6 Reasons Why Flat Roofs Are Used in Commercial Buildings
Nowadays, one can choose their roof design from a wide variety, each offering unique benefits. However, you only have two options when choosing your roof's slope: Pitched or flat. Your choice of roof slope mainly depends on your structure's design and preferences. Moreover, each roof type has advantages and disadvantages, like the varying roofing materials.
Most residential properties have pitched roofs, while commercial buildings have flat roofs. Here are some advantages that make flat roofs a better choice for commercial buildings.
1. Lower Installation Cost
The number one benefit of flat roofs is their lower cost of installation. Since these roofs have less surface area, commercial property owners can save on materials and labor. Also, since aesthetics is not a major consideration in commercial buildings, a flat roof won't need additional materials to improve its appearance.
Due to the huge size of commercial buildings, such savings are considerable, making this roof type a top choice among commercial property owners.
2. Ease of Installation
While pitched roofs may seem easy to install on residential buildings, they are challenging and dangerous in commercial buildings due to the structures' huge sizes. To avoid these challenges, owners of commercial buildings prefer flat roofs because installers can work faster, completing the project in a shorter time.
3. Better Space Utilization
Since most commercial buildings are in cities and major towns, maximum space utilization is crucial. Therefore, most commercial property owners prefer flat roofs to save space for other uses.
For example, due to the huge size of commercial HVAC systems, having them on the roof can save considerable space that you can use for more office space, parking, or showroom. In addition to saving space, you protect your HVAC from theft and vandalism and make maintenance easier, as technicians can easily access them.
4. Low Maintenance
Since flat roofs don't need gutters, they save owners additional maintenance needs, like clearing debris and unclogging. To understand the benefits of eliminating the need for gutters in commercial roofs, think of the challenges of your residential gutter system and multiply it several times due to the large size of commercial buildings.
Also, flat roofs' easy access simplifies the inspection process, as you can check for damages without using special safety equipment. Additionally, if some areas need patch-ups, your roofing contractor can charge less because they spend less time and require less labor than when repairing pitched roofs.
5. Longer Lifespan
While the materials used determine the durability of a roof, flat roofs can serve you for a longer time because they are less susceptible to wind damage. Materials used in flat roofing, like asphalt and metal, are also durable if properly installed and maintained.
Moreover, modern roofing technologies have brought about more durable flat roof solutions like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO).
6. Better Compliance With Building Aesthetic Requirements
While most flat roof materials are unattractive, owners can easily comply with any set building aesthetic requirement because only the outer wall is visible. For example, if your district enforces a specific color for buildings, you don't need to paint the roof because it's not visible from the ground.
If you have a roofing project, you must choose between a flat and pitched design. Since the primary goal of a commercial building is to maximize space and keep project costs down, a flat roof is the right choice. The above advantages of flat roofs also make them a popular choice for commercial buildings worldwide.
At Ludemann Construction LLC, we only hire skilled and experienced roofers to guarantee excellent roofing services to our clients. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
