Whether you’re having a home built or making renovations to your current home, you’re going to have to make a few decisions. One of these decisions is whether you’re going to go with a flat or a pitched roof.
There are pros and cons to both. You have to decide which type of roof is best for your taste. You also need to think about the costs of each type of roofs. You may be looking to save money upfront, with little regard to maintenance or repairs. Or, you may want to think big picture. It all comes down to whether you’re going to live in the home or sell it.
The type of roof you have installed also has to do with your taste and preference. Some people hate the look of a flat roof. It makes them think of a commercial building. And, that’s okay. Other people love the clean lines of a flat roof and think it’s the best fit for their home.
Regardless of the type of roof you want installed in your home, you’re going to need a roofing professional. That’s why you should call Greenville Roofing in South Carolina. Their roofing experts can help you decide which type of roof is best for your property.
What are the Pros and Cons of a Flat Roof?
If you’re thinking about having a flat roof installed on your home, you want to consider both the pros and the cons. Even if you love the way a flat roof looks, it may not be the best fit for your family. It depends on what you think after discussing it with a roofing professional.
A flat roof has no slope. This means that, when it rains, the water puddles on your roof rather than running off. Over time, this could lead to leaks and other issues. It can even cause immediate problems if you get hit with a hurricane or bad snow storm.
Flat roofs come in three main types, including:
- Built-up
- Single-ply
- Sprayed polyurethane foam
No matter which of these types you go for, you’re going to run into the same maintenance issues. Because they don’t have a natural runoff, you may end up with drainage issues. Drains can get clogged and need to be serviced a lot more often than they do with a pitched roof.
As for cost, flat roofs are a lot cheaper to have installed than a pitched roof. In fact, they’re about 20-25% less expensive upfront. However, the maintenance on a flat roof will cost more in the long run.
If you live in an area with heavy rain, you’re going to find that the money you spend on repairs and leaks is a lot more than the money you save initially.
Pros and Cons of a Pitched Roof
A pitched roof is the opposite of a flat roof. There are three main types of a pitched roof, including:
- Gable
- Cross-gable
- Hipped
All of these roofs have a certain degree of slope. Some are much steeper than others. It comes down to what you want installed on your home. It also depends on the style of house you live in.
Obviously, you need to perform maintenance on pitched roofs. Just because they are sloped and offer natural runoff doesn’t mean they don’t need to be inspected and repaired from time to time. However, you’re not going to run into as many repair issues with a pitched roof as you will a flat roof.
The fact that you don’t need to maintain them as often may be a tradeoff for the initial cost. It does cost a few thousand more dollars to install a pitched roof than a flat roof. But this money may be more than made up when you consider how much less you’re going to spend on repairs and maintenance.
Pitched roofs are also less susceptible to moisture damage. You’ll experience fewer leaks with this type of roof which means you’ll save money on internal damages to your home. It will also mean fewer headaches for you and your roofing repair professional.
Contact an Expert at Greenville Roofing Today
If you’re building or renovating a home in South Carolina, you need to call a roofing professional at Greenville Roofing. An expert can come out and complete a free estimate on your home. He can also answer any questions you may have on which type of roof you should install on your home or commercial property.