When most people think of the word \u2018flat\u2019, they think of something that has zero slope to it. However, virtually all flat roofs in Colorado and elsewhere are simply referred to as being flat, even though they really aren\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"flat](\"https:\/\/www.atozroofingdenver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/apartments-with-flat-roof.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou see, if a roof was perfectly flat, rainfall and melted snow would pool and remain in place. This would cause problems for the roofing system, as standing water is notorious for causing damage over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, instead of designing apartment buildings with truly flat roofs, architects and engineers actually integrate a small slope into the roof structure. This slope might be tiny (say, \u00bc-inch of slope for every foot of roofing), but it\u2019s all that\u2019s needed to effectively allow water to drain away from the building as it should. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The Cost Factor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe most significant reason why apartment buildings have flat roofs has to do with the cost of erecting a building with a flat roof versus erecting a similarly sized building with a conventional, sloped roof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flat roofs are much<\/em> less expensive to build. Not only is there less framing material used in the construction of a flat roof, but there are also no shingles, tiles, or shake necessary to channel water to the gutters and downspouts. Furthermore, because less material is needed to complete a flat roof, less labor is required to complete construction. This results in a significant cost savings for the property owner. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEven though flat roofs don\u2019t need to be shingled like conventional roofs do, they still need to be protected from water leaks and UV exposure. Here in Colorado, the most common methods for doing this include using one or more of the following commercial roofing materials: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Built-Up Roofing (BUR) Membrane<\/li>
- Metal Roofing (including aluminum, copper, tin, or some other alloy)<\/li>
- Modified Bitumen Roofing Material<\/li>
- Thermoset (EPDM) Roof Membrane<\/li>
- PVC Roof Membrane<\/li>
- TPO Roof Membrane<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In addition to these common flat roof solutions, some property owners are opting for \u2018living roofs\u2019 or \u2018green roofs\u2019, where trees, shrubs, and other vegetation are planted for the purpose of absorbing UV energy, improving air quality, and enhancing aesthetics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flat Roofs Add Usable Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s another reason why apartment buildings make use of flat roofs instead of sloped ones: flat roofs allow for the installation and operation of HVAC equipment like vents, chillers, furnaces, and more. Also, storage sheds or utility closets can often be installed on flat roots, whereas this wouldn\u2019t be possible in a sloped roof scenario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moving to the interior of a building, we find that a flat-roofed apartment building is going to allow for more efficient use of more square footage for residents. If the roof is sloped, there is almost always going to be unused attic or crawl space that isn\u2019t going to be as useful for the property owner or the tenants below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flat Roofs are Easier and Cheaper to Maintain<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf a heavy hailstorm hits Colorado and roofs become damaged, flat roofs are going to be easier and cheaper to repair, square foot-for-square foot, compared with conventional, sloped roofs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, repairing a punctured PVC roof membrane on a flat roof might only require a few hours of labor and a few patches of bonded PVC membrane. However, repairing equitable damage on a sloped roof would likely require project planning over days to ensure the right materials were on hand, the correct safety precautions are taken, and a large enough crew is available to do the job right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then, there\u2019s the cost factor again. Repairing a flat roof is going to cost a fraction of what it would cost to perform a similar repair on a sloped roof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though flat roofs don\u2019t need to be shingled like conventional roofs do, they still need to be protected from water leaks and UV exposure. Here in Colorado, the most common methods for doing this include using one or more of the following commercial roofing materials: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Built-Up Roofing (BUR) Membrane<\/li>
- Metal Roofing (including aluminum, copper, tin, or some other alloy)<\/li>
- Modified Bitumen Roofing Material<\/li>
- Thermoset (EPDM) Roof Membrane<\/li>
- PVC Roof Membrane<\/li>
- TPO Roof Membrane<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In addition to these common flat roof solutions, some property owners are opting for \u2018living roofs\u2019 or \u2018green roofs\u2019, where trees, shrubs, and other vegetation are planted for the purpose of absorbing UV energy, improving air quality, and enhancing aesthetics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flat Roofs Add Usable Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s another reason why apartment buildings make use of flat roofs instead of sloped ones: flat roofs allow for the installation and operation of HVAC equipment like vents, chillers, furnaces, and more. Also, storage sheds or utility closets can often be installed on flat roots, whereas this wouldn\u2019t be possible in a sloped roof scenario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moving to the interior of a building, we find that a flat-roofed apartment building is going to allow for more efficient use of more square footage for residents. If the roof is sloped, there is almost always going to be unused attic or crawl space that isn\u2019t going to be as useful for the property owner or the tenants below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flat Roofs are Easier and Cheaper to Maintain<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If a heavy hailstorm hits Colorado and roofs become damaged, flat roofs are going to be easier and cheaper to repair, square foot-for-square foot, compared with conventional, sloped roofs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, repairing a punctured PVC roof membrane on a flat roof might only require a few hours of labor and a few patches of bonded PVC membrane. However, repairing equitable damage on a sloped roof would likely require project planning over days to ensure the right materials were on hand, the correct safety precautions are taken, and a large enough crew is available to do the job right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then, there\u2019s the cost factor again. Repairing a flat roof is going to cost a fraction of what it would cost to perform a similar repair on a sloped roof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n