Straight roofs of private houses. How to make a flat roof with your own hands

There are many roof design options for a private house. Today, along with tent structures modern technologies and materials allow you to create flat options. It is worth considering in more detail what a house with a flat roof is, its design features, pros and cons.

Description

Traditionally, in temperate and northern latitudes, a hipped roof with sloping slopes was erected, which prevented the accumulation of snow cover on the surface and allowed heavy precipitation to flow down to the rain drain system. Flat-roofed houses were common in the southern regions, where there was no heavy rainfall, and snow did not fall at all in winter. But development construction technologies and appearance modern materials, especially waterproofing, made it possible to create a horizontal roof without problems in any region, even in the Far North.

A flat roof is a ceiling that is located horizontally directly above the residential floors of a private house. Several layers of insulating materials that protect against moisture, cold and steam, as well as a drainage system, allow you to create reliable top protection in a one-, two- or three-story private house.

Do not be afraid that leaks will appear on the ceiling of the last floor, since with a competent approach and high-quality materials, they are completely excluded. The main thing is to properly operate such a roof and change the coating in a timely manner in accordance with the warranty period.

In buildings with a straight roof, functionality is increased, since the roof surface can be used. In many ways, the installation of such buildings is simplified compared to tented options, where it is necessary to build a truss system. They also have many other advantages.

Principle and types of construction

To begin with, it is worth noting that a flat roof in a private house is not strictly horizontal, in order to prevent water from accumulating and draining it, a surface slope of approximately 5-7 ° is provided. The principle here is the same as that of the weirs of a pitched roof - they are located at a slight slope, which is invisible from the ground, but allows all the accumulated moisture to drain into the downpipe. Also on a flat roof: water collects in a certain place due to the unevenness of the surface, but the site looks horizontal, you can safely lay out a lawn or equip a recreation area on it.

The drainage system on such a roof contains special funnels into which flows under the influence of gravity rainwater and then with the help of a hose system goes into the sewer or underground. These devices are made of plastic, not subject to moisture and decay, are mounted in layers of insulation on the roof, and are provided with a protective net on top so that the neck and drains do not become clogged. One such water intake funnel is designed for approximately 100-150 square meters. m of roof area, from here you can calculate their total number. Usually for small country house enough 1-2 pieces.

A flat roof can be exploited and non-exploited. If it is practically not used, that is, it is climbed several times a year to check the integrity and current repair, then the coating contains the following layers from bottom to top: thermal insulation, vapor barrier and waterproofing. The flooring technology here is practically the same as in residential multi-apartment and industrial buildings.

There are the following common types of non-exploited flat roofs: from corrugated board and monolith.

The first option is the frame. First, a metal profile crate is mounted on a concrete base or wooden beams, it contains insulating materials. Then profiled metal sheets are attached to the frame. It's relative cheap option, easy to install, the design is light weight. But it is practically impossible to walk on such a roof, because the profiles will bend and deform.

Monolithic coating for flat roof contains several layers. Laid directly on the concrete slab vapor barrier film from hot bitumen, then goes mineral wool and waterproofing, and a screed is poured on top cement base, fortified reinforced mesh. Such an unexploited roof will have a lot of weight, but it will reliably protect the house from rain and cold.

Another option, if the roof is constantly involved, people walk on it, there are some objects. Then the insulating layer changes in order: first comes the waterproofing, on top of which the thermal insulation is installed. Therefore, such a roof is called inversion.

The order of laying materials is as follows: first, a bitumen-polymer membrane is placed on the floor slab, then a layer of thermal insulation from foam foam, foam plastic or expanded polystyrene is laid. If there is a desire to create a green lawn on the roof of your house, then a separating and filtering layer of geotextile is laid over these insulators, and then a fertile layer on which natural grass will grow.

Such a roof with a fertile layer can be freely used throughout the warm period, with proper installed system drainage she is not afraid of rain. On the roof you can place a children's or sports ground, put sunbeds or benches, break flower beds and even have a picnic. Exploited roofs with a green coating today are common not only in country houses, but also in city houses.

The arrangement of a flat roof does not end with flooring and pouring insulating layers and laying drainage systems. Ventilation is essential for proper operation. Moisture and its vapors can accumulate between the layers of insulation, further, during frosts, the insulating cake can crack, bubbles appear on it, and delamination occurs. In order to avoid this, aerators are used - plastic or metal tubes with umbrella-shaped caps that are mounted inside the roofing. The air entering through them, due to the pressure difference, weathers the water vapor from the insulation layers, they remain completely dry.

One more important point after laying a flat roof - this is a lightning protection structure. It should not be neglected, because, despite the low probability of occurrence, a thunderstorm can lead to the most catastrophic consequences in country house. The lightning protection mesh is installed inside the insulation layers, if they are not combustible, or if they are combustible, on top of them on special holders at a height of 10-12 cm from the surface. All nodes of this grid are connected into one lightning rod made of thick conductive wire, which goes to ground.

Advantages and disadvantages

Low-rise buildings with a flat roof, built according to various projects, have been operated in our country for more than a year. Feedback from owners who have lived in such houses for several years will help highlight all the advantages and disadvantages of such structures.

They have the following advantages:

saving materials - no need to build a complex truss system, and roofing is simplified;
speed of construction compared to gable and especially hip roofs;

ease of repair and replacement of roofing;
the device of a flat roof allows you to make a platform on it for various needs: a lawn, a recreation area with a gazebo, a gym, a children's corner, etc .;

in the ceiling it is possible to mount windows, this is a very original interior project plus an additional source of natural light on the ceiling;
roofing work will be much safer than in the case of a hipped roof;
with strong gusts of wind there is no risk of disruption of massive roof structures and upholstery.

According to the reviews of the owners of such houses, one can also point out the disadvantages of a flat roof:

unlike tent structures, snow will accumulate in large volumes on such roofs in winter, which must be regularly removed manually;
installation of a drainage system is required;

it will be necessary to constantly monitor the integrity of the roof, the absence of leaks;
despite the apparent ease of installation, flat roofing has many nuances, insulator layers and gutters must be done as correctly as possible, otherwise leaks cannot be avoided.

Many projects of private houses with a horizontal roof came from Europe, where the climate is milder. Therefore, such decisions must be adjusted in accordance with our more severe weather conditions.

What to do?

Flat roofs can be made from various materials, their choice depends on the design of the building itself.

If the house is brick, made of gas silicate or concrete blocks, then a reinforced concrete slab can be used as a roofing. In this case, the roof will be as strong as possible, bulky and heavy objects can be placed on it. Such a floor material does not have moisture protection, therefore, in any case, it will be necessary to make a waterproofing layer from rolled bitumen or screed with a lower bitumen-polymer membrane.

Wooden roofing of a similar design will cost less than concrete, they can be made on suburban area himself. A frame with beams is installed on the walls, as they can be planed beams 10x4 cm or others, the main thing is that they are able to withstand the weight of future insulation and other items located on the roof. The wood is treated with an antiseptic and a refractory solution. Roofing from a bar can be covered with wood boards, boards or metal corrugated boards.

As a waterproofing for houses with a flat roof, bitumen is traditionally used. It is a hydrocarbon-based organic material that is produced during the refining of petroleum. It has excellent waterproofing properties, is not subject to moisture, rotting, and is not afraid of frost. The main disadvantage of bitumen is its non-environmental friendliness - it contains harmful components, and when heated, it emits a pungent odor. Nevertheless, bituminous insulation is still in demand, including in the construction of flat roof houses.

Bitumen can be rolled and liquid. Usually for maximum efficiency use a combination of the two. First, a hot solution is poured onto the prepared, cleaned surface, then rolls of solid bitumen are rolled up. Such a combination allows you to close any microscopic cracks and cracks and reliably protects the roof from moisture.

There are other modern waterproofing materials that are cleaner and more harmless than bitumen. These include, for example, euroruberoid. It is also made on a bitumen basis, but, thanks to synthetic fabrics and polymers in the composition, it emits less harmful substances and odors. Euroruberoid is produced in rolls, for durability it is sprinkled with special mineral chips.

There is sprayable waterproofing for roofing in the form of powders and aerosols. It is applied to the surface using special equipment. Similar mixtures are produced from plasticizers, cement, synthetic resins and hardeners. Their advantages are that they not only protect against moisture, but also reflect the sun's rays, do not let steam through.

Widely used for rain protection coating waterproofing. It, like liquid roofing material, is applied to the roof surface with a roller or brush. Among such materials, emulsion, rubber, polymer mastics and a primer are especially common.

There are options for bulk waterproofing in the form of granules that absorb moisture well and prevent it from seeping into the living space. Examples are expanded clay and gravel. Their advantage is that complex installation is not required - the granules simply rise to the level of the roof, crumble and evenly smooth out over the surface.

As a vapor barrier, a polyethylene film 0.1-0.5 mm thick is usually used, which is laid across the entire width of the roof under the heat-insulating layer. To protect against the cold, many effective materials are used: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam and others.

Solid glass roofs are very spectacular and impressive in appearance. The transparent ceiling in the house visually increases the space, creates a unique airy atmosphere, the rooms are always as light as possible. It is not very difficult to mount such ceilings, it is enough to create a frame from metal profiles or wooden frames and glaze it. But the operation of a glass roof becomes more complicated, in winter it is necessary to constantly clear it of snow cover. Therefore, it is best to make a solid ceiling with small ceiling windows.

Design Options

A flat roof can be installed both in a one-two-story house with a small area, and in a spacious cottage. IN big building you can combine a pitched hipped roof with a horizontal one, for example, using it for an outbuilding or a veranda. The shape of the roof can also be different: square, rectangular and more complex. The main thing with a non-standard project is to correctly calculate the slopes and the weir system so that moisture does not accumulate on the surface.

Air conditioners, ventilation systems, television antennas, communication boxes and other equipment can be located on an inverted flat roof. If the roof will be used as a platform for recreation or other active pastime, then it is necessary to mount a fence along its edges.

Also, when installing such a roof, you should immediately take care of a convenient climb up with a railing. There are many projects of the used inversion roof with drawings that can be used as a guide when building your home.

Installation Instructions

Before building and arranging a flat roof, it is worth breaking down a step-by-step plan of all work.

It begins with the choice of shape, type and materials for overlapping. It should be borne in mind that the load on such a structure is always more intense than on tent options. Based on this, you need to make a drawing of the frame system with beams and ceilings. The sketch indicates the geometric shapes, dimensions, color, materials, necessary communications. It is best to immediately have a visual idea of what the future roof for your home will look like.

Many people are used to thinking that it is customary to build flat roofs only on high-rise buildings and industrial buildings. However, recently this type of roofing has been increasingly used in the construction of private houses. Flat roof in a private house is built without difficulty, given modern technology and a variety of building materials.

There are 4 types of them:

Exploited. Main Feature of this type is a sufficiently powerful base, otherwise there is a possibility of damage to the waterproofing layer. Decking or concrete screed, acting as a base, allow you to create the necessary slope for arranging a drain. Thermal insulation on such a roof must be resistant to serious loads. All this is done in order to use the roof of the house in any capacity, whether it be a work site or a recreation area.
Unexploited. Here, the rigidity of the base of the flat roof structure is not as important as in the above embodiment. And the strength of the insulation also does not play a significant role. This roof is cheaper than the exploited one, but it will also last a shorter period.
Traditional. A feature of their device is the periodicity of the layers - waterproofing goes above thermal insulation. Here at the base is reinforced concrete slab, and for the drain, an inclined expanded clay concrete screed is used.
Inversion. Flat roof device this option practically no problems with water leaks. Here, the thermal insulation is above the waterproofing, which gives the latter protection from ultraviolet rays and the effects of temperature fluctuations. Such a roofing device turns out to be the most durable and functional, which opens up a lot of opportunities for using the roof space.

Important! Angles in the range of 3 to 5 degrees are considered optimal for the slope of the inversion type of a flat roof.

Advantages and disadvantages of this design

A flat roof in a private house, like other types of roofs, has a number of pros and cons. It is worth considering the advantages that determine its popularity in modern construction:

Smaller area than other types of roofing - and this saves effort and money;
Convenience and safety of work - it is quite difficult to fall from a straight horizontal surface, and all necessary tools are at hand;
Rapid construction - as a consequence of the first two advantages, such work is done much faster;
Ease of maintenance and replacement of roofing - the dismantling of worn parts is usually not carried out, but a new cake is laid directly on the old one;
The use of additional territory - the arrangement of an exploited roof opens up great prospects;
It is possible to install transparent roof elements - the view of the open sky on the ceiling is extremely tempting for many;
Giving your home clear geometric shapes - if the drawing of the house allows, then you can give it a unique look with the help of such a design, especially considering that minimalism is now extremely popular.

It is also worth mentioning the disadvantages of this design:

Snow and leaves accumulate periodically - sometimes mechanical cleaning of the roof is required;
A more complex structure - the presence of gutters suggests their inevitable blockages, especially in bad weather;
Regular control - the humidity of the insulation and the general condition of the roof must be constantly checked;

Not surprisingly, some people may have doubts about the reliability of this type of structure. But judging by the experience of the owners of private houses with a similar roof both in Russia and abroad, this type of roof functions successfully and pleases its owners.

Do-it-yourself flat roof installation

Now on the Internet you can find a lot of photos of houses with flat roofs of a wide variety of designs. Interested in the question of how to make a flat roof with your own hands? Before you build a roof, you must first familiarize yourself with the drawing of the house and make sure of its technical characteristics.

The design features of a flat roof depend on many factors. If this is an unheated room and the roof is built with your own hands, then it is enough to install support beams, on which the base is then laid from uncut boards fastened with self-tapping screws or nails. When installing a flat roof on a garage, roofing material often acts as a waterproofing due to its cheapness. Strips of roofing material are applied in the direction of the slope of the roof, fixing them with wooden or steel slats. A do-it-yourself flat roof for an unheated room is created quite easily - here all the work can be done by one person without anyone's help.

When installing a flat roof on private house, which is planned to be heated, the following procedure is usual:

Installation of floor beams. Strict observance of the horizontal is required. Here and in subsequent stages, the participation of several workers will be required.
Flooring installation. Usually an uncut board with a thickness of no more than 5 cm is taken.

Important! The size of the lumber section increases in proportion to the distance between the support beams.

Waterproofing installation.
Thermal insulation laying. In this case, the filling insulation is reinforced with a concrete screed, which dries for a couple of days.
After the screed dries, a bitumen-based primer is applied to it, then roofing material is laid and glued.

The structure of the roofing pie

In order to make the roof reliably protected from moisture, it is necessary to place materials in layers one above the other - this arrangement is extremely important. The standard base is made of concrete slabs or profiled metal. It is able to support the weight of the entire structure above, transferring it to the load-bearing partitions, which, in turn, transfer it to the foundation of the house.

Important! The operated roof should have the most solid foundation.

Then come the standard layers: vapor barrier, thermal insulation and waterproofing. When choosing a flat roof, you should be guided by the preferences of the owner and the capabilities of the building itself. From a huge cottage to a small cozy house built many years ago, flat-roofed houses will be reliably protected from various influences environment on long years.

A house with a flat roof, in a row of the same type of "boxes" with a pitched roof, looks fresh and unusual. Therefore, every year the number of suburban residents who are seriously considering the construction of such a house for permanent residence is increasing. Fans of the "cubic" design are captivated by the wow effect and increased attention from the neighbors. Someone wants to place engineering equipment on the roof, or lay out a lawn and equip places for recreation. Still others believe that it is cheaper and easier to build a house with a flat roof than with a pitched one. Is it really? Consider the main pros and cons of these buildings and conclude whether they are suitable for our country. To do this, we will answer the following questions:

Why is it difficult to choose a suitable plot for a "cubic" cottage
Is it true that flat roofs are not suitable for our climate?
Why does a flat roof leak?
A flat roof is simpler and cheaper than a pitched one - this is a myth
Why flat roofs are difficult to repair

1. House with a flat roof and domestic realities

Most suburban residents look at cottages with a flat roof with skepticism, calling these houses “boxes”. Why? Flat roof houses came to us from abroad. Traditionally, they were erected in countries with a warm climate, where there is practically no winter, heavy snowfalls, severe frosts with sudden thaws, prolonged rains, but strong winds blow. For example, somewhere on the Mediterranean coast. Then these houses turned into fashion design ersky trend "not for everyone" in Western Europe, and from there they have already come to us.

Tretin FORUMHOUSE User

I see that we mainly build houses with pitched roofs. But, is it really necessary? In Germany and Switzerland, flat-roof house designs have long been offered. What can be the disadvantages of a flat roof, in addition to an imaginary unaesthetic appearance?

Indeed, how can anyone be left indifferent by a cottage with panoramic windows in the photo below?

Or such a high-tech house with a flat roof in the forest.

Or a cottage, on the roof of which an observation deck is made, a lawn is laid out and a place to relax is equipped.

Now imagine these houses with us. Harsh winter. In an ordinary - not an elite village, where roads float in spring and autumn, and plots are fenced with a profiled sheet. Houses in the mass are finished with siding or lined with facing bricks. And pitched roofs are covered with slate, metal tiles or, less often, a more expensive solution - shingles. The picture doesn't add up. Something is missing, isn't it? You no longer want to sit on the flat roof of the house, as you dreamed, with a cup of tea or coffee. After all, from there you can see not the ocean, sea, mountains or nature untouched by man, but dense rural buildings or, in best case, fields overgrown with grass.

A house with a flat roof, in high-tech style, looks advantageous only on a spacious isolated area, for example, on a slope, with a beautiful view of the forest, lake or river. The flat-roofed cottage is lost without landscape design, and among solid, but the same type of houses, it looks like a "white crow".

This is where the first "pitfall" - dreams of a stylish house with a flat roof are broken when you realize,how much will the plot cost on which the cottage will look as it should.

Having conceived the construction of a house with a claim for a non-standard foreign design, select the appropriate site for it.

2. Reliability of a flat roof in our climate

When you look at beautiful houses, which are not one hundred years old, ask yourself why they were built this way and not otherwise. Why do houses built in the coastal zone somewhere in Norway, Sweden or Scotland have no overhangs and the usual drain? They are simply not needed because strong winds, which turn rain into a horizontal stream of water hitting the walls. The same is true for houses with flat roofs. They were built in a warm climate, where there is little rainfall, but a strong wind load.

A flat roof is more wind resistant than a pitched one.

dmitrievich-50 FORUMHOUSE User

Our ancestors - smart people. They considered the design of the house in terms of practicality, based on climatic conditions residence. Why were flat roofs built in Central Asia? Are they pitched on the Central Russian Upland? In the Baltics, not just pitched, but with an acute angle of the ridge? A pitched roof with a slope of 45 degrees, in the Moscow region or in Saratov, will provide reliable protection from rain or snow for 20-25 years, even if covered with cheap corrugated board or slate.

A flat roof, with the right approach to construction and using modern materials, will also provide reliable protection for the house from precipitation and will not leak.

The only question is how much 1 sq. m of such a roof with a guarantee that it will not quickly leak with frequent transitions through 0. Icing. Nighttime freezing and daytime thawing of snow cover. Lingering downpours. And most importantly - how to make such a roof so that it serves for a long time in our climate?

The second difficulty in building a cottage with a problem-free flat roof is the harsh Russian operating conditions.

3. The main problem of building a reliable house with a flat roof in the Russian Federation

link82 FORUMHOUSE member

The company built a house with a flat roof for me. On the edges made 6 pcs. heated funnels and brought out to the sides, through the parapet, drain pipes. Is it correct? Maybe it was necessary to make a slope in the center and, with a small roof area, put two funnels instead of six? And let the pipe inside the building. Bring out in the basement and further into storm sewer? I am afraid that the knee, which is brought out of the funnel into the street, will freeze. Ice has already formed on the pipes. What if the pipe burst due to frost? How to fix it? Throw a heating cable? So much money has already been spent on this roof!

Flat roof house built in 2013.

In addition to problems with drainage, another one was added. When link82 I came to check the house, I found that the roof was leaking in several places. Water went from the second floor to the first. The whole drywall floated. Now you have to swear with the builders. Trying to take the money, and completely redo the roof. According to Michael-snabss(the portal user is professionally engaged in the construction of flat roofs) in this example a bunch of bugs. The main of which - builders who just don't know how to make flat roofs the right way.

When building a house with a flat roof, do not chase cheapness. Each step of the builders and stage of work needs strict control. More thorough than when erecting a pitched. Mistakes are costly!

The roof was most likely made of built-up waterproofing material- glass isol. The tree played and the fiberglass tore. Repair of this roof with a special roofing membrane will cost from 130 to 200 thousand rubles.

The third factor complicating the construction of a cottage with a flat roof in the Russian Federation - lack of highly qualified builders who know exactly how to build just such houses. How to use and combine materials with each other. What tools are needed for this. Even if the future owner of a flat roof house has a detailed project, and he should be, then everything can be spoiled by “specialists” working on the principle: “we always build like this and no one has complained yet!”.

Flat roofing should only be done by professionals.

4. Is flat roofing cheaper and easier than pitched roofing?

Usually, when it comes to the benefits of a flat roof, you can hear the argument that it is cheaper than a pitched one. Why? Less area - less material consumption. It is easier to make an overlap, because. no classic needed rafter system. There is no need to equip the attic floor, etc. And it's true, but as they say, the point is in the details.

If we simply consider the "pie" of a flat roof, then on the base, for example, concrete floor slabs, are laid:

vapor barrier;
thermal insulation;
waterproofing.

Or the so-called. inverted flat roof where the layers go like this:

waterproofing;
thermal insulation;
finishing layer.

In an inverted flat roof, the waterproofing layer is located under the insulation and “works” in more benign conditions, because. from above, from the negative influence of weather phenomena, it is protected by rubble, tiles or soil with a lawn. Those. a ballast flat roof is being installed.

But, when building a flat roof, it is necessary:

Arrange slopes for water drainage - about 2 cm per 1 linear meter. Slopes are usually made with a concrete screed or wedge-shaped insulation elements.
Lay several layers of insulation. If used stone wool, and not extruded polystyrene foam, put aerators to remove water vapor from the thermal insulation.
Put water intake funnels with electric heating, otherwise, due to the formed ice, they will not divert water from the roof.

One water intake funnel, 110 mm in diameter, drains water from an area of up to 300 square meters. m.

Install a downpipe with a slope of 3 cm per 1 running meter.
Qualitatively make waterproofing from PVC, TPO or expensive EPDM membranes. TPO membranes are less elastic than PVC membranes, but have higher strength. Welding TPO membranes requires professional installers with special equipment. The advantage of EPDM membranes is the large format, and the fewer welds, the more reliable the flat roof.

When installing a flat roof, you will have to take into account many nuances.

Calculate the snow load depending on the region of residence. For example, Moscow and St. Petersburg belong to the third climatic region. Snow load on a flat roof, with a slope of 2%, in the Moscow region will be 180 kg per 1 sq. km. m. In the fourth climatic region, the snow load is 240 kg per 1 sq. km. m, and in the fifth already 320 kg. Do not forget that the weight of 1 m 3 of loose freshly fallen snow is on average 50 - 100 kg. Already caked 350 kg. A cube of wet or melting snow weighs approximately 400-600 kg.

With a properly calculated flat roof, snow does not need to be removed in winter. The excess is blown away by the wind, and loose snow becomes a heat insulator.

But, the load on a flat roof must be considered with a larger margin than on a pitched one, subject to force majeure circumstances. For example, the water intake funnels were clogged, the heating cable burned out, and the water did not leave the roof. For a couple of days, the monthly rate of snow fell, but there was no wind to blow it away and it lies on the roof. The additional weight on the roof puts pressure on the walls, which in turn transfer the load to the foundation, which redistributes it onto the subgrade. The further north, the greater the load. We will add a mass of crushed stone or soil with grass if a ballast flat roof is being arranged.

From here - the optimal design of a cottage with a flat roof is not a frame or wooden house, and the stone structure, calculated by the designer and built of aerated concrete, brick, warm ceramics, on monolithic technology. Because "cubic" design involves large unsupported spaces, then it will no longer be possible to block a span of more than 6 m with a tree. Farms, I-beams are needed wooden beams, hollow reinforced concrete floor slabs, monolithic floor or prefabricated monolithic floor. Do not forget to add expensive facade finishing solutions to the cost of a house with a flat roof.

You can't finish a house like this cheaply.

Planken is used, burnt wood, hand-molded brick, wet facade, combined facades made of wood and stone. And you can’t put standard windows in a house with a flat roof. Large or panoramic are needed. Add to this additional areas of parapets, which also need to be insulated and finished. This increases the cost of construction.

The fourth factor - a house with a flat roof cannot be called budget construction.

Consider the costs not only for the roof, comparing the final estimate with flat and pitched, but for the total cost of the entire “box” with the finish.

5. Low maintainability of a flat roof

sv2321 FORUMHOUSE User

I have a flat roof house. Waterproofing - membrane. I'm struggling with the roof. As they say, water will always find a hole. I like a flat roof, but I think I will abandon it and remake it with a pitched one, although I will have to change the entire architecture of the house. And that's why:

There is no absolute guarantee that all flat roof joints will be airtight. Enough microcracks and gone. If there is a slope, then small defects are not critical;
Snow lingers on a flat roof. He melts. Water fills microcracks. Frost struck at night. The water is frozen. With frequent daily freeze-thaw cycles, microcracks increase and then break. They are getting bigger. The pitched roof has no welded sections and there is nothing to tear there. In the most unfortunate case, there will be a small temporary leak without progressive consequences. It is easy to find and repair;
The most annoying. On a flat roof, you will never know exactly where the defect has formed. A leak in one place, and water dripping from the ceiling in a completely different place. Masters will come, check the joints and find one of the defects, and the rest will remain. If the roof is inverted or loaded with gravel, then troubleshooting is an even bigger problem.

According to the user, the optimal roof for our climate is pitched. The angles at the slopes compensate for the crooked hands of the builders and the change in the properties of materials over time, and the overhangs protect the walls and finishes from precipitation.

So, fifth - low maintainability. The quality of a flat roof is greatly influenced by the human factor.

If a pitched roof with a cold attic is leaking, then it is not difficult to find and repair a defective area. In extreme cases, you can dismantle the coating and perform local repairs or get close to the problem area from the inside. In the case of a flat roof, leak detection and repair is made more difficult by the complex pie. Many layers in the design, especially in the so-called. "green roof". Availability concrete screed etc.

conclusions

Houses with a flat roof certainly look beautiful and stylish. Make a flat, hassle-free roof that will last for many years in our climate also possible. The only question is the total cost of all decisions and its expediency. Anyone who has been involved in the installation or repair of roofs in our climate knows that in summer, the sun-hot roof is the last place where you would like to sit with your family or friends. Hot and stuffy. I would like to quickly go into the shadows. If there are small children in the house, then the exploited flat roof is superfluous headache for parents. You can also organize a shaded private place to relax with barbecue on a small area. Sunbathing is pleasant in the garden on the grass, throwing a towel or spreading out a deck chair, and not in front of all the neighbors and passers-by on the roof. The suburbs simply want solitude, and not stick out their private lives for everyone to see. Let's add our changeable weather. Rain. The wind, which at a height is felt quite differently than below. In total, how many days a year will really be left to relax on a flat roof? Let's add the need to arrange a place to go to the roof directly from the house. Do not climb onto a flat roof along the stairs, which are fixed on the facade. What's left? Unusual "fashionable" design to attract attention. Therefore, whether to build a house with a flat roof or not, let everyone decide for himself, and FORUMHOUSE offers you proven solutions for this.

how to build a house in our climate with a roof without overhangs with a hidden gutter, and what are its advantages.

Stone house with a flat roof: a harmonious combination of exterior and interior. In the video - the design features of a monolithic stone house with a flat roof and unusual finish facade.

The domestic consumer has long been familiar with the features of a flat roof, and believes that it is used for multi-storey government buildings. But modern manufacturers decided to expand their market, and found a new application for it.

It is surprising, but appeared with a flat roof, featuring the same set of functional features. It is suitable primarily for the area in the territory in which snowy winters and strong winds occur at the time accompanying their manifestation.

Their power will quickly blow away large layers of snow, and the roof will always be clean. And powerful hurricanes will not be afraid of such a roof covering. The thing is, it doesn't actually exist.

But this is only part of its capabilities. It will be possible to place many useful buildings for different seasons on it. This may be a greenhouse or a small garden, or maybe a dance floor. Other options are available, based on the strength of the imagination of its owner.

But in order for everything to work out well, it is necessary to study the nuances of creating such structures. Now let's take a look at many issues related to this topic. To begin with, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the photo of houses with a flat roof, which have already proven their suitability for various purposes.

What is the benefit of this roof structure?

If we talk only about a private house, then they lie in the following points:

This version of the roof will take up a smaller area in comparison with the most gently sloping pitched modifications. This will help save on the amount of materials.

The process of its construction is noticeably faster than the installation of a gable or hip version. Through this feature, create modern houses with a flat roof is much more profitable.

Comfort and safety of the necessary rafter work processes are ensured. It is quite spacious and difficult to fall off.

It differs from the gable design in that there is no need to carry out dismantling work from the outdated coating. It can be used as additional waterproofing or protection. This will help save energy and time.

Its surface is suitable for use as an additional territory for organizing a flower garden, a cozy terrace, a greenhouse.

Various transparent elements can be mounted to help organize beautiful view on the open starry sky at night or clouds with the sun in the daytime. And a charming view opens up to admire the rain or a strong storm - there are fans of this state of nature.

Helps to adjust the house to the basics of the minimalist style. It has now gained notable popularity.

What are the disadvantages? “Unfortunately they are…

If there is no strong wind, this option generously collects a lot of snow on its surface. You will need to clean it often in order to use the territory for your own purposes. Sometimes it can lead to noticeable leaks.

Clearing snow will often have to be done by mechanical means. They can damage the roof.

The structure of the roof is particularly complex in comparison with other types of forms. It will have to organize a lot of drains. They, in turn, often get clogged.

From the pitched version of the roof covering, water flows off on its own and this happens very quickly. She doesn't do much damage.

On the flat version, the water usually stands still and builds up as the rainfall lasts. You will have to control the humidity of the insulation and make the coating at a small angle so that the water gradually finds the drains.

It will require less materials than for pitched. But the creation itself is much more complicated. There are many subtleties that not everyone knows about, and therefore often this version of the roof does not turn out the way it was intended.

Because of this, many believe that a flat roof in a private house is not the best way. But now domestic manufacturers have learned about the positive Western experience and have learned how to create the right materials.

And experts on installation work adopted methods of quality work in this direction, and the situation began to change for the better. This approach has already taken root in Russia.

Is it suitable for frame versions of houses?

Yes, today you can see a frame house with a flat roof, more and more often it is perceived as commonplace. This roof can be two directions. For operation and without it.

If the roof is to be used, then it will be adapted for the convenient movement of people on its surface. For this, a rigid version of the screed or another version of the rigid base is used. Due to the pressure from the movement of people, the roof can leak. In this regard, it is necessary to consider the creation of reliable isolation from water.

But there is a version without human exploitation. Usually no one walks on it or rarely appears to clean its surface. The load on its area is distributed over the entire surface. But she has one major problem. Its service life is too short. Although such a version, due to possible, situation-satisfactory features, is often used.

There is also a classic version of a flat roof. It is often referred to as a soft roof option. It is formed by a carrier plate. Thermal insulation on it is laid on top of the coating for vapor barrier. And then a bituminous version of the waterproofing in the form of rolls is rolled over the thermal insulation.

Due to the advantageous features, this option is used to form such a modification of the roof on frame house more often than any other.

But experts also distinguish an inversion version for the formation of a flat roof. Sometimes this modification helps to create a flat-roof house style with creative thought in mind. experienced designer. It is distinguished by the fact that the waterproofing will have to be applied to the waterproofing carpet.

This will help protect against temperature changes and ultraviolet rays from the sun, which is important if it is located in an open area and under their direct access. And this version also allows you to increase the service life - the force of impact on the waterproofing from the processes of melting or freezing of snow precipitation is noticeably reduced. It is quite suitable for installing furniture, mounting a greenhouse.

Important Points

For a high-quality arrangement of a flat version of the roof, in any case, laying the correct version of the carpet will be required. It will help soften the base in case of thermal or mechanical stress. This will help ensure the durability of the coating.

Now, based on the influence of Western culture, Russians have begun to pay more and more attention to this roof option. The domestic user realized that a cup of coffee at any time on such a roof is a wonderful option. Here the sky is open at any time. And there is constant access to clean air. This is a great option, but a pitched roof cannot offer this.

Of course, not everyone can afford such a roof. Usually the maximum for a Russian is access to a balcony. But over time, it will become a reality for every inhabitant of our country.

If you have the opportunity to create it today, there is no doubt that this is the best option. Today, high-tech style houses are gaining great popularity and, on their basis, a flat roof is mainly used. She has become their full-fledged companion.

Photo of houses with a flat roof

Often, when building private houses, preference is given to pitched roof, however, there are also buildings with a flat roof, and as a result, very curious architectural objects are obtained. If a decision is made to equip this structure, then you need to be prepared for some difficulties. There are pros and cons of a flat roof, the nuances of its installation.

Pros and cons of a flat roof

It is worth noting from the very beginning that a flat roof for a private house is not a perfectly horizontal surface. It also has a slope, only a small one (from 1 to 5 degrees). The following main advantages of the roof can be distinguished:

the overlap of the upper floor will serve as a supporting structure for the roof;
the same height of the space under the roof will allow it to be used as a full-fledged room;
gives the house an original look;
the possibility of using the roof surface (for example, you can equip a summer terrace there);
simplifies repairs and makes them safer.

The disadvantages include:

strict requirements for the waterproofing layer roofing cake;
the need to install an internal drain;
high degree of snow load.

From the foregoing, it follows that a flat roof is a good solution, provided that all roofing work is done well and the requirements are taken into account.

Basis for mounting a flat roof

What will be the overlap of the upper floor directly depends on the structural features of the ceiling throughout the house. As a rule, it is performed using the same material as the ceiling between floors.

The most common options are prefabricated or monolithic reinforced concrete floors, profiled sheet ceilings with metal support beams.

An option with a wooden floor is also possible. Fundamental difference from the overlap between floors - in the presence of a laid insulation and high-quality waterproofing.

Roofing cake options

The type of roofing cake is determined by the nature of its location and purpose. It can be performed in the classic version or made inverted.

The classic roof has the following composition: ceiling, concrete or expanded clay concrete screed, vapor barrier, thermal insulation material, roofing with a high degree of protection against moisture (mainly bituminous materials).

In the inversion structure, the arrangement is different: overlap, slope, multilayer waterproofing, heat-insulating material, vapor barrier and, finally, the pressure layer. The latter can be made from concrete slabs, gravel, ceramic tiles etc.

The name of the inversion roof was due to the mirror arrangement of the layers of hydro and vapor barrier in relation to the insulation (unlike the classic version).

This type of roofing is ideal for exploited roofs. However, the complexity of the technology makes such roofs a rare exception in the field of private construction.

The technology itself is expensive, since the massiveness of the structure makes it necessary to create a solid floor of the upper floor.

Bearing structures require detailed calculations at the design stage, and the layering of the cake brings with it significant costs.

Below, only the classic version of the roofing pie will be considered, which is often equipped with modern houses with a flat roof.

roofing material

The material for the roof, namely vapor barrier, waterproofing, insulation and the coating itself, must be of high quality.

Vapor barrier is performed by special membranes, not perforated films. It is undesirable to use polyethylene as a waterproofing, since the material does not have the necessary reliability.

Insulation for the installation of a flat roof is selected taking into account the snow load, as well as the load coming from people working on the roof during repairs.

The insulation must be durable and resistant to a humid environment. It can be polystyrene foam, high-density mineral wool, expanded clay.

The effectiveness of the latter is not so high, therefore, when choosing it as a heater, it is necessary to achieve a large thickness of the layer being laid. This increases the load on the supporting structures.

The coating is made from rolled materials: roofing material, linochrome, hydroisol, etc., and bulk mastics are also used. Roll material is considered the most optimal for use in the arrangement of a flat roof.

Roofing technology

Flat roof construction involves the following workflow steps. The slope of the roof, albeit small, is achieved by creating a slope.

In this case, you can use bulk material (expanded clay), foam concrete (it is advisable to contact specialists), and a heater. From above, the slope is covered with a waterproofing layer, after which the process of laying the roofing begins.

The next step is laying the first layer. A roll is rolled out, then it is heated with a gas burner and glued to the base.

It is important to ensure that the sheets overlap each other and the material is applied to all vertical roof objects (parapets, pipes, etc.).

Three layers of lining and one finishing layer are laid on a flat roof.

The stage of laying the coating is a laborious process, especially if you want to use adhesive mastic.

Overhead gutters, an internal drainage system are used for the drainage device.

In the case when all the work related to the arrangement of the roof is done correctly, you will have an excellent opportunity to proudly declare the originality of your residential creation. And the photo taken of a house with a flat roof will join the ranks of original design solutions on the network.

Photo of houses with a flat roof

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