A flat roof is not as simple as the name suggests. While the structure is relatively straight forward, the internal components consist of a layer of several different materials. The layering of the materials gives the roof its strength and insulation.

The layers consist of the following, from top to bottom:

Surface Layer: The top layer of a flat roof consists of surface protection. This consists of a specially hardened material designed for protection against the elements.

Waterproof Layer: The layer below is that of a waterproof material. Another layer added to protect against the damp and water that seeps through the surface layer.

Insulation Layer: The next layer down is the insulation layer. This is designed to keep as much heat as possible within the rooms below.

Vapour Control Layer: Designed to maintain protection from dampness as well as insulation against the air outside.

Deck: A hollow base that the roof sits on. Providing structure as well as acoustic and heating insulation.

Flat roofs have grown tremendously in popularity throughout the UK, and we’re still catching up with other countries where they are more common place. The development of flat roofs has been plagued by a number of different issues, such as how flat roof systems aren’t supported in the same way as gable and pitched roofs.

It is often times impossible to simply replace a pitched roof or other type of roofing system with a flat roof, because buildings need to be built in such a way as to be able to support a flat roof. In order to convert a building to a flat roofed building you’d need to either reconstruct the walls to be able to bare more stress or you’d need to add support columns underneath the roof to spread the burden further.

There isn’t a difference between truss and pitched roofs, because all truss roofs are pitched roofs. When a pitched roof system is unable to internally support itself, trusses are added in order to make the roof more secure. They are typically found in large pitched roofing systems, and only very rarely in smaller ones; usually to help support heavier roofing materials.

Trusses are made from wood, which is ideal for the task due to its strength and flexibility. Steel girders are used as well in metal and glass roofing constructions, but aren’t used in brick and mortar buildings.

There are a number of problems with trusses which make choosing a pitched roof with them over a supported flat roof an issue. Trusses need to remain secure, as any movement in the roof, caused by further building work, could damage the integrity of the building.

A Skylight is an ideal solution to brighten up any home. It not only brings natural light into the house but also reduces need for artificial lighting. It not only saves money but also keep the carbon footprint down. It can be installed in your kitchen, your hallway, your living room or loft conversion, depending on your needs. In the article below, we offers some tips to choose the right flat roof skylight for your home.

Size

The adage, ‘Bigger is better’ does not apply to skylights. In fact, a bigger size can ruin the whole experience. Size of the opening controls the amount of heat and light coming into your home.

As far as the total size is concerned, a good rule of thumb is that it should account for up to 5% of the floor area of the room. It can be increased up to 15%, in case there are not many windows in the room. So, if the size of the room is 15’ x 20’, making the area 300 ft.², it should cover a total area between 15 and 45 ft.². The dimensions of the opening can be decided accordingly. Continue reading →

Firestone EPDM rubber roofing membrane is one of the most popular flat roofing membranes and it’s more than suitable for garages, sheds, extensions and conservatories, while it’s also widely used on commercial properties.

It’s a membrane that is constructed using a cold bonding adhesive, while it’s made of a synthetic rubber compound. You get a really nice smooth finish with this roof but there’s grip too, so you’re guaranteed a good degree of safety when carrying out maintenance work.

It’s lightweight and eco-friendly whilst it’s relatively easy to install, yet we always recommend that you use professional roofing contractors. It’s widely used for repairs and replacements so consider this membrane if you need a replacement for your garage or extension.

Smoke vents systems are installed in our homes and buildings to act as an active fire protection measure. These are openings found on the rooftops and are intended to vent heat and smoke produced when there is a fire in the building because of buoyancy action. Such and similar vents are referred to as gravity vents.

The vents also prevent grease and steam vapours from staining the kitchen ceiling and walls, allows the low-level escape routes to be clear from smoke thus reducing damage that could be caused on the building by smoke. These systems have three main components, which are the exhaust fan, return air fan, and the ventilation hood. However, depending on the function of the vent hood, it can be categorised either as a steam hood or as grease hood. Continue reading →