How To Hide A Flat Roof

Flat Roof Design

Today’s trend doesn’t lean toward building homes with a flat roof.  This said you may be the owner of an older home that has this type of roof.  These roofs are typically less expensive to build and are often included in modern design today.  Do you want to know how to hide a flat roof? We can show you a way to do so that brings curb appeal to your home.  In this post, we will reveal the pros and cons of having a flat roof and ways to create a design feature to give it style.

Flat Roof Cons

The home in this image is somewhat uninteresting but utilitarian and probably didn’t cost an arm and leg to build.  There are several common concerns in regards to owning a home with a flat roof.  One such concern is the tendency for water to create a pool or puddle. Standing water can cause damage not only to your roof but could possibly leak into the interior of your home.  Establishing proper drainage can prohibit this problem.

Another concern with a flat roof would be the accumulation of debris that can collect and would require regular removal.  If left the branches, leaves, and other debris can become wet from rain and freeze during cold temperatures.  This will possibly damage the roof and eventually cause leakage into the interior of your home. Flat roofs may need to be replaced more often than sloped roofs but proper maintenance will give your roof longevity.

Flat Roof Pros

This type of roof is easily accessible and can provide the homeowner with outdoor living space.  Especially beneficial in an urban setting where the land around a home is at a premium.  Enjoying a beverage while watching the sunset or rise is an added bonus with nothing to obstruct the view.  Enjoy entertaining family and friends in an outdoor space that has easy access to the inside of your home.  As we mentioned previously they are economical to build and today’s materials are energy efficient.  Another plus of a flat roof is as a space to store your heating and air conditioning unit, solar panels, or other house equipment.  If your home is on a super small lot this will enable you to have more yard space.

Modern Design

Modern Design is a very popular trend today.  In this type of design straight and simple lines are promoted and a flat roof gives that precise look.  The Mid-Century Modern house below is from the 1950s and is much sought after today. This design incorporates clean, smooth lines that are indicative of flat roofs, and they can sometimes be incorporated on various levels.

This new home build below was created in the modern design built by Owings Brothers and includes an outdoor living space on the roof in the rear of the home.  Constructed in an established neighborhood the property surrounding the home was limited.   By including outdoor living space on the roof it gave the client privacy and a birds-eye view.  See more images of this Contemporary Custom Home.

Parapet Roof Feature

What is a parapet and what is its historical origin?

A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway, or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian parapetto (parare ‘to cover/defend’ and petto ‘chest/breast’). Where extending above a roof, a parapet may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the edge line of the roof surface or maybe a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof.   Parapets were originally used to defend buildings from military attacks.  Wikipedia

Along with improving curb appeal to a flat roof, a parapet offers safety, The low wall around the edge of the roof can be similar to a guard rail and protect someone from falling. As in the new home built above skylights were installed on the roof and created an outdoor living space in which to entertain friends and family. The flat roof is ideal for creating a seating area and provides a beautiful view. This custom home build was placed in a traditional neighborhood and is unique and eye-catching to the passerby.

In the case of this home above, the client desired an addition to extend the kitchen and complete a master bedroom and bath. To do so required careful design. This conventional 1950s two-story home had limited yard space. The addition needed to be constructed on the rear of the house. Even though the first floor was perfectly suited for designing an addition the roofline had to accommodate the windows on the second floor. The answer to our dilemma was to build a flat roof structure including a parapet.

Our clients had a patio included in their design so a rooftop living space was not needed.  They did however wish to offer curb appeal since in this urban neighborhood all the homes included parking in the back of the house.  A parapet was constructed and gave this addition a refined and finished look.  A beautiful transformation!