While that s the easiest route it s certainly not your only option.
Replace flat roof with pitched.
This has to happen whether you re just removing the pitched roof or adding another floor with a flat roof.
Lay down the square folded epdm material in the center of your flat roof.
There are a few ways to dealing with a pitched roof if you choose to convert to a flat roof.
Unlike sloped roofs flat roofs are susceptible to ponding water.
To get rid of ponding water problems.
A flat roof is easily replaced by a one way slope or shed roof.
However flat roofs require much more aggressive and consistent maintenance than a pitched roof.
They last 25 50 years while a flat roof membrane will last about 15 20 years.
Determine the slope of the roof.
If you have a high rise building converting your flat roof to a pitched one may not be applicable.
There are a few ways in which you can go about the replacement including.
Align the bottom so its parallel to the bottom length of the roof.
It is a significant renovation if you are converting from flat to pitched.
Adding a trussed style roof.
When it comes to the disadvantages some property owners are being pestered by leaks.
You can tear off the existing roof remove the trusses and strengthen the joists.
Building a new floor and installing the pitched roof above that.
The structure does not need to be reinforced and the surface area is not that much greater for a shallow sloped shed roof.
Installing a shallow pitched roof over your existing flat roof.
Pitched roofs have about a 40 longer life than flat roofs.
A pitched roof is more expensive.
Most homeowners choose to convert a flat roof to a pitched one using a simple trussed roof with two angled planes.
This is because the membrane is more expensive to manufacture as well as the need for more specialized labor.
According to improve net s online roofing calculator a flat roof is significantly cheaper than a pitched roof.
Flat roofs also don t last as long.
Flat roofs are about 10 20 more expensive to install than a pitched roof after the conversion.
Roofs with a slope of 1 to 3 inches of fall to 12 inches of run should use rolled roofing.
Depending on the climate your flat roof will only last between 15 and 30 years if well maintained.
Flip the topmost piece of the epdm material downward across the length of the roof.
A 900 square foot flat roof in the san francisco area made of concrete tiles costs.
Additional valleys angles and gables can be built into converted roofs as well but adding these elements may affect your project.