Flat Roof Extensions: Here’s What You Need to Know

Flat roof extensions can provide a practical, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing structural addition to your home. Poorly constructed setups from the 1960s and 1970s have given flat roofs an unfortunate reputation for pooling rainwater and sub-par thermal performance. However, high-quality modern systems can avoid these issues and yield an array of exciting design opportunities, as well as achieving excellent standards of efficiency.

Flat roof extensions typically involve lower construction costs. This is due to the reduced amount of materials needed to build the structure and cover it, compared to a more complex design with a pitched, asymmetric or mansard roof. This isn’t only good for your wallet, but it’s a definite plus from a sustainability perspective, too, as you’re minimising the amount of resources you’re using on your project.

Architectural versatility is another highlight of flat roof extensions. “This type of structure, when designed properly, can look great on almost any type of existing architecture. You can design it to create a modern feature that contrasts against a traditional home or make it look like a seamless addition to the property,” says James Bernard, director at Plus Rooms. “Plus, a flat roof extension can be planned not to intrude on the views or sunlight into the upper storeys of the home,” says James.

This advantage applies to views and light from for neighbours’ homes, too. So, what are the key design and structural details you’ll need to get right to ensure your scheme’s success?

Flat Roof Extensions & Design Opportunities

Flat roof extensions can serve up a whole host of exciting design opportunities despite the relative simplicity of their form. For instance, if you want to expand your first floor living space outside to encompass a sunny roof terrace, this would only be feasible with a flat design.

“As long as the flat roof is designed to take the weight of people, this is possible,” says Robert Wood, managing director at Simply Extend. “Your structural engineer will need to design this and calculate the correct timbers/structures for load bearing. It would also need to be signed off by planning.”

CDC Studio are the brains behind this extension to a Victorian house in Cambridge. A Rockwool solution was used to insulate the Bauder single ply roof, providing U-values of 0.15 W/m2K. Troldtekt ceiling panels have been used inside to help with acoustic insulation. Photo: Richard Chivers

Flat roof extensions can also be designed with a decent amount of overhang to provide shading for external spaces at ground level, too. This could be a useful feature if you’re looking to reduce solar gains via large spans of vertical glazing in your extension.

Flat roofs afford some interesting possibilities for glazed structures, too, ranging from horizontal overhead glazing to more dramatic features such as lanterns. “Glass spans can be quite generous, with frameless rooflight opportunities up to a maximumum of 23m2, subject to coordination with a structural engineer,” says Nick Elias, director at Nick Elias Studio.

Though you won’t achieve a lofty, vaulted ceiling as with a pitched or asymmetric roof, there are still unique options for your interiors. Building a structure with a warm roof, where the insulation is above the roof deck (more detail on this later), means you can expose the rafters in the room below. “This elevates the perceived height of the room by reducing the overall solid element of the roof build-up,” says Nick.

Read More: Extensions and Adding Space: What Can I Build for my Budget?

Wallbarn’s M-Tray modular green roof system has been installed around lantern rooflights on this extension, delivering an infinity roof finish that flows into the garden. The modular green roof trays are grown to maturity on Wallbarn’s nursery and delivered to site within days, ensuring they are in optimum health

If you have the budget, a living roof covered with sedum and wildflowers could provide an additional wow-factor element. “The garden is extended and sightlines from the upstairs to ground level are improved, as seamless greening is achieved from the extension roof over the parapet towards the back garden,” says Julian Thurbin, director at Wallbarn.

“It almost becomes an infinity roof garden.” A green roof is also a fantastic way to create a biodiverse environment for bees, butterflies and other insects. Plus, it’ll provide an additional element of insulation to prevent heat escaping from your extension.

Getting the Structure of a Flat Roof Extension Right

Perhaps the most important detail to know about a flat roof is that it’s never actually set at an angle of 0°. “As we all know, Britain is renowned for its weather so all horizontal structures must incorporate a slight slope to allow rainwater to drain off without causing damage,” says Katrina Hughes, an architect at Butcher Bayley Architects. “Any pitched covering less than 10° is considered a flat roof.”

So, one of the most important structural details to get right is the angle on the surface to prevent water accumulating on top. Building Regulations suggest a minimum slope of 1:40, whereby there are 40 units in length for every 1 unit in the height of the fall. This gradient can be achieved in numerous ways – but first, let’s take a closer look at how a flat roof is constructed.

Read More: Roof Design: Roofing Materials, Construction and Planning

The Douglas fir structure that forms the skeleton of this flat roof side extension has been left exposed, creating a standout design feature. The roof material is elZinc Anthracite with a Bauder green roof on top. Design work for this project was carried out by Merrett Houmoller Architects. Photo: lan williams

Typically, flat roof extensions are comprised of a series of structural timber joists that are laid out with a flat deck on top, usually made of timber boarding. There will also be a suitable membrane to reduce the risk of condensation build-up, plus a layer of insulation to prevent heat from escaping. Your architect or structural engineer will determine the size, type and spacing of the joists to ensure it’s suitable for the unique dimensions of your flat roof extension’s design.

The timbers will be cut to size in order to incorporate any rooflights you decide to install in the roof. One way to achieve the right gradient is to position the joists to the required angle when the roof structure is initially built, or by fitting tapered insulation boards that already have the slope built in. Another solution is to place wedge-shaped chunks of timber on top of the roof joists to establish the desired pitch.

Read More: Rooflights and Overhead Glazing: Design Ideas and Advice

Granit Architects designed this extension to a semi-detached house in Teddington as part of a full remodel of the ground floor. The flat roof means views and light to windows on the upper level of the house are unobstructed. Photo: Andrew Beasley

The drainage system, including guttering, downpipes and fascia, is another important detail to get right. “If the look is sleek and modern, you may not want to install a gutter along the flat roof,” says Richard Morgan, an architectural technologist and connect consultant at Resi. “You may want to hide it instead by using a valley or box gutter which sits within the roof itself.”

The height of the parapet to the edge of the flat roof will depend somewhat on the covering you’re laying. A build-up of 150mm is common, but it depends on the covering. “A parapet of this height is adequate for a flat roof and its flashing or coping stone should be angled to allow water to fall off onto the flat roof, with adequate drip beading,” says Nick.

“However, if you’re using a single product such as glass reinforced plastic (GRP), it’s possible to have a smaller parapet to as low as 50mm – but you should check with building control.” To ensure each of these details is achieved to a high standard, choose a firm registered with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.

For flat roof extensions that feature a living roof, one of the most common solutions is to lay the covering onto a concrete roof. “The structure needs to hold at least 100kg per m2, plus a snow load,” says Julian from Wallbarn. “Insulation is usually through rigid insulation boards laid either under the membrane as a warm roof design or above the membrane in an inverted waterproofing design.”

Insulation Options for Flat Roof Extensions

A potential argument against the installation of flat roof extensions is their lower thermal efficiency compared with a pitched structure. “The latter can naturally accommodate more insulation, so is typically a more energy efficient option,” says James from Plus Rooms.

However, with the right detailing, a horizontal setup is perfectly capable of beating the U-values (a measure of heat loss, where lower numbers indicate superior thermal performance) stipulated by Building Regulations – 0.18W/m2K or lower.

Standing seam zinc gives this flat roof extension, by George & James Architects, the wow factor. Photo: Megan Taylor

There are two types of system for flat roof extensions and they differ depending on whether the insulation is fitted above or below the structural roof deck. Historically, a cold roof design was the most common solution, whereby the insulation is installed in between the structural joists, with a gap for ventilation above.

This means that the structural deck is outside of the flat roof extension’s thermal envelope hence creating a cold roof. Adequate ventilation is required via eaves vents to minimise the risk of condensation, which could lead to issues such as damp. “A better-performing solution is a warm roof,” says Robert from Simply Extend. “This is where the insulation is not put in between the timbers but covers the whole of the internal new roof’s ceiling (above the roof deck).”

A polythene vapour barrier membrane is placed on top of the deck, on the warm side of the insulation, to prevent moist air in the rooms below getting trapped in the wooden roof structure. Options for insulating materials include extruded polystyrene boards or rigid wood fibre panels. You could even use structural insulated panels for the roof construction if you want a solution with a thermally protective layer already built in.

Read More: Home Insulation: Best Ways to Reduce Heat Loss & Stay Warm

Mulroy Architects designed this kitchen-diner extension to complement a 1920s house in North London. The flat roof was finished with dark grey Sarnafil, a PVCu-based single ply membrane. Photo: Dan Glasser

Flat Roof Extension Covering Options

Flat roof extensions invite the a variety of finishing materials to choose from. The following represent the main options:

• A reinforced bituminous membrane is the most common, cost-effective solution for flat roof extensions. This setup has come on a long way from the old school felt membranes of the ’60s. Robust, modern systems are applied in layers before a large blow torch is used to apply heat to the underside of the felt, melting it so it bonds with the structure below. Expect a service life of 20+ years.
• Fibreglass GRP comprises a liquid polyester resin, applied to large sheets of glass fibre to create a durable laminate. A wide choice of colours is available to suit the a whole host of flat roof extensions. Most roof guarantees for this type of covering last for 20 or 25 years.
• Single ply/EPDM rubberised roofing is a modern solution growing in popularity for its simplicity and longevity. Large sheets of thin rubberised material are rolled onto the flat roof extension and chemically welded at the seams, which works to create a waterproof finish.
• Metals such as lead, copper or zinc traditionally offered the most durable type of covering. Today, stainless steel interlocking sheets can be used to mimic the appearance of zinc or lead. Bear in mind that metal solutions typically come with a much bigger price tag.
• A green flat roof that incorporates sedums, grasses and wildflowers can provide a stunning feature for your home. A stronger deck is required beneath the foliage to support the weight of the living layer above.