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The device and installation of a typical flat roof: a thorough overview of the technological subtleties. Features of a flat roof: the pros and cons of using it


Still an unusual decoration country cottages – flat roof. It is believed that flat roofs are intended only for urban development or for industrial buildings. But it's not. The roofs of houses in historic neighborhoods are often pitched. And at a private house you can make a flat roof.

Now we will look at what it is, what are the advantages / disadvantages and how to make a flat roof with your own hands.

Types of flat roof

Structurally, flat roofs are divided into two main types: on beams and those with a concrete slab at the base.

Flat roofs are never completely flat, there is still a small angle (within a few degrees). This is necessary for the flow of water. Otherwise, it will stagnate on the roof.

Most often, internal drains are arranged on flat roofs: funnels are mounted in the roof, risers from them pass through interior spaces. Funnels are placed on the lower part of the roof, at the rate of one riser per 150-200 squares.

The waterproofing around the funnels is reinforced, cable heating is also recommended (so that the water in the riser does not freeze). If a flat roof without a parapet, and a decent angle (from 6 degrees) drainage system can be standard external, as for pitched roofs: gutter and pipes.

Roofs are subdivided according to functionality, the device of the roofing pie and the type of coating. Here are some of the main varieties:

  • The unexploited roof is flat. It is built solely for the sake of originality and economy of material. It does not need to strengthen the structure.

  • Operating flat roof. It can be used for any purpose, from the placement of an outdoor pool and ending with a parking lot.

The type of overlap depends on the intended purpose: it is obvious that with high expected loads, the base should be a concrete slab. But this does not mean that the entire building should be brick or concrete. For example, a flat roof wooden house can also be exploited. Of course, it cannot be used as a heliport, but it is quite possible to arrange a solarium, set up a garden or put up a gazebo for tea drinking. Of course, a sparse crate cannot be made, only a solid one.

  • traditional roofing. Classic performance roofing cake: a waterproofing layer on top of the insulation, the base is concrete, for the outflow of water - expanded clay concrete (sloping screed).

  • Inversion roof. Here, the insulation lies on top of the waterproofing and protects it from damage. The floor can be finished with paving or ceramic tiles, you can also plant a lawn here. A mandatory requirement for an inversion design is an angle of 3-5 degrees.

Roofs are attic and non-attic. Both types have their advantages: the presence of an attic allows you to place all the necessary communications on it (ventilation pipes, expansion tank heating, etc.), a barren roof can be made exploitable.

One of the options for a non-attic design is a flat combined roof: the attic floor is combined with the roof, the lower side is the ceiling in the living room.

note

According to the device, these roofs differ from simple non-attic ones; it is impossible to make them exploitable.

With a house height of ten meters or more, as well as on exploited roofs, a parapet must be installed without fail. For exploited - not less than 1.2 meters.

If the roof is not in use, and the cottage is low, you can make a flat roof without a parapet or install fencing bars instead, or even do without them.

General arrangement of a flat roof

It is obvious that in exploited roofs for various purposes device will be different:

  • When constructing a pool - increased attention to waterproofing;
  • A “green” roof is also a solid waterproofing plus soil filling, etc.

    • The most common coating is flat roofing. This is cheapness, simplicity and high laying speed, excellent waterproofing. Most cheap material, which can be covered with a flat roof - roofing material.

    The disadvantages of rolled materials (and roofing material in particular) are low durability, low mechanical strength. For exploited roofs "with high traffic" tiles are preferable.

    A flat roof made of corrugated board and a flat roof made of corrugated board can only be made in an unused version and if there is required slope. When choosing a material, you need to read the instructions for the model: some types of profiled sheets and metal tiles can be laid on roofs with a slope of less than 11 degrees.

    Some brands of corrugated board can also be used as a base for an unexploited roof, instead of plywood or concrete slab.

    There are other coating materials for unused roofs:

    • Polycarbonate;

    Pros and cons of flat roofs

    Advantages:

    • Original look. Flat roofs in cottages are rare.
    • Possibility of exploitation.
    • Flat roof - easy installation and savings on materials. But it depends on how you plan to operate the roof. And that construction will cost even more than an expensive pitched roof made of ceramic tiles.
    • Laying, maintenance, repair on a flat roof is easier than on a slope.
    • flat roofs wind-resistant, pitched have windage.

    Minuses:

    • A flat roof leaks more often than a pitched one. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the waterproofing layer.
    • The need to clear the roof of snow.
    • Flat rolled roofing requires more frequent repairs and resurfacing than metal profiled, tiled and other pitched roofs.

    So which roof is better, flat or pitched? Exclusively a matter of taste.

    Building a flat roof

    Consider the option when the profiled sheet is used as the basis of the roof:

    1. Sheets are laid on the beams (rafters). The step between the rafters depends on the profile. For example, for load-bearing profiles with a corrugation height of 6-7.5 centimeters (H60, H75), the step between the beams is 3-4 meters.

    2. Laying a vapor barrier film. The film is laid with an overlap, the joints must be sealed with mounting tape.

    3. Thermal insulation. Mineral wool boards are usually used for this purpose. Please note that the corrugation depressions also need to be filled with insulation.

    4. Waterproofing. For this purpose, a polymer film is suitable. If the insulation is mineral wool, you can also use built-up waterproofing, because. cotton wool is a non-combustible material.

    5. Finishing coat. You can also use fused. A roll is slowly rolled out over the roof, heating it with a burner along its entire length. The deposited coating is pressed against the roof and smoothed out.

    6. On flat roofs it is possible to lay the built-up roof in several layers.

    In other cases, a flat roof wooden beams it is arranged more traditionally: a solid crate of plywood or OSB is nailed to the beams, a roofing pie is laid (vapor barrier + basalt wool), a waterproofing layer and a rolled roof are directed.

    If you are interested in a flat roof with a more complex device, please contact us: we will perform a roof of any complexity quickly and at an affordable price.

    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 the possibility of its 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 minimum slope from 1 to 4%, necessary for the runoff of atmospheric 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 stay on 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 coatings with internal drainage are more profitable. In winter, icicles do not grow on the overhangs near such a roof. Downspouts run 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 a waterproofing membrane or roofing felt 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.

    In addition to roofing laid on reinforced concrete slabs, projects have been developed for houses with a flat roof on wooden beams.

    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;
    • From above, the heat insulator is protected with a cement screed, reinforced 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. pitched roof visually makes the building heavier, and flat, on the contrary, makes it light and airy.

    Facade appearance one-story house with a flat roof compares favorably with the fairly bored variations of the "teremkovy" 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.

    The final and one of the most important stages of construction is the construction of the roof. Pitched structures are considered a classic solution, however, in last years there has been a clear trend towards flat roofs. The secret of their popularity lies in the mass of advantages. Previously, flat, or, as they are also called, combined roofs were erected on administrative, civil, medical, and sports buildings. Today, the scope of their application has expanded significantly and includes residential and suburban construction.

    Features of a flat roof

    The main difference between this type of roofs is the use of sheet and piece materials, which form a continuous carpet when laid. These include materials of bitumen and bitumen-polymer type, mastics. To increase resistance to temperature fluctuations and mechanical deformations, such carpets must have increased elasticity. The function of the basis for the carpet is performed by the bearing plates, the surface of the heat-insulating layer and the screeds. Layers stacked one on top of the other form a roofing cake as a result.

    Advantages of flat designs

    Until quite recently, many avoided the installation of roofs flat type without being sure of the appropriateness of such a decision. However, in reality, these designs have a number of obvious advantages:

    • Flat roofs allow you to get additional usable area that can be used as a recreation area, turn it into a pool, garden, etc.
    • An important advantage is the ability to save on material, since with the same architectural basis in terms of area, a flat coating is much smaller than a pitched one.
    • Laying flat roofs is incomparably more convenient than pitched roofs: all materials can be placed side by side and work in a safe position.
    • Flat roof maintenance and repair work is greatly simplified.
    • Additional area is added without increasing or changing the contours of the structure, which is very important in large cities, where lack of territory and ecology are on the list of the most pressing problems.

    Flaws

    • One of the disadvantages of flat non-attic roofs is the need to regularly monitor the degree of moisture content of the insulation and maintain the tightness of the waterproofing coating.
    • With frequent and heavy snowfalls, a large snow mass accumulates on a flat roof, which increases the load on the structure and often leads to leaks.
    • There is a certain risk of blockages in internal system drainage or freezing.
    • To avoid damage to the roofing, it is necessary to clean the surface from snow accumulations from time to time.

    Roof knots

    For reliable protection of the roofing pie from external influences, special care must be taken to carry out the areas of its junction with such building structures like parapets, walls, pipes, external parts ventilation systems etc.

    The main nodes of a flat roof are:

    • junction node;
    • overhang node;
    • roof passageway.

    The nodes are installed on a reinforced concrete base in those areas where the cut of the roofing pie is adjacent to the vertical structures. Often, manufacturers of roofing materials develop their own systems: each of them may have certain design features.

    The main requirement for the nodes is to ensure the tightness of the joint and its thermal protection.

    The main components of flat roofs of different types

    Exploited and non-exploited roofs

    The device of roofs of the exploited type is justified on buildings that provide for the periodic exit of people to the roof or the placement of heavy objects on it.

    A design feature of such roofs is the need to create a rigid base or a special screed over the waterproofing layer. Such a measure is necessary to increase the strength of the structure and evenly distribute the load over it. The increased rigidity of the base will preserve the integrity of the waterproofing layer and prevent it from bursting.

    A distinctive feature of non-exploited type roofs is the absence of the need to lay a rigid base on top of the waterproofing. In this case, soft insulation is used. The creation of this type of roof is advisable in the case when there is no need for maintenance of the structure, since there is no pressure on the roof surface. In cases where there is a need to care for such a roof or carry out certain work, the issue is resolved by installing special transitional bridges or ladders, due to which there is a uniform distribution of pressure over the surface.

    By arranging an unexploited roof, you can spend much less money than when installing an exploited one, but it should be noted that it will last much less.

    Other types of flat roofs

    The design features of flat roofs formed the basis for their division into the following types:

    • classic;
    • inversion;
    • ventilated.

    The traditional solution is classic variety flat structures. Otherwise they are called soft.

    In the classic version, the base plate functions as a base. Laying is carried out on its vapor barrier coating thermal insulation material- In many cases, mineral wool boards are used. Since the thermal insulation layer also needs to be protected (in particular, from the effects of precipitation), a waterproofing carpet is arranged, the basis for which are bitumen-containing roll materials.

    The structure of flat inverted roofs is fundamentally different from classical type: in this case, the insulation layer is above the waterproofing membrane, and not below it. This specificity allows you to protect the waterproofing from negative impact ultraviolet rays, from loss of quality characteristics as a result of freezing and subsequent thawing, with a sharp change temperature regime. This arrangement also warns mechanical damage waterproofing membrane, which significantly increases the duration of the operational life of the roof.

    Inversion structures are very convenient to use as operated ones. Plants, grass, light furniture, etc. can be planted on them.

    The device of ventilated roofs allows solving the problem of moisture accumulation in the insulation and ceiling slabs, which often causes the formation of bubbles, leading to subsequent leaks and rupture of the roofing carpet. The specificity of ventilated flat roof units is the partial fixing of the first layer of the carpet with glue to the roof or laying on mechanical fasteners. This feature allows you to create an air gap between the roof and the base, excluding significant water vapor pressure. Communication with external air is carried out through the junctions along the roof contour or through the installation of special exhaust deflectors.

    The base is one of the significant components of flat structures

    To obtain a high-quality, functional and durable roof, it is necessary to think in detail about the plan of a flat structure in advance. Such a measure will greatly simplify the installation process itself. In many cases, the main nodes of a flat roof are:

    • load-bearing structure - its functions can be performed by a monolith, a ceiling along a profiled sheet or a load-bearing concrete slab;
    • thermal insulation layer;
    • waterproofing layer;
    • slope-forming layer, the function of which is to drain water;

    The initial step in creating a flat structure is the preparation of the base. The load-bearing covering of such a roof in most cases is profiled steel sheets or solid wood-based coverings.

    In the case of an uneven surface of a reinforced concrete base, it is necessary to create a leveling screed from a sand-cement mortar or sandy asphalt concrete. The thickness of the screed is determined by the type of base:

    • on concrete base– from 10 to 15 mm;
    • on rigid insulation boards - from 15 to 25 mm;
    • on soft insulation boards - from 25 to 30 mm.

    With a roof slope of less than 15%, the screed is first located on the grooves, after which - on the slopes.

    With an indicator of more than 15%, the actions must be carried out in the reverse order: first of all, align the slopes, and then proceed to work with valleys and grooves.

    All elements protruding above the roofing surface (parapet walls, chimneys, etc.) are treated with plaster to a height of at least 25 cm. Special rails are installed above the plastered surface. Their function is to fix the roll type of the carpet.

    To improve the quality of adhesion of the base and the rolled carpet, the roofing screed is primed with mastics for the roof. Before starting work, the surface is thoroughly cleaned.

    Soft roofing materials

    When installing flat roofs on initial stage it is necessary to prepare all roofing materials for further use.

    If rolled materials are used, they are carefully inspected for the presence of different types defects: cracks, bumps, oil stains. After that, they are rolled out and kept in this form or turned inside out for 24 hours.

    Roofing mastic performs two functions at the same time:

    • used as independent material to ensure a seamless coating and for repair work.
    • It is used as an adhesive agent for bonding roll-type materials to the base. Bituminous mastics used both cold and hot.

    Mastic as an independent roofing material

    The composition of flat structures does not always include rolled materials: they can be arranged using only mastic.

    Mastic is essentially liquid material, made on the basis of pure elastic hydrophobic polyurethane resins. After being applied to the surface of a flat roof, under the influence of moisture contained in the air, the process of its polymerization begins, as a result of which the material is transformed into a rubber-like continuous membrane with excellent waterproofing and protective properties.

    Due to a number of features, mastic is an almost ideal material for flat structures. Its main advantages:

    • reliability;
    • safety;
    • resistance to ultraviolet radiation;
    • resistance to precipitation and the development of microorganisms;
    • excellent adhesion to any type of building surface;
    • preservation of the original volume (it does not change even as a result of polymerization);
    • ease of use: liquid mastic can be applied manually- using a roller or brush, or a special method of airless spraying.

    Roll materials for roofing

    An important part of a flat roof is the roofing material itself. The most suitable for flat structures are rolled materials. Their laying is carried out on the surface with an overlap. With a roof slope of more than 5%, the overlap in the inner carpet layers should be 70 mm, in the outer - 100 mm. With a slope of less than 5%, the width of the overlap in all layers is 100 or more millimeters. Rolled strips are laid in a certain (one) direction.

    In the case when the panel deviated to the side during gluing, you should try to move it and not peel it off. In the absence of a result or its insufficiency, the glued part is cut off and glued with a 100 mm overlap.

    Laying of rolled canvases is carried out in layers. When attaching them to cold mastic, a 12-hour interval must be observed between gluing layers.

    Thermal insulation in soft flat roofs

    The layer of heat-insulating material can be mounted in two ways: external or internal.

    The external (external) method is easier, as a result of which it has become more widespread. In addition, it can be used for thermal insulation of the building both at the construction stage and after its completion, in the operating state.

    Depending on the number of layers to be mounted, flat structures provide two types of thermal insulation:

    • single layer;
    • two-layer.

    The choice of a particular type is determined by the heat engineering calculation and the strength requirements that apply to the roof. When laying thermal insulation boards along the upper part of the supporting structure, the so-called “spread seams” principle is applied.

    In the case of a two-layer coating, the joints of the upper and lower slabs also run "in a row". In the areas where heat-insulating plates adjoin walls, lanterns and parapets, transitional heat-insulating bumpers are arranged. Thermal insulation is fixed in the following ways:

    • mechanical, in which the fastening of the corrugated board is carried out using self-tapping screws, and the reinforced concrete base - using plastic dowels with a core;
    • adhesive;
    • with the help of ballast: it can be paving slabs or pebbles;
    • on the base.

    Horizontal ventilation

    During the operation of the roof, damage to the vapor barrier layer can occur, as a result of which moisture enters the insulation, which leads to its freezing in the cold season. All this significantly reduces the thermal insulation characteristics of the material. For this reason great importance has a ventilated roof.

    Ventilation of flat structures is a system of aerators (plastic or metal tubes) that are located above the roof membrane. The system emerges on the roof surface in the form of umbrellas protected by nets. They should be located at the highest points of the roof.

    drainage system

    A very important value in the process of drainage is played by the value roof slope– it should be at least 2%. Even a slight slope prevents the penetration of moisture inside.

    In the case of flat structures, the drainage system is of great importance.

    Its components are receiving funnels, pipes (through them water flows into the sewer, special storage tanks or to the ground).

    Drainage is carried out in two ways:

    1. According to the internal system - in this case, fittings (funnels) located on the surface of the roof collect water flows, after which they are sent to pipes: they are mounted inside the building and are completely isolated from residential premises.
    2. By external drainage - pipes are fastened along the outer surface of the walls of the house, so that they can be easily cleaned of accumulated dirt.

    minus outdoor system is the frequent freezing of pipes in winter.

    The specific number of funnels, their diameter, location areas are calculated taking into account the architectural features of the building, the operating conditions of the roof and the maximum amount of precipitation in the region. As a rule, funnels are equipped with filters to prevent leaves, small birds, etc. from entering the system.

    Materials for the drainage system are polyvinyl chloride or metal funnels. The former are more popular because they do not corrode.

    CONCLUSIONS:

    • The main difference between flat roofs is the use of sheet and piece materials.
    • The structure of a flat roof resembles a multilayer cake.
    • Such designs allow you to get additional usable area, which can be used at your discretion.
    • The main nodes of a flat roof are: the junction node, the overhang node, the node of the passage through the roof.
    • A design feature of operated roofs is the need to create a rigid base or a special screed over the waterproofing layer.
    • A distinctive feature of non-exploited type roofs is the absence of the need to lay a rigid base on top of the waterproofing.
    • The design features of flat roofs have become the basis for their division into classic, inversion, ventilated.
    • The initial step in creating a flat structure is the preparation of the base.
    • Flat roofs can be installed using roll materials or only mastic.
    • most suitable roofing for flat structures are rolled materials.
    • Thermal insulation is laid in one layer or in two layers.
    • Ventilation of flat structures is a system of aerators above the roofing membrane.
    • Flat roofs can have an internal and external drainage system.

    What are the requirements for a flat roof to be covered with rolled materials, you can find out from the video.

    The construction of a gable or hip roof not always rational and expedient, if we are talking about outbuildings, industrial and commercial facilities, and sometimes private houses in modern style. Large consumption of material, complex rafter system make the construction of these structures economically unprofitable, protracted undertaking. While flat roof projects greatly reduce construction costs, build quickly and are suitable for almost any structure.

    A house with a flat roof is reliably protected from increased wind load. However, having no slopes, it cannot quickly divert rain and melt water from the roof surface.

    The situation is complicated by the fact that the surface of roofing materials has a rough structure that does not allow moisture and snow to slide off freely. Therefore, a do-it-yourself flat roof device must comply with the stringent requirements of building codes for waterproofing, ramping and construction technology.

    The structure of the roofing pie

    The need for a high level of protection against moisture forces the roofing materials of a flat roof to be arranged in layers, one above the other, forming the so-called "pie". If we consider its device in section, we can see the following layers:

    1. Flat base made of concrete slabs or profiled metal sheets. It provides structural rigidity, bears the weight of the roofing pie, transferring it to the load-bearing partitions and, as a result, to the foundation. At the exploited roof, the base should be as rigid as possible.
    2. vapor barrier. A layer that is necessary in order to protect a flat roof from the penetration of vapors from internal heated rooms into the thickness of the insulation. Settling on thermal insulation in the form of condensate, water irrevocably reduces its insulating properties by more than two times. As the simplest vapor barrier, polyethylene film or bitumen-based coatings are used.
    3. insulation. For thermal insulation of a flat roof, backfill materials are used, such as expanded clay, perlite, slag, rolled, for example, mineral wool and in the form of plates, in particular expanded polystyrene. By the way, insulation is used not only to regulate the temperature regime, but also to flatten a house with a flat roof. The main requirements for insulation are low hygroscopicity and thermal conductivity, light weight.
    4. Waterproofing. A flat roof allows the use of rolled materials for protection against moisture: bitumen, polymer and bitumen-polymer. In addition to high waterproofing qualities, they must be resistant to temperature extremes, elasticity, and long service life.

    Types of roofing and the nuances of their installation

    The device of a flat roof determines the design and nature of use. The following are distinguished into separate types that require a special approach during construction:


    Roof installation for unheated buildings

    If a flat roof is erected with your own hands for an unheated utility room, for example, a shed, gazebo, shed or extension, the slope is organized using support beams.

    They are installed at an angle of 3 degrees, which is 30 mm per linear meter of the length of the beam. Then a base of unedged boards is laid on the beams, fixing them with nails or self-tapping screws.

    Roofing material is used as a waterproofing agent - the most affordable material. It is produced and sold in the form of rolls. Carry out the cutting of the waterproofing, cutting the strips so as to lay them in the direction of the slope of the flat roof.

    Strips of roofing material are laid in stages with an overlap of 10-15 cm and fixed wooden slats or steel strips every 60-70 cm in the direction of the drain, so as not to block the path of flowing moisture. The flat roof of an unheated room is easily mounted by one's own hands, even by one worker without the help of helpers.

    Roof installation for heated buildings

    If they are building a private house with a flat roof, which they plan to connect to the heating system, then the work takes place in the following order:


    To build a house with a flat roof, the length of which exceeds 6 m, a bar with a section of 150x150 mm or more, or a steel I-beam, is used for the manufacture of support beams.

    Monolithic concrete roof

    Another option for building a flat roof with your own hands is to use monolithic concrete. The process looks like this:


    Decline process

    - the device of a small angle of the roof surface for organizing a drain. Before building a house with a flat roof, it is better to decide in advance which drain you will install, internal or external, and make a drawing.

    If provided, water should drain with the help of a ramp into the water-catching funnels, which are located 1 per 25 sq.m or more often. If you make an external drain, then moisture should fall into the gutter. The slope is formed by the following methods:


    A flat roof without a proper slope is an unreliable shield between you and the weather. Moisture that has no way out will accumulate on the surface of the roof, provoke the destruction of the roof and leaks.

    Video instruction