6 by 6 with a flat roof. Houses with a flat roof - selection of materials and technology for the implementation of roofing works (70 photos)

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AT European countries houses with a flat roof, which can be seen in the photo, are not uncommon, they are often built in the resort towns of the Mediterranean, since precipitation is an infrequent occurrence there. In domestic open spaces, buildings with such a roof are still rare, they mainly have an industrial or economic purpose - workshops, garages, repair shops, etc. The reason lies in the fact that property owners prefer classic projects construction of private cottages.

flat roof houses

The most common form of their construction is considered to be square houses with a flat roof, they are luxurious penthouses that attract the views of passers-by with their appearance.

Disadvantages and advantages of flat roofs

Roof benefits flat shape obvious:

  • it is possible to use the roof surface for your own needs, you can arrange a place for recreation or sports there, plant an ornamental garden, green lawn;
  • building a house with a flat roof is profitable, since it saves a significant amount needed to create roof structure;
  • snow that accumulates on the roof surface in winter acts as an additional insulating layer (experts call this circumstance controversial);
  • for the operation of the top coating in winter time you can install a heating system;
  • if inexpensive roofing materials, then a significant amount of money will not be required for the repair and it will be possible to complete it on your own. Besides repair work, if the roof is made, for example, of roofing material, it is not done on the entire surface, but only partially in case of detection of overlapping defects.


The disadvantages include following points:

  • in case of negligence or unprofessional performance construction works when creating a house with a flat roof, repairs may be required interior spaces in a building that will cost a lot of money. To reduce the likelihood of leaks, you must not forget about observing a slight slope of the roof, otherwise the precipitation will not drain, but will remain on it.

Taking into account the disadvantages and advantages of choosing flat roofs, we can conclude that this type of roofing is currently relevant and is a promising and reasonable solution, since it becomes possible not only to build an original building, but also save a significant amount of money.

Features of a flat roof device

The construction of houses with a flat roof has a number of nuances that should not be forgotten at the design stage. Most often, the basis for are corrugated board and reinforced concrete slabs, less often lumber is used.


The most economical and financially advantageous is the installation of corrugated board, but it can be used when the upper surface of the roof will not be used, in addition to this, additional insulation. Concrete is considered reliable and durable, since on top of it it is possible to install not only a gazebo for relaxation, but also a small swimming pool, which is used in summer.

Base from natural wood usually constructed when building frame houses with a flat roof.

Flat roof decking

If a house with a flat roof is being built using corrugated board, then after installing the support, a vapor barrier layer is laid on top of it. It is necessary to prevent heat loss from the interior of the building. Vapor barrier material is produced in rolls having a certain width and length. Places of overlapping vapor barrier, which can be used as polyethylene film must be carefully connected.


Then a heat-insulating layer is mounted using plates for insulation, which are joined together. For reliability, a two-layer laying system is often used. There are bulges on the sheets of corrugated board, which must be tightly filled with heat-insulating material.

After that comes the stage of creation using a polymer film. When all the insulating layers are laid, reinforced concrete slabs are mounted or a sand-concrete screed is poured.

When is being erected Vacation home with a flat roof, regardless of what the base is made of, it is always necessary to make a slight slope - at least 5 degrees, otherwise water will remain on its surface.


Even a minor oversight made during the construction of a house with a flat roof can cause a major overhaul in the very near future.

Flat roof waterproofing and insulation

brick or wooden houses with a flat roof require high-quality waterproofing of the roof, which is performed using:

  • films to create a protective waterproofing barrier against moisture;
  • EPDM membranes, PVC membranes;
  • hydrophilic rubber;
  • liquid rubber - sprayed waterproofing;
  • injection materials (silicone resins);
  • lubricating compounds that are used to connect waterproofing sheets;
  • penetrating materials.

Membrane insulation. Considered cutting edge technology to provide high-quality waterproofing when it is being built frame house with a flat roof.


Diffusion membranes are in the greatest demand, they are:

  • with microperforation;
  • superdiffusion;
  • anti-condensate.

Environmentally friendly and fireproof superdiffusion materials are especially in demand, since during their installation it is not necessary to leave a gap between the layers of waterproofing and thermal insulation, they repel moisture, preventing its penetration into the thermal insulation layer. The service life of such membranes is about 25 years. They are often used when building wooden house with a flat roof.

There is another way - old and well-tested - this is adhesive waterproofing. It involves the use of roofing material, which is glued to the surface by heating.

flat roof insulation

Flat roof insulation is one of the most important species work related to . You can do it from the outside or from the inside in one or two layers. The easiest and cheapest way is to insulate the roof from the outside. The two-layer thermal insulation system makes it possible to reduce the load on the floors. The first layer is a heat insulator. The second layer is denser; the distribution function is assigned to it.

It is not difficult to create a flat roof with your own hands - the main thing is to follow the technology.

For many, flat roofs are associated with urban areas. high-rise buildings, faceless and monotonous. But we are ready to surprise you! A flat roof in a private house will be a pleasant discovery for you if there is not much snow in your area, but the winds are strong enough. The fact is that in winter all snow accumulations from such a roof will simply be blown away. And the main thing is that not a single strong hurricane will be able to tear off the roof, which simply does not exist! And before you opens up a whole ocean of possibilities that now you can build over your head: a cafe, a dance floor, a mini-garden and even a whole greenhouse!

The main thing is to know about all the intricacies of building houses with a flat roof, and everything will work out. And now we will reveal all the secrets.

  • Such a roof is much smaller in area than the most gently sloping pitched roof. And this is saving on materials.
  • Such a roof is being built much faster than a gable roof, and even more so a hip roof.
  • Comfort and safety of all rafter works. You still need to manage to fall from such a roof!
  • Convenient subsequent repair and change of roofing.
  • Unlike a gable roof, the dismantling of the old flat roof is usually not needed - this is additional waterproofing and protection. The new pie is made exactly like the old one, which saves a lot of time and effort.
  • The ability to use the roof as an additional useful area where you can set up a flower garden, make an open terrace and even build a greenhouse.
  • The ability to install transparent roof elements (with careful waterproofing), and thus make a view of the night sky.
  • Possibility to build a house of laconic architectural form. Minimalism is at the height of fashion!

And now for the pros and cons:

  • Such a roof generously accumulates snow in itself. After all, now he has nowhere to roll, and the snow itself often causes leaks.
  • On especially generous days, the snow will have to be removed mechanically, which often damages the roofing.
  • The structure of the roof is becoming more complicated: now we need gutters, which, in addition to everything else, are clogged.
  • The difference is that water drains from the pitched roof rather quickly (and it happens that it does get into the under-roof space). But on a flat surface, it generally stands!
    Monitoring the moisture content of the insulation and the general condition of the roof should be regular.
  • But, despite the fact that for its arrangement building materials you need much less than for a pitched roof, a flat roof in terms of installation is much more complicated. Let's just say, a lot more. various subtleties and nuances that are important to know.

That is why many people have fair doubts about the reliability of such a roof. But the European and overseas experience of private residential buildings with a flat roof is successful, and therefore you can safely get down to business.

Consider only such points:

  1. There is much more snow in Russia than in warmer European countries.
  2. Worse than snow is only a big difference between summer and winter temperatures, which not all foreign roofing materials are designed for.

And here technology is everything!

What is a flat roof?

So what plays the role bearing base flat roof:

  1. Reinforced concrete slab.
  2. Roof sandwich panels.
  3. Reinforced steel sheet.

And thanks to the fact that they learned to make a flat roof “breathable”, i.e. with internal ventilation, it has now become possible to use completely non-breathing waterproofing - roofing felt like it.

Any roof that we call flat, in fact, still has a slight slope: to one side or purposefully towards the drainpipe.


Here is the simplest example of a flat roof for a private house:

Types of flat roof: unexploited and inverted

Cheaper, of course, cost unexploited roofs. And exploited, which are correctly called "inversion", include additional materials.

A separate type of flat roof of a residential building is exploited. Those. the one on which people will walk and what objects will stand. This is the same garden, or sports ground, or summer cafe. All this creates considerable loads on the roof, and therefore its device is already different from the one that is intended only to protect the house from precipitation.

So, the main difference in the arrangement of traditional and inverse roofs is that in the first layer of thermal insulation is under the waterproofing, which is quite logical, and in the second - above it. But in the second version, the waterproofing is more protected from ultraviolet rays and temperature extremes. This design is more durable and functional: you can safely arrange a lawn or lay paving slabs on it.

And now in more detail.

Unexploited roof: standard pie

But a person can also occasionally climb onto an unused roof - for the same repair, for example.


Those. in a traditional flat roof top layer serves as waterproofing, and it is she who is subjected to all mechanical and thermal loads.

Its separate type is a roof with a pressure layer, which is designed for the fact that a person can walk on it from time to time:

Inversion Roofing: Reverse Pie

The standard slope of an inverted roof is 5-7%. The inversion method assumes that the thermal insulation layer is already located on top of the waterproofing, which now also serves as a vapor barrier.

Moreover, the cake of inversion flat roofs can be very different. It all depends on what you are going to arrange on the roof: a terrace, a mini-pool (and this is not uncommon) or a garden. But the foundation will still be common: a monolithic screed is made that levels the entire surface, then waterproofing is laid and all this is covered with insulation. And on top already - cement-sand mixture or rubber coating.

Note that the active operation of the roof is frequent damage to the insulating layer, due to which moisture makes its way to the insulation and freezes in winter. Everything deteriorates over time. roofing cake, and therefore without ventilation system flat roof is not enough.

Cement-sand screed is able to even better distribute the pressure layer on the heat insulator, but it must be additionally reinforced with a mesh to prevent cracking.

The subtleties of flat roof insulation

A layer of thermal insulation for a flat roof is required. For comparison: gable roof they are insulated only when a residential attic is equipped under it, and in all other cases a maximum is laid mineral wool to the floor of the attic. But for a flat roof, insulation is always necessary.

The fact is that without a heat-insulating layer in a flat roof, condensate will constantly appear on the ceiling in the house (such a roof will just turn out to be the cold part on which water vapor rushes). And this is bad not only because it will have to be repaired, but also because the whole structure deteriorates in this way.


You can insulate a flat roof both from the outside and from the inside - the difference is small. More importantly, in how many layers a particular roof needs to be insulated - in one or two.


Thermal insulation materials must be attached to the base of the roof mechanically, as screws or dowels, and adhesive. Sometimes the mount is not used at all if the heat insulator is located from the outside, and presses on it paving slabs or pebble.

Why two layers? The fact is that the first layer of thermal insulation on a flat roof performs the function of a heater, it is from 70 to 200 mm thick. And the second, from 40 to 50 mm, is designed to distribute all the loads. And it is important to calculate the thickness of both layers accurately, based on the climatic features of the area and the future use of the roof itself.

With two-layer insulation, all joints should go apart, in a checkerboard pattern, so as not to fall on each other. Moreover, in the places where the plates adjoin the walls and the parapet, it is additionally necessary to make heat-insulating bumpers. The cement-sand screed is able to distribute the pressure layer on the heat insulator even better, but it must be additionally reinforced with a cracking mesh.

Proper drainage system

But this is already a difficult task. Flat roofs are just bad because they are completely open to rain. But everything is solved! The main thing is to properly organize the drain, and for convenience, we have revealed this issue for you in such schematic illustrations:

Internal ventilation device

Another important point when arranging flat roofs - ventilation. The fact is that if moisture randomly enters the insulation, it no longer evaporates - it only accumulates. Eventually heat-insulating material rots, and the waterproofing swells. And there are many reasons for leaks: broken waterproofing, mechanical damage to the top layer of the roof, cracks and damage from frozen water.

A damp heat insulator is also bad because of it bubbles and cracks appear on a flat roof in the summer heat - all due to the active evaporation of water. As a result, the roof covering is also destroyed. And if moisture eventually gets under old coupler, then the entire roof begins to flake off. That is why a flat roof must "breathe".


For this purpose, so-called aerators are used on it. They look like simple plastic metal pipes covered with umbrella caps. They should be placed evenly over the entire area of ​​​​the roof, preferably at its highest points. The essence of such a mechanism is that different pressures are created inside the roof and the air begins to create flows, along the way, taking with it all the excess moisture vapor.

In practice, it looks like this:


In addition, in any living space, water vapor rises up to the ceiling. Moreover, they often successfully overcome this barrier (the water molecule is quite small) and already get into the insulation, which is bad for him. That is why vapor barrier is required. And not the one that is usually used to insulate the attic, but dense, made of high-quality polypropylene or polyethylene. The bituminous membrane is even more reliable.

Choosing the right roofing

So, what is used as a coating for such roofs?

Option # 1 - bitumen and polymer-bitumen materials

Such roofs cost the owners of private houses the cheapest. Basically, we are talking about roofing material and euroroofing material. These are rolled roofing sheets, which are based on synthetic fabric, and on the sides are bitumen. As an elastic and frost-resistant material, bitumen serves excellent protection and waterproofing.

Moreover, the installation of bituminous roofing on a flat roof is absolutely simple, you only need a gas burner. The rolls are easily fused together.

But such a roof has significant disadvantage- fragility. And also the fact that the roofing material does not breathe at all, i.e. vapor-tight, and therefore it is necessary to arrange ventilation for such a roof, unless you want the insulation to rot in a year:

Option #2 - liquid rubber

Such roofs have a huge advantage in that they do not contain any seams. As we have already said, the disadvantage of a flat roof is, first of all, that snow accumulates on it, which then causes leaks.


But there are subtleties here. So, liquid rubber for a flat roof should be taken only two-component, preferably the highest quality. And it is extremely important to correctly apply this material on a flat roof: evenly, avoiding unnecessary layers and savings in certain places. So, where the paint was applied unevenly, problems should be expected after 8-10 years.

Option #3 - PVC, TPO and EPDM membranes

Roofing membranes are valuable as flat roof coverings in that they allow steam to escape. After all, no matter what the vapor barrier used, moisture still at least a little, but gets into the insulation, and not only from below, but also from above - after heavy rains, For example.

There are three types of membranes for the installation of such a roof: TPO, PVC and EPDM. The most popular is PVC membrane, it is also the most combustible. The EPDM membrane is more durable and affordable, but if mechanical damage occurs in it, nothing can fix it, while the PVC membrane is enough to melt with a hairdryer. In addition, the joints of the EPDM membrane must be glued with a special tape, which is much less reliable than the adhesion of PVC sheets.

But the cheapest membrane in its sector is PVC. But she has these significant disadvantages as low resistance to ultraviolet rays and fear of contact with bitumen, various oils and even polystyrene foam, otherwise the service life is significantly reduced.

Bonding EPDM membranes requires professional skills. TPO membrane, like PVC, is also hot air weldable. It is not afraid of the best ultraviolet, it is more chemically resistant and can be laid directly on polystyrene foam or old bituminous roofing without geotextiles. But its service life is shorter than that of EPDM, therefore, for the installation of a flat roof of a residential private house, we recommend using a PVC membrane.

So, the pie of a flat roof device with a PVC membrane is traditionally made like this:

  • Step 1. We arrange a monolithic floor slab.
  • Step 2. We put a tear-resistant vapor barrier film.
  • Step 3. We make a ramp out of insulation or screed.
  • Step 4. We put a heater. In private construction, this is usually foam with 35 density, and on top - XPS with 50 mm, which is even stronger.
  • Step 5. Now geotextile, 300-500 g per square meter.
  • Step 6. We turn to waterproofing - this is the PVC membrane. The density of the insulation is sufficient to walk on such a roof. But, if you plan to make an open terrace on the roof, then the cake needs to be continued further.
  • Step 7. Lay the geotextile again - now directly on the membrane.
    We put rubber tiles or reinforced screed 5-7 cm, on which we are already laying paving slabs. To make a screed, you need ballast.

And such roofs are made of rubber, polymers or even foil. Unlike bituminous, they are durable, fire resistant and hold firmly to the base. They reach a slight slope with the help of expanded clay concrete or concrete screed.

How to achieve 100% waterproofing?

The main task when installing a flat roof is to make all joints and junctions as airtight as possible. After all, such a roof is most affected by moisture, hail, temperature changes and wind-blown debris. Therefore, the sealants used for sealing such joints must be of high quality and resistant to any influences. This is also a kind of expense that you have to go to.

For the same purpose of waterproofing, the slope of a flat roof is recommended to be at least 2%. Few? In fact, this is quite enough so that all atmospheric moisture does not linger on the surface, but flows down into funnels and pipes, and from them already into a septic tank, soil or sewer. Therefore, even at the design stage, you need to accurately think over the future drainage system.

Moreover, the drainage system itself is made both internal and external. So, the internal drainage system is a fitting - funnels located throughout the roof, which receive flowing water and direct it to pipes that go through buildings, but are isolated from living quarters. The only disadvantage of such a system is that the pipes are clogged with small debris and leaves, for which it is desirable to provide them with special filters and clean them periodically.

External drainage systems are already attached to the outer walls of the building. Of course, it is easier to clean such ones when they are clogged, but in cold weather they often freeze over. For which it is additionally customary to supply them with electrical heating in the form of cables.

As for the material for the inside and outside drainage system flat roof, then PVC or metal is quite suitable. Both options have their pros and cons. So, polyvinyl chloride does not corrode, but is more brittle than metal.

In order for the gutters not to freeze in winter, equip them with roofing thermal cables.

Green area on the roof: fashionable and environmentally friendly

Greenery and recreation areas are often not enough not only for the inhabitants of the "stone jungle", but even for the owners of private houses. The thing is that the same beautiful garden furniture is not always possible to leave in the courtyard of the house, and beautiful rare flowers in the garden flower bed are often trampled on by pets. Therefore, it is not surprising that the green area on the roof has become fashionable among the owners of cottages. Especially if the access to it goes immediately from the bedroom and no one else can disturb your morning peace with a cup of coffee.

There was also a fashion for some cafes to make the roof flat, and put a small greenhouse on it. All the greens - immediately on the table! And it’s profitable, because it’s not so easy to bring fresh dill or onions to the kitchen, and it’s economically profitable - there is where to send kitchen waste. And it's hard to know who borrowed this idea from whom: enterprising residents of private houses with a flat roof, or the best minds in catering. But the fact that such an arrangement of covered ground is beneficial is a fact: rodents will not dig under the beds, insects and pests will not get (as well as pests in the form of neighbors), and the fact that it is always a little hotter on the roof is only a plus for the same tomatoes. But the main thing is to correctly calculate the loads on such a roof during construction!

And the roofing pie often goes standard: waterproofing on the floor, thermal insulation, geotextiles, drainage and again geotextiles. And on top it is already possible both the earth and the beds:

Or in this version for more powerful overlaps:


A flat roof is a huge scope for any fantasy. Designers and architects love to bring to life a variety of projects for her: a garden, a greenhouse, a jogging track, a mini-beach with sun loungers, and much more. Some craftsmen even manage to make a parking lot on it!

Flat roofs in our time are undeservedly forgotten and are not spoiled by the attention of developers. In private housing construction, they are found mainly in the southern regions, where heavy rains and snowfalls are rare. Hip roofs, on the other hand, have become firmly established in the designs and minds of homeowners.

This state of affairs is explained simply: until recently, builders did not have reliable and durable waterproofing.

Standard roofing material - cardboard impregnated with bitumen, cannot resist moisture and temperature changes for a long time. Even a thick 4-layer coating of it has to be changed after 6-8 years.

Today, interest in flat roofs is starting to grow.

There are several reasons for this:

  • Economic benefit. The cost of arrangement is lower than that of a tented one (more simple design and smaller area)
  • Additional usable area. There is a possibility of rational use(flower garden, playground, recreation area, swimming pool);
  • Availability for maintenance and operation (cleaning drains, installation of air conditioners, antennas, inspection of coatings, ventilation and smoke channels);
  • The layer of snow plays the role of additional thermal insulation, reducing heating costs.
  • Original appearance building.

Types of flat roofs

Strictly speaking, you will not see a completely flat roof on a building. Any of them has a minimum slope of 1 to 4%, which is necessary for the runoff of precipitation.

There are four types of flat roofs:

  • unexploited;
  • exploited;
  • green (lawn);
  • combined.

Unexploited roofs are found on industrial buildings.

Exploited roofs have found application in public and private construction. They equip recreation areas, place cafes and restaurants, use them as parking lots and helipads.

Green (lawn) coatings are made to decorate buildings, as well as when there is a shortage of space on the site. In addition to the aesthetic function, they perform an important practical task. A layer of vegetable turf is an excellent heat and sound insulator.

Combined roofs with a flat surface are the most common option. Comfortable rest on the fresh air surrounded by green grass and flowering plants everyone likes it.

According to the method of drainage, houses with a flat roof are divided into two types:

  • With internal drain;
  • With external water discharge (along the perimeter of the roof).

Internal drainage is cheaper than external, because it does not require a large number gutters, pipes, funnels and high-altitude work on their installation. In execution it is more difficult. Errors in creating a slope, poor-quality sealing of joints lead to leaks and a violation of the integrity of the protective layer of waterproofing.

In operation flat coverings with internal drainage is more profitable. In winter, icicles do not grow on the overhangs near such a roof. Downspouts pass inside the building and therefore do not freeze. Cleaning funnels from debris is easier and easier than hanging gutters.

Device Features

According to the method of arrangement and the location of the structural layers, experts distinguish two types of flat roofs:

  • Classic;
  • Inversion.

The classic roofing "pie" is equipped according to the following technology:

  • on reinforced concrete floor slabs, they make a ramp out of a cement-sand mortar;
  • lay vapor barrier and insulation;
  • lay down waterproofing membrane or ruberoid carpet;
  • if the coating is to be used, then the waterproofing is protected with ceramic tiles.

Classic flat roof structure

The main disadvantage of the traditional design is the vulnerability of the outer insulating layer to solar ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes.

Working on a solution to this problem, engineers came up with the idea of ​​inversion coating. In it, the main structural elements (insulation and waterproof membrane) are interchanged. Waterproofing is hidden under the foam, which is protected from external influences by a ballast layer of gravel or tile trim.

Inversion coating design

Accordingly, the technology of work is changing. A waterproof carpet made of roofing felt or an EPDM membrane is glued onto the slab or spread on it, fixing it at the junction with the parapet.

The slope in this case is created in one of two ways:

  • Mortar screed on the plate;
  • Insulation, changing the thickness of its installation.

Installation of thermal insulation on a flat roof

Water intake funnels and pipes are installed at the lowest points of the slope. In addition to them, ventilation is installed to remove water vapor that accumulates in the zone of contact between the vapor barrier and the insulation.

When arranging a coating designed for planting plants, the construct is supplemented with an upper layer of waterproofing. Drainage layers of gravel are poured along it, geotextiles are laid and a fertile layer of earth is poured.

Except roofing, laid by reinforced concrete slabs, projects of houses with a flat roof on wooden beams have been developed.

Construction technology in this case may include the following operations:

  • Beams are mounted on the walls in increments of 50-100 cm, fixing them to the masonry with anchor studs. The cross section of the beams depends on the width of the span, the design load and can range from 10x20 cm to 15x25 cm;
  • Lay on the beams OSB boards, tightly joining them together;
  • Spread the waterproofing membrane in 2 layers, gluing the joints of the canvases with high quality.
  • They make thermal insulation from durable (extruded) foam plastic, gluing it to the membrane. A slope for water flow is created by laying the insulation in layers of different thicknesses;
  • Thermal insulator on top cement screed reinforced with mesh or tiled.

Examples of private houses

Among the developers there are many supporters of flat roofs. They are attracted by the ease of construction, the low cost of work and the possibility of placing a site for summer recreation.

A thick layer of snow on a flat roof is not a problem, but additional insulation

The design of buildings with such a roof fits perfectly into the style of minimalism, providing project developers with a wide field for creativity.

Spacious, comfortable and nothing more - the motto of everyone who chooses a house with such a roof. A pitched roof visually makes the building heavier, while a flat one, on the contrary, makes it light and airy.

The appearance of the facade of a one-story house with a flat roof compares favorably with the fairly boring variations of the "teremkovo" character.

On it, most often you will not see gutters and pipes, the water from which gets on the walls and spoils the appearance of the finish. Internal drainage is effective, practical and invisible.

Buildings with a flat roof look original, are practical, especially in the cold season. All the pros and cons of this option. One-story, two-story, wooden houses in high-tech style and minimalism. We will consider everything in more detail later in the article.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of this design are the following factors:

  • economy- the triangular roof is much larger in area, more materials are required for its construction;
  • time- the construction of a flat roof takes less time, which is very much appreciated when building houses, especially if they are built from scratch;
  • safety for builders- it is difficult to fall from a flat surface, they will not have to provide themselves with insurance, build protective structures that require time, money;
  • ease of use- if you find a hole or you need a scheduled inspection, repair, it will be easy for you to climb in for an inspection;
  • practicality- many exploit flat surface to the fullest, make a flower greenhouse, a greenhouse out of it, use it to install equipment.

Designers refer to such designs as minimalist, which are still in fashion, so your habitat will be in trend.

Among the minuses are:

  • the impossibility of rolling snow in winter;
  • creation of special drains, their regular cleaning is required;
  • to prevent stagnant water, you will have to install humidity control systems.

Those who were not afraid of the design flaws tried to install it for themselves and were not disappointed. Any building requires care, maintenance, so the need to eliminate water and snow is not terrible.

How to make a flat roof of a square house?

When planning the construction of a structure on a square building, you need to immediately decide what kind it will be. The complexity of the work done will depend on this. Choose one of the options:

  • not exploited;
  • exploited.

Making a flat unused flat roof is easier, if you want to keep costs down, this is the best option. To do this, you will need to install beams on the walls of a frame house so that the distance between them is from 50 cm to 1 m. To fix them, use building studs.

After fixing the beams, the crate is made of boards. Usually those with a width of at least 3 cm are used. They must be laid tightly so that holes do not form, marriage at the beginning of work will make the entire structure fragile.

A waterproofing membrane is installed on the finished crate, fixing the material with either construction tape or glue. Then thermal insulation and waterproofing are formed. This is a short description of the technology that allows you to make a flat roof of a square structure.

The main difference in the construction of the structure of an unused roof from an exploited one is that in the first, the waterproofing is located above the thermal insulation, and in the second, vice versa.

Projects

After determining what the structure will be, whether it is unexploited or operated, a plan or project is drawn up. The main purpose of this stage is to calculate the loads that will be applied to the building. On the basis of the obtained basis, you can calculate the amount of required materials.

If you do not have experience in the construction of roofs, it is better not to create a project yourself. This task should fall on the shoulders of professionals who can take into account all the nuances. Many construction companies offer developed programs that allow you to choose a project for your needs. finished house or completely new, when building from scratch.

The above diagram of how a flat roof is made is difficult to implement for a person who does not have the skills, so it is recommended to contact one of the available companies. Their work to create the project will include:

  • drawing up a sketch of the entire building;
  • calculation load-bearing structures- experts calculate the number of beams, the distance between them, other special structures of the crate;
  • creating a blueprint.

The final plan-scheme - main part design. When creating it, all the nuances are taken into account, additional elements roofs. Consider the location and quality of such details:

  • junction nodes;
  • cornice (to protect walls from flowing water);
  • funnels for collecting water;
  • aerators - to remove water vapor;
  • outlet for lightning;
  • drainage.

Single storey

This option is suitable for a small family. The one-story building looks compact, there are no extra rooms in it, most of them belong to minimalism. A flat roof that also goes with this style would be suitable.

The triangular roof gives the one-story volume, visually enlarges it, which often looks ridiculous. Flat - on the contrary, emphasizes the accuracy of the building. Among the large number of projects of one-story buildings that many companies offer, country options are also in demand.

If the summer cottage is small, you have to save space without cluttering it with unnecessary building elements. Many people decide to use the option with an exploitable roof for giving, placing a terrace, flowers, even a greenhouse on it. Because of small size of a one-story house, the roof can be strengthened to the extent that furniture can be easily installed on it: tables, chairs, sofas, cabinets.

Advice

If you want to install a pool on a one-story building, you need to stipulate this in advance, at the beginning of the design. In such cases, particularly strong reinforcement is required, special system waterproofing.

Double decker

Such options are suitable for large families, so that everyone is comfortable, it is important for him to have his own space. It is better to build a two-story one than a long one-story one. This saves materials, money, costs.

As a rule, in big family- great needs, everyone needs their own conditions for comfort. Someone wants to enjoy relaxing in the pool, someone wants to plant their favorite plants, and someone wants to have breakfast and dinner, enjoying the view of the sunset. A two-story building with a flat roof will provide an opportunity for the implementation of any ideas.

If the weight allows, the foundation and the construction of the walls are strong, you can organize a whole beach on the roof. To make it comfortable in the heat, sheds are made around the pool, which create a shadow. Plants can also be used for this purpose, many prefer decorative ones.

Another popular option for operating a large roof of a two-story building is the arrangement of a sports ground. Not every sport is suitable for practicing at altitude, but for most it is possible. Many install a tennis court, but it needs a sufficient area, otherwise you will have to run far for the ball.

Rooftop exercise equipment is in high demand. Treadmills, orbitreks, other fitness equipment that are in the open air - good opportunity do outdoor sports. However, given that they are powered by electricity, a cover must be installed to protect them when it rains.

If you plan to operate the roof for outdoor activities, you need to take care of safety by installing bumpers.

High tech

High-tech style has been relevant for more than a year. Its connoisseurs prefer to stick to desired design not only when decorating rooms inside, but exterior finish building. The main features of the style are the smoothness of surfaces, textured finish.

High-tech elements are not suitable for creating a cozy, homely, modest environment, if you prefer old-fashioned home design options, it is better to refuse it. Initially, the style was used only for offices, it belonged to the official ones. Decades after its invention, it began to be used for residential premises, and there were immediately many lovers of such rigor and minimalism.

High-tech is focused on demonstrating the available equipment, so modern simulators and other equipment on the roof will look appropriate. This is not a style of modesty, so it is more often used for large two-story houses. If it is used in the design of a one-story one, it should look large.

Another high-tech feature is a lot of artificial lighting. Both small decorative lanterns and large main light sources can be installed on the roof. In order to strictly follow the rules of style, the lamps must be of a characteristic geometric shape.

The walls, the roof are usually plain, but the colors should be bright, harmoniously combined with each other. Suitable shades beige, light gray, metallic are considered. Suitable for harmony with them dark colors. If walls are made in them, then the roof should be dark blue, gray, burgundy, emerald, and other bright colors.

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The type and shape of the roof has always depended on the region and the natural and climatic conditions that existed in it. In the northern lands large quantity rain in summer and snow in winter have historically been used different types pitched roofs. This has a completely rational justification - this way precipitation rolls down faster, and the roof is more likely not to leak.

In some places, a dome was an alternative to a pitched roof. As an example, one can name such a traditional type of residential building for some peoples as a yurt.

Dome, like pitched roof, it is quite effective in the removal of snow and water. In addition, it copes well with wind load - which is a serious threat to the well-known sloping roof with large overhangs.





But the hot southern regions could afford to make a very small slope for water flow. For example, in ancient Greece, one-story houses with a flat roof with a slight slope, with an open courtyard and a pool into which water flowed, were common.

However, this is all about the past. Modern building technology allow you to do what was previously considered irrational and even impossible. And flat roofs gradually penetrated all regions, increasingly crowding out other options. Take a look at any Big City. And in recent times and in private houses, a flat roof is gradually replacing the traditional pitched one.

Advantages of a flat roof

This trend is explained by a number of significant advantages that this particular type of roof has. First, it is structurally simpler. That is, it takes less time and materials to build it. It's easier to insulate. And this leads to a reduction in construction time and significant cost savings. It is not surprising that in the conditions market economy It is this type of roof that is most widely used.

And secondly, a flat roof is a potential opportunity to increase the usable area that you can use. After all, such a roof can be made exploitable - which we observe in numerous projects. modern houses with a flat roof.

And this idea from beautiful projects has long since begun to migrate into reality. This is not an architectural utopia, but something that you, if you wish, can embody in your own two-story house with a flat roof.

Disadvantages of a flat roof

Of course, the widespread introduction of just this type of roofing has a huge number of opponents who claim significant shortcomings of this solution.

For example, it is often said that flat roofs still leak too often.




And the lack of overhangs common for a pitched roof makes the facades of the building more vulnerable, which are not protected in any way from the destructive influence of moisture and due to this they quickly lose their appearance.

Mention is made of an even greater snow load, which leads to the need to manually clean the roofs. But let's look at each of these disadvantages in a little more detail.

Frequent leaks: who is to blame and what to do

Unfortunately, this is a reality - a huge number of modern apartment buildings with flat roofs are in need of repair on a regular basis. And their inhabitants upper floors often suffer from water flowing along the walls and ceiling.

However, it is not the type of roof as such that is to blame. Remember to panel houses after all, other claims are often made. Poor sound insulation, walls freezing in some places ... The thing is that during the construction of most of the modern housing stock, they relied not on quality, but on speed and quantity. And it was right - the housing crisis was very acute, it had to be solved somehow.

But - yes - as a result, the tenants similar houses have problems now. Including the current roof. But not because this type of roof, in principle, is not able to withstand the destructive effects of moisture. But because its installation requires professionalism, a neat approach and high-quality materials.

However, such common in panel residential buildings Leakage problems have another reason. This is a failure to comply with what is called the "rules of operation".

There are different types of flat roofs. For example, one on which you can walk, even plant grass there, organize recreation areas, parks, and swimming pools on it.

If you undertake to study fashionable projects of houses with a flat roof, all this is often found there. But typical construction involves a different type of construction. The one you can't walk on.

However, it is not always possible to fulfill this condition in practice. Roofs are cleared of snow, communications are installed on them, and so on. And all of these actions potentially lead to future leaks.




Thus, if you entrust the installation of a flat roof to professionals in your private house and comply with all operating conditions, the roof will not disappoint you.

The destructive effect of moisture: how to save facades

So, critics of flat roofs say that the lack of large overhangs characteristic of traditional pitched roof leads to rapid destruction of facades. And, in general, it is difficult to argue - water can even affect mountain slopes, let alone brickwork.

However, do overhangs really protect facades from moisture so well? Imagine slanting jets of rain hitting the surface of a wall at an angle. Roof overhangs take on part of them, it's true.

But in fact, they really cover only a small strip of the facade from above. The larger the protruding part of the roof, the more this space will turn out. But it cannot be increased indefinitely.

Thus, in order to protect the facades, not some special type of roofing is needed, but modern building technologies. For example, a frame house with a flat roof, lined with porcelain tiles or siding, will be extremely resistant to external influences.

Snow loads

This factor can be very significant in some regions. The layer of snow has a large weight, which additionally loads the floor. And if it does not survive, the consequences will be very deplorable.

However, the design features of a flat roof according to the rules are calculated taking into account the possible snow load. Thus, if no fatal mistakes were made in the design and construction, the snow will not affect the house in any way, no matter what roof it has.

Aesthetic possibilities

Sometimes you can hear that rectangular boxes with a flat roof are uninteresting and ugly. Of course, those who say this have never seen modern houses with a flat roof, even in a photo, not to mention a personal acquaintance.



It is no coincidence that this architectural solution is now at the peak of popularity. Styles such as hi-tech, minimalism, modern invariably prefer roofs with a slight slope. Because it allows you to make a more complex planning structure, embody previously unfeasible ideas, create expressive and unusual compositions. Such architecture can look very impressive and original.

Photo of houses with a flat roof

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