design feature in the property, such as incorporating a glass roof, or they can boost your usable space by adding wrought iron balconies into the design.

A Reliable Choice

The first hurdle to overcome with a flat roof is that they're liable to leak, which was often the case with older-style roofs, but today they are much more practical. Many of the commercial buildings in this country use flat roofs, and businesses wouldn't have a feature that was unreliable and costly. The construction methods utilised now do away with many of the issues, including leaks, damp and rot, and as long as you employ a professional business to carry out the work, your new roof won't have any problems.

Not Exactly Flat

A flat roof can't be completely flat, as it needs a small slope in order for the rain water to drain away effectively. A typical slope would be around 1.5o, but any roof that has less than a 15o slope is classed as flat.

Create More Space

An extension gives you more internal space, but by building one with a flat roof you can also create more outside space, as you can make more use of the roof area. With a pitched roof there isn't much you can do with the space, but flat roofs can be turned into wrought iron balconies, providing you with a beautiful view and somewhere to sit or dine on an evening.

Light Up the Space with Glass

Incorporating glass into a flat roof will really open up the space and bring more natural light into the room. It's important if you are planning on using glass that it's designed carefully to ensure that the room isn't too cold or too hot throughout the year.

A Style Feature

There are many different ways that a flat roof can be designed, allowing your extension to be a unique feature that helps your property stand out from the crowd and adds real value to it - for example, adding an overhang to the extension so that it looks less box-like and blends in more to the property. Alternatively, you could create a floating roof effect by installing a slim row of windows underneath it, which will add style and also increase the amount of light in the extension.

A Cost-Effective Option

If you're still undecided about the potential benefits of a flat roof, you need to remember that it's generally less expensive than building a pitched roof extension, which is good for your budget.

With some creativity and the right design, your flat-roof extension can be extremely stylish and give your property a feature that stands out.